Welcome to Litsy!

Well done, very compelling. Depressing. This is not going to end well.

Somewhere between a pick and a so-so. It‘s quite simplistic and if you‘re interested in this you‘ll probably already know a lot.
What makes me sad: inability for the world to work together or even at local levels; abuse of other species, animals and fish that never move outside the cages (sheds/nets etc) that we breed them in until we eat them 😞
What‘s missing in this book- any political talk- responsibilities etc.

Created originally as an introductory class for college students, it reads this way with a lot of science, some history, a bit of humor, and a smattering of opinion. Is it the best book I‘ve read on climate change? No. But if you want a book that‘s fairly short and explains the basics, this is a good choice.

Full review http://www.TheBibliophage.com
#thebibliophage2021 #nonfictionchallenge2021 #somethingaboutnature #booked2021 #nfsciencebyawoman

It took me ages to get through this book, despite the fact I loved her first one, Lab Girl. Maybe because this felt like Climate Change 101, a primer on the subject, and skimmed the surface more than anything.

Also, I felt she ignored the responsibility of corporations and governments to make changes.

I still recommend it, as she writes in a very relatable way, interspersing personal stories.

#NFN2020 #nonfictionnovember

#NFN2020 #nonfictionnovember

I have long been a David Attenborough fan. His latest documentary, his witness statement, pairs exceptionally well with the tagged book, which I am currently reading. His personal testament is what we most need right now, and I hope that enough people are listening. This is a must see for anyone who is concerned about the sustainability of life on planet Earth as we know it.

Much of this book has been review of things I already know, so far. But she has a way of saying things that just really strike home, and I hope more people will start paying attention.

Love this passage:
“That half-eaten meal in the garbage--why did we plow that field? Why did we plant those seeds, and water them,a nd fertilize the soil, and thwart the weeds?Why did we drive the harvester, run the thresher, fill the silo? Why did we deliver ⬇

TIL: For comparison‘s sake, I looked up water usage for agriculture in general. 70% of our fresh water usage goes towards agriculture (🌾 and 🥩 combined).

If every American cut their red meat and poultry by half, the grain not used to make meat for America would increase the world‘s grain supply by 15%.

I‘m not a big meat eater, but I thunk it‘s time to bring meatless Monday‘s back, I‘ve fallen off the wagon!

#NFN2020 #nonfictionnovember

#NFN2020 #TIL : In 1817, only 3% of the global population lived in any kind of city. Now, just 200 years later, about 1/2 of the people on 🌎 live in urban areas containing at least 100,000 people.
🏞➡️🌇

Bedtime reading for #NFN2020!

TIL: In 2016, after the publication of Lab Girl, (and the election of Trump), Hope Jahren moved to Norway permanently so her lab would have more support. Her lab had received funding for more than a decade from the US Dept of Energy, to study greenhouse gasses, up until most of the Dept‘s work on climate change was shut down by POTUS 45.

This book goes through every way that we have increased production and consumption over the last fifty or so years to our own detriment. It was fascinating and written well. I felt like something needed to change at the end, but I didn't feel utterly hopeless or like the task was so big that I was overwhelmed in that way that causes an absolute shut down. It's a great #readharder choice for task 15!

Jahren showed us in Lab Girl what an engaging narrative she is capable of writing (and how amazing trees are). She is equally engaging here, reviewing the many contributors to climate change and the things each of us (especially in the US, a major contributor to “more”) can do to work toward reducing the damage to our earth. It is bleak and depressing but also funny and practical. I‘ve read a fair amount on this topic, and this still felt fresh.

Great primer on climate change if you need to brush up on it-- concise and clear. However at times the tone felt too relaxed, and she really gives a pass on corporate/ government energy usage. She brings up good points about investing and personal behaviors though. I'd recommend, overall, with those caveats.

Worth reading: the author dedicates each section to something we are creating or acquiring “more“ of, destroying the planet while benefitting the most wealthy and privileged countries. Meat, grain, sugar, water, and CO2 are among the many issues addressed. The chapters are packed with data but still accessible, with the writer framing them in the 50 years she has lived. Some hope--but only if we take action--is shared.
#NonFiction2020 #Bookspin

This was excellent and the above quote sort of sums it up. Jahren explains the climate crisis we are experiencing and how we got there. She educates the reader in layman‘s terms, realistically and often with humor, and conveys the importance of taking action without resorting to alarmist, fear monger tactics. Really useful Environment 101 overview.
#readharder #bookaboutclimatechange #nonfiction

First of two virtual book readings last night. Hope is currently living in Oslo and was in conversation with Barbara Kingsolver in Virginia. I loved Lab Girl, and will definitely read this new one. I‘m at a bit of a crossroads in my chemistry career-I‘ve decided to take the Patent Office exam, so I expect to be out of the lab in 6 months. I have a lot of studying ahead of me, and little time for reading. Scared but excited!

I love Jahren‘s writing. She has this wonderful ability to weave data, personal stories, and impactful points in succinct chapters that are motivational and thought provoking. A quick read with data and strategies to truly live your values.

I have to hand it to Jahren. She has provided us with a textbook of relentless facts on climate change and, after thoroughly depressing us, offers us a bit of hope by providing ways to make a difference. There is a way to change the trajectory but it has to be done now. It‘s an important piece of work and I learned a lot from it. On another note: the fact that she moved her lab to Norway made me especially sad. Why can‘t the US support science?

The author found this graffitied quote that sums up so much.

I‘m quoted in this PopSugar article!

https://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/books-to-read-during-quarantine-47410790h...

Jahren makes the case that our world‘s current state, on the brink of climate disaster, “arises from a relentless story of more.” The statistics are depressing but “doing something is always better than doing nothing.” Consuming less and conserving resources are measures we can take while scientists continue to dedicate their lives to further solutions. I found this #audiobook more satisfying than Greta Thunberg‘s.

Henry George was also right in that most of the want and suffering that we see in our world today originates not from the earth‘s inability to provide, but from our inability to share.

Barring something awful—famine, plague, genocide or forced control over reproduction—Earth will never again contain fewer than 7 billion people. We must learn to live together if we want to live well.

Another GoodReads win I finally got around to reading. 💚

This book is bleak, honest, factual, and also hopeful. I love Hope Jahren's writing and she does an excellent job of not sugar coating the problems surrounding climate change.

At the end of the day, just like with our current covid-19 pandemic, making a change starts with each individual and what they are willing to do for the greater good. Every little bit helps. 🌱

It is still PAUSE time in NYS meaning all non essential stores are closed. I petitioned that indie bookstores were essential, but it fell on deaf ears, ha! Ebooks for me then. I am super excited for the new NK Jemisin, but am also super excited about a new Hope Jahren book as Lab Girl was my favorite book the year it was published.

I loved Lab Girl by this author so was excited to hear about this one & can't wait to dive into it 📚

Yep, I just passed the ARC to someone else at the store, but I‘m definitely picking up my own copy when it pubs. And giving one to my cousin the environ educator. Tackles what our consumption and waste levels in the US are doing to the planet - but provides hope and a starting point*, too.

#AdvancedReaderCopy

“We have a saying at my job: ‘Six months in the laboratory can save you an hour in the library.‘”
#AdvancedReadersCopy

“Everyone has a favorite city, be it Paris in spring, Cairo at sunset, or Christmas in New York. Mine is Minneapolis during July, where people suspend their summer labors to fully enjoy the sunshine. Minneapolis was both the first place I moved after I left home and the town I lived in that had more than one elevator, so I will always associate the city with glamour and freedom and multiple opportunities to rise.”
#AdvancedReadersCopy

Hope Jehren, author of “Lab Girl“ which I loved, has a new book coming out March 3!