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jplayjames's review against another edition
slow-paced
3.5
It's not that the book never lost me - I don't mind the dip into more spirituality style stuff occasionally so can ride through the appeals to Gaea and that but self-aggrandizing terms like "Earth democracy" were a bridge too far at times, and sometimes the claims made were a bit ill-defined/overzealous (eg. Indonesian deforestation) or clumsily conflated ideas-as-metaphor (eg. entropy).
However, when it hit - as the kids say - it hit. There was a lot in here to make me think and research further, even if I didn't agree with all of it. Elements of the book definitely impacted my thinking long term (particularly on synthetic fertilisers, monocultures, and the downsides of GM crops beyond just the obvious flaws of patenting seeds, providing infertile crops, and leeching farmers). Some of the articles used as sources were interesting as starting points for further investigation or discussion with people I know more knowledgeable in the field.
It didn't grip me and at the beginning it seemed kinda unconvincing, but overall an experience I learned from even if I didn't always enjoy.
However, when it hit - as the kids say - it hit. There was a lot in here to make me think and research further, even if I didn't agree with all of it. Elements of the book definitely impacted my thinking long term (particularly on synthetic fertilisers, monocultures, and the downsides of GM crops beyond just the obvious flaws of patenting seeds, providing infertile crops, and leeching farmers). Some of the articles used as sources were interesting as starting points for further investigation or discussion with people I know more knowledgeable in the field.
It didn't grip me and at the beginning it seemed kinda unconvincing, but overall an experience I learned from even if I didn't always enjoy.
lexiefolkerts's review
5.0
Super factual, amazingly intersectional book. This book analyzed every facet of our current climate problems. She discusses agriculture, human rights, ecological well being, climate change, society, economy and more. She encourages a drastic change in our life style encouraging human energy and energy from the sun.
genius_koala's review against another edition
I'm not going to give this one a starred rating, because my struggles were more with the style of the book, rather than the substance.
The book might succeed in pushing those already on board with looking for solutions to think further outside the box, beyond some of the mainstream strategies on climate change from the earlier part of the 21st century. I don't think it would succeed in converting anyone who wasn't already looking for a new strategy.
Unfortunately, it doesn't successfully deliver on that proposed new strategy. Too much of the material on balance is focused on the problems with the current system and some of the early strategies for climate change. The perfectly justifiable frustration with the status quo and the limited progress that has been made left the book with an oddly ANTI-science feel, which is odd since science is firmly on the side of biodiversity and the need to re-imagine our farming/consumption practices.
Not enough attention is given to what the author is proposing. Ideas of democratizing agriculture and biodiversity are repeated over and over, without enough to tell us the HOW we get there. I understand this book is short, but 3/4 were devoted to repeating well-known dangers of large scale agribusiness, including arguments that had already been made within the text itself. It left very little opportunity to learn about new approaches. I think greater focus on the possibilities and the science behind the alternative solutions the author supports would have been more helpful.
The conclusion read more like an introduction and some of the hopping between philosophies towards the end didn't really advance what the author was hoping to accomplish.
The book might succeed in pushing those already on board with looking for solutions to think further outside the box, beyond some of the mainstream strategies on climate change from the earlier part of the 21st century. I don't think it would succeed in converting anyone who wasn't already looking for a new strategy.
Unfortunately, it doesn't successfully deliver on that proposed new strategy. Too much of the material on balance is focused on the problems with the current system and some of the early strategies for climate change. The perfectly justifiable frustration with the status quo and the limited progress that has been made left the book with an oddly ANTI-science feel, which is odd since science is firmly on the side of biodiversity and the need to re-imagine our farming/consumption practices.
Not enough attention is given to what the author is proposing. Ideas of democratizing agriculture and biodiversity are repeated over and over, without enough to tell us the HOW we get there. I understand this book is short, but 3/4 were devoted to repeating well-known dangers of large scale agribusiness, including arguments that had already been made within the text itself. It left very little opportunity to learn about new approaches. I think greater focus on the possibilities and the science behind the alternative solutions the author supports would have been more helpful.
The conclusion read more like an introduction and some of the hopping between philosophies towards the end didn't really advance what the author was hoping to accomplish.
one_womanarmy's review
5.0
A favorite author and leading ecofeminist thinker, activist, and speaker, Shiva's recent move from general ecofeminist organizing to specific intersections of the military-industrial complex and food security & preservation issues utilizes her usual concise, clear, and demanding tone for a more just vision of the future.
postcorporeal's review against another edition
4.0
while shiva's work was my introduction to ecofeminism, this is actually the first book of hers i've read (or finished, anyway)
vitally important, although it does at times feel lacking in nuance— i would love to know more about what she thinks the transitional stage to earth democracy would be like, for one. i would love to know more about if she thinks existing biotechnology could be used for good during this transitional stage, for another (because i most definitely do)
don't know if i'm giving it four stars, really; it took me so long to finish the damn thing i can't remember. it might be a 3.5
vitally important, although it does at times feel lacking in nuance— i would love to know more about what she thinks the transitional stage to earth democracy would be like, for one. i would love to know more about if she thinks existing biotechnology could be used for good during this transitional stage, for another (because i most definitely do)
don't know if i'm giving it four stars, really; it took me so long to finish the damn thing i can't remember. it might be a 3.5
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