He says the reason his book's title has an extra "A" is we're already living on a new planet. So much has changed in such a short time, and we must look at our world in a different way to understand this.
In the first half of Eaarth: Making a life on a Tough New Planet, he lays out the problems faced by life on our planet, not some time in the near or distant future, but today.
And then, on page 99, he starts writing about solutions -- possibilities for our future and methods for adapting to our new environment. He writes, "Like someone lost in the woods, we need to stop running, sit down, see what's in our pockets that might be of use, and start figuring out what steps to take."
He tells us how we can manage the changes that will be happening to our lives, rather than just let them happen. He says, "We've got to make our societies safer, and that means making them smaller. It means, since we live on a different planet, a different kind of civilization." He describes how we can make this very different world workable -- "how we might keep the lights on, the larder full, and spirits reasonably high."
Alan Weisman, author of The World Without Us, writes, "With clarity, eloquence, deep knowledge, and even deeper compassion for both planet and people, Bill McKibben guides us to the brink of a new, uncharted era. This monumental book, probably his greatest, may restore you faith in the future, with us in it."
Check out Bill McKibben's excellent Official Site for much more information about Eaarth and for news and reference to absolutely everything you need to know.
And contact Margery Moore at the Institute for Sustainability Education and Action (I-SEA), sustain@saltspring.com or Dorothy at dcutting@yahoo.com to see where you can get a free copy of Eaarth. I-SEA and Salt Spring Books together are making this happen. We think this book is too important not to be read.
We'll be posting more about what's already happening on Salt Spring to prepare for a livable future for all of us.
7 comments:
Hi... thanks for the great recap of Bill McKibben's new book. I can't wait to check it out!
Thanks for setting this up - started reading Eaarh last night and will comment soon ~
Joanne
I recently read James Hansen's new book, STORMS OF MY GRANDCHILDREN followed almost immediately by Bill McKibben's book EAARTH.
Between the two of them they have summed up where we are today and how we got here.
It's hard to imagine anyone who would need any more convincing that we have to act radically and act now. The time for vacillating is past. If there is to be any hope for a reasonable life for our children's children we must begin today to work for change and a new world order - the old one is irretrievably broken and we only waste precious time trying futilely to fix it.
Both Hansen and McKibben have provided us with clear roadmaps - we have no excuse not to follow them.
Terry Oliver
author of THE BLUE-EYED BOY and IN HOT PURSUIT
Hi, thank you everyone that came to Green Drinks at the SSI Harbour House Hotel. The success of the event was definitely in part due to this book and being able to provide a copy to anyone that wanted one! It is a very important book and please pass it along to family and friends. We will have another give-away event end of June at the next Green Drinks (www.i-sea.org).
Margery Moore
President, I-SEA
250-537-4400
I've read Eaarth and passed it on. Thank you to Dorothy and Margery.
The unwavering look at today's planet is very effective at making one want to "act radically and act now" (Terry Oliver).
How best to act? McKibben emphasizes local food and community.
Energy consumption analysis I've seen has buildings at 39% as the largest energy consumer (and hence the largest source of CO2)followed by transportation and industry. We can now build net zero buildings. That is to describe buildings that consume less energy than they produce on an annual basis. Why not require all new buildings (including the SSI Library) to be built this way? Why not begin by addressing the largest energy consumer?
My other comment on the book has to do with his numerous examples of when the best intentioned solutions had negative unintended consequences. I couldn't help but think of Cradle to Cradle, which isn't printed on paper and models sustainable printed communication. Unfortunately Eaarth is printed on paper - a missed opportunity.
Best, ~meror
To Meror, many thanks for your thoughtful comment.
About Eaarth being printed on paper, it is available electronically, as an audio book from iTunes for $20.95, or on a Kindle reader and the like, or as a Barnes and Noble ebook, for a little over $10.00. I was able to download it from the latter site even though a message in the sidebar says you have to have a US address.
Reading a book electronically isn't as much fun as a paper book, but it's the future. However, in the case of an important and useful book such as Eaarth, my own thought is the benefit of passing it from hand to hand outweighs the damage to forest land. How else are we to learn what we need to know end stimulate discussion?
Anyone else want to add to this?
A correction to my comment in response to Meror: I looked more carefully at iTunes just now and see that there are several good free podcasts about Eaarth there. This includes a 70 minute two-part podcast from Scientific American, another from FORA.tv Environment Today and Radio Open Source from Brown University. I especially like the 32 minute interview Bill did on the Leonard Lopate show on WNYC.
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