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Die unbewohnbare Erde: Leben nach der Erderwärmung by Elisabeth Schmalen, David Wallace-Wells
mcbibliotecaria's review against another edition
5.0
This is a book I'll have to read like once a year to grasp fully. Brillant, broken down to the most intelligent and reasoned arguments substantiated with a ridiculous amount of evidence. Can't wait to hear him in person when he comes to the library in February!
sms8493's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
4.75
jachinheckman's review against another edition
4.0
A how to read this book/too long self indulgent response.
Step 1. Start reading in June 2021. During a long drive to Seattle, enjoy getting informed about climate change.
Step 2. Go on a rafting trip through a canyon. As you paddle through its massive dirt walls it will never be less than a hundred and five the entire week. You will cover every part of your skin in an attempt to hide from the sun above you. It is uncomfortable, but not nearly as uncomfortable as the thought that keeps popping up in the back of your head, "Is this my future?".
Step 3. Leave the canyon. Start listening to the audio book on walks. You will need to pause every couple of minutes and cry while listening to "Feels like Summer" by Childish Gambino. While on one of those walks, you will get to the chapter about how even the temperature changes have already set into motion will completely destroy and reshape every ecosystem in the world. You'll look around you and see the beautiful greenery of Washington. It will finally hit you that all of it will be lost within two generations. The grandchildren you can now never morally have will never know this green green world. The only thing you like about your home town is the scenery and soon we will destroy even that. “These trees are already dead at the roots. We just can't see it yet.” To think you thought you were too emo in highschool.
Step 4. You become less fun at parties. It doesn't happen all at once, but many months have passed, you have stopped reading the book, and other people's optimism seems almost…irresponsible? Your sibling talks about having kids. You do your best, and fail at not calling them a selfish person. You withdraw from people. You withdraw from art. One day you catch yourself explaining to a black woman at a party why she shouldn't be so happy. You are ashamed of that, but she WAS being too happy.
Step 5. You get pulled back. You don't know if it is the books you read, the music you listened to, or the many people that have loved you. All you know is that another couple months have passed and you are different. Actually you aren't different, but you want to be different. How though?
Step 6. You finish the book. Almost a year after starting it you finish the book. It is good. Four stars. but he doesn't have any answers. You were ready for answers. You needed answers.
Step 7. You start looking for the right answers. You sign up for a newsletter about innovations in green energy. You get more books about climate change. You start looking for ways to help find resources for refugees. None of these help fight off the sense of dread. You still know in your heart that this world ends in a race war where the bad guys win.
Step 8. Your favorite resident at work dies. You knew it was coming; she had been on hospice for months. The care you had been providing wasn’t about saving anything. It was about making it as painless as possible. Providing love and care wherever you could.
Step 9. The earth is on hospice. All you can do is act with love and intention. You aren’t its savoir. You are its caregiver, holding its hand as it slips away.
That is what you took away from this one anyway. We will see where you are after the next book.
Step 1. Start reading in June 2021. During a long drive to Seattle, enjoy getting informed about climate change.
Step 2. Go on a rafting trip through a canyon. As you paddle through its massive dirt walls it will never be less than a hundred and five the entire week. You will cover every part of your skin in an attempt to hide from the sun above you. It is uncomfortable, but not nearly as uncomfortable as the thought that keeps popping up in the back of your head, "Is this my future?".
Step 3. Leave the canyon. Start listening to the audio book on walks. You will need to pause every couple of minutes and cry while listening to "Feels like Summer" by Childish Gambino. While on one of those walks, you will get to the chapter about how even the temperature changes have already set into motion will completely destroy and reshape every ecosystem in the world. You'll look around you and see the beautiful greenery of Washington. It will finally hit you that all of it will be lost within two generations. The grandchildren you can now never morally have will never know this green green world. The only thing you like about your home town is the scenery and soon we will destroy even that. “These trees are already dead at the roots. We just can't see it yet.” To think you thought you were too emo in highschool.
Step 4. You become less fun at parties. It doesn't happen all at once, but many months have passed, you have stopped reading the book, and other people's optimism seems almost…irresponsible? Your sibling talks about having kids. You do your best, and fail at not calling them a selfish person. You withdraw from people. You withdraw from art. One day you catch yourself explaining to a black woman at a party why she shouldn't be so happy. You are ashamed of that, but she WAS being too happy.
Step 5. You get pulled back. You don't know if it is the books you read, the music you listened to, or the many people that have loved you. All you know is that another couple months have passed and you are different. Actually you aren't different, but you want to be different. How though?
Step 6. You finish the book. Almost a year after starting it you finish the book. It is good. Four stars. but he doesn't have any answers. You were ready for answers. You needed answers.
Step 7. You start looking for the right answers. You sign up for a newsletter about innovations in green energy. You get more books about climate change. You start looking for ways to help find resources for refugees. None of these help fight off the sense of dread. You still know in your heart that this world ends in a race war where the bad guys win.
Step 8. Your favorite resident at work dies. You knew it was coming; she had been on hospice for months. The care you had been providing wasn’t about saving anything. It was about making it as painless as possible. Providing love and care wherever you could.
Step 9. The earth is on hospice. All you can do is act with love and intention. You aren’t its savoir. You are its caregiver, holding its hand as it slips away.
That is what you took away from this one anyway. We will see where you are after the next book.
kawooreads's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.5
jonahahaha's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
reflective
sad
fast-paced
5.0