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A review by guinness74
My Green Manifesto: Down the Charles River in Pursuit of a New Environmentalism by David Gessner
5.0
There are few books that, as you turn the pages, you find yourself energized by the attitude of the author. At least, among the books I've read. Most of the those have dealt with nature, as does this book. And, I believe Gessner is on to something with his desire to inspire people to reclaim their own wildness, small or large, and spur them on to a greater, possibly unachievable, goal.
What I believe I enjoyed most about this book is that Gessner allows us to admit to being hypocritical when it comes to environmentalism, provided that it doesn't destroy what we're attempting to do which is live in a better world; enjoying a better life. It is difficult, as he says, to avoid the sturm and drang of environmental cliche where we must all cower in fear of upsetting the balance of nature. However, we have the ability to recover and recreate our own natural wildness and that we should aspire to this tiny greatness at every opportunity.
Gessner quotes Thoreau, Darwin, Wallace Stegner, and Wendell Berry quite liberally and shows us that those of us who have jobs, families, second jobs, etc. really are able to "pick a fight" and reclaim our world. We only have to be willing to engage in that fight.
I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that this book changed my life. I hope that it continues to change it. I hope it changes the lives of the people around me because of that. I hope it inspires everyone who reads it.
What I believe I enjoyed most about this book is that Gessner allows us to admit to being hypocritical when it comes to environmentalism, provided that it doesn't destroy what we're attempting to do which is live in a better world; enjoying a better life. It is difficult, as he says, to avoid the sturm and drang of environmental cliche where we must all cower in fear of upsetting the balance of nature. However, we have the ability to recover and recreate our own natural wildness and that we should aspire to this tiny greatness at every opportunity.
Gessner quotes Thoreau, Darwin, Wallace Stegner, and Wendell Berry quite liberally and shows us that those of us who have jobs, families, second jobs, etc. really are able to "pick a fight" and reclaim our world. We only have to be willing to engage in that fight.
I don't think it's too much of a stretch to say that this book changed my life. I hope that it continues to change it. I hope it changes the lives of the people around me because of that. I hope it inspires everyone who reads it.