A witty, insightful, and original take on one of the most urgent questions of our time: For those of us who believe climate change is real, why do we so easily ignore it?
What is this psychological mechanism that allows us to know something is true but act as if it is not? In this groundbreaking and engaging look at one of the most important issues facing us today, George Marshall, world renowned for his work on the psychology of climate change denial, shows that even when we accept that climate change is a dire problem, our human brains are wired to ignore it and argues that we can overcome this.
Using sidebars, cartoons, entertaining charts, engaging stories, and years of his own research, Marshall confirms that humans are wired to respond strongest to threats that are visible, immediate, have historical precedent, have direct personal impact, and are caused by an 'enemy.' Climate change is none of these it's invisible, unprecedented, drawn out, impacts us indirectly, and is caused by us. Taking the reader deep into our evolutionary origins, Marshall argues that once we understand what excites, threatens, and motivates us, we can rethink and reimagine climate change. In the end, his book is both about climate change and about the qualities that make us human: our limitations, our strengths, and how we can grow as we deal with the greatest challenge we have ever faced.
About the Author
George Marshall is director of the Climate Outreach and Information Network and has two decades' experience in research and campaigning for environmental organizations. He's worked for Greenpeace and the Rainforest Foundation, and is a policy consultant to the German and Papua New Guinean governments. He lives in Wales.
Industry Reviews
[Marshall] offers advice on confronting climate change head on, stepping away from Green Guilt, and putting potentially world-saving policies into action. The Boston Globe Intelligent and genial ... In the end, Marshall is neither fatalistic nor idealistic about our chances of survival. Yes, he says, we're wired to ignore climate change. But we're also wired to do something about it. Washington Post Clearly we're not responding to the reality of climate change with the speed the crisis requires. This book explains some of the reasons that could be--and how we might work around them in the short time that we have. Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth The science of climate change is easy: burning fossil fuels creates greenhouse gasses that are warming our world. George Marshall reminds us about the hard part: connecting the wellhead to the tailpipe in people's minds as soon as possible. Please read this book, and think about it. Let's get to work. Bill Nye Illuminating and important--makes clear why we continue down a dangerous path of increasing climate disruption, even when attractive, hospitable, alternative paths are available. James Hansen, author of Storms of My Grandchildren and Former Director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies George Marshall is one of the most interesting, challenging and original thinkers on the psychology of our collective climate denial. If his advice were heeded, we might just have the courage to look unblinkingly at this existential crisis, and then to act. Naomi Klein, author of This Changes Everything and The Shock Doctrine Enlightening. Publishers Weekly A real soul searching challenge for us all. Marshall illuminates the path to embarking on a heroic quest for a just and equitable world. A sobering, yet hopeful book. Frank DiSalvo, Director of the Atkinson Center for a Sustainable Future, Cornell University In 42 engaging, bite-size chapters, Marshall presents the psychological research demonstrating why climate change simply doesn't feel dangerous enough to justify action and how we can trick our brains into changing our sense of urgency about the problem. His work is a much needed kick in the pants for policymakers, grassroots environmentalists, and the public to induce us to develop effective motivational tools to help us take action to face the reality of climate change before it's too late. Booklist Fantastic. Grist Essential reading for everyone interested in communicating the science of climate change and its urgent policy implications. Critical Angle This is not a book to read and put away-but one that merits returning to and engaging with intellectually. Is there a higher compliment that one can give an author? Daily Kos Absorbing, all-embracing, immensely readable. Climate News Network
