On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal
Product ID: 114128866
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#1 international and New York Times bestselling author Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine and This Changes Everything , makes the case for a Green New Deal—explaining how bold climate action can be a blueprint for a just and thriving society. For more than twenty years, Naomi Klein has been the foremost chronicler of the economic war waged on both people and planet—and an unapologetic champion of a sweeping environmental agenda with justice at its center. In lucid, elegant dispatches from the frontlines of contemporary natural disaster, she pens surging, indispensable essays for a wide public: prescient advisories and dire warnings of what future awaits us if we refuse to act, as well as hopeful glimpses of a far better future. On Fire: The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal gathers for the first time more than a decade of her impassioned writing, and pairs it with new material on the staggeringly high stakes of our immediate political and economic choices. These long-form essays show Klein at her most prophetic and philosophical, investigating the climate crisis not only as a profound political challenge but as a spiritual and imaginative one, as well. Delving into topics ranging from the clash between ecological time and our culture of “perpetual now,” to the soaring history of humans changing and evolving rapidly in the face of grave threats, to rising white supremacy and fortressed borders as a form of “climate barbarism,” this is a rousing call to action for a planet on the brink. With reports spanning from the ghostly Great Barrier Reef, to the annual smoke-choked skies of the Pacific Northwest, to post-hurricane Puerto Rico, to a Vatican attempting an unprecedented “ecological conversion,” Klein makes the case that we will rise to the existential challenge of climate change only if we are willing to transform the systems that produced this crisis. An expansive, far-ranging exploration that sees the battle for a greener world as indistinguishable from the fight for our lives, On Fire captures the burning urgency of the climate crisis, as well as the fiery energy of a rising political movement demanding a catalytic Green New Deal. Review: Will enough people listen this time? - Thank the 'Great White North' for Naomi Klein and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Klein for her succinct summaries of almost 10 years of environmental analysis in this gem of a brief book - - and Trudeau his very human response to change. Like Rachel Carson and 'Silent Spring', Klein will be remembered for explaining the attitudes, inactions and complacency that will shape our environment over the next century. Her book is a concise gem. Likewise, we can thank Trudeau for helping make it happen. Had her warnings been heeded over the past four years, he'd now be bouncing about boasting, "We're No. 1! We're No.!" - - instead of worrying about being "bounced" in his re-election bid. Let's start with Trudeau who, in 2017, told a cheering crowd of oil executives in Houston, "No country would find 173 billion barrels of oil in the ground and just leave it there." (If Trudeau loses his re-election bid, his outlook will seem benign compared to the likely fate of the Alberta tar sands in the hands of Conservative cretins.) Klein succinctly outlines the impact of such decisions. (However, on a personal basis, I think humans are a "super virus" that is ravaging our planet. But, I'm also an optimist. After a few billion deaths, the planet and enough humans will survive in a new mutual understanding of Mama Nature. Am I right? Well, consider the May 6 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report, based on 15,000 research papers. It predicts the extinction of a million species of animals, insects and plants by the end of the century. In other words, at the present of pollution and exploitation, almost everything but 'Indifference' is threatened.) It's time to listen. What is possible? Well, consider the impact of the 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson, the early disaster warning in 1962 that is becoming the reality cited by Klein. People always ignore the impact of pending disaster; it's why there have been 10,000 "civilizations" in the last 5,000 years and none have survived its forecast of demise. Carson's working title for the manuscript? 'Man Against the Earth'. Instead of Klein's "Green" response, it's likely people will use the tradition approach - - engineering. It will be called 'geo engineering', and if it's very expensive, 'Brilliant Engineering'. It may shield the planet with a near-space blanket of chemicals (or dust) as an umbrella to block sunlight. Brilliant engineering created our modern world, but its dark side is always the "unknown unknowns." Unk! Unk!! Just how does "life" deal with a "virus" such as humanity? If the past offers any guidance - - the first response will be a 'DDT' quickfix solution. It's nice to invent the future; it's something else to make it work. On that note: Where are the flying cars we were promised in 1945? We don't even have 'smart' cars yet. Granted, she's optimistic. It's the saving grace of her book, and a reason for all to trust in "just a bit of global disaster, nothing too serious." In engineering we trust, all else is rust, dust and bust. Remember the old saying from the 1930's Dust Bowl devastation? "In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted." Let's do it again? Review: Best analysis of the global political and economic system, and how t change it - An absolutely brilliant book. Comprehensive a analysis of how the issues of environmental justice, social and economic justice and racial justice can effectively be addressed through an integrated transformation of our social, political and economic system. An inspirational book based on encyclopedic knowledge, 360 analysis and a dedicated commitment - and hope for - a fairer and livable world for all. A call for justice and a call for action. An absolute must read. I have been gifting it to all my relatives !
| Best Sellers Rank | #1,772,466 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #1,447 in Political Commentary & Opinion #1,752 in Environmental Economics (Books) #1,832 in Environmental Science (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.6 out of 5 stars 799 Reviews |
T**N
Will enough people listen this time?
Thank the 'Great White North' for Naomi Klein and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau; Klein for her succinct summaries of almost 10 years of environmental analysis in this gem of a brief book - - and Trudeau his very human response to change. Like Rachel Carson and 'Silent Spring', Klein will be remembered for explaining the attitudes, inactions and complacency that will shape our environment over the next century. Her book is a concise gem. Likewise, we can thank Trudeau for helping make it happen. Had her warnings been heeded over the past four years, he'd now be bouncing about boasting, "We're No. 1! We're No.!" - - instead of worrying about being "bounced" in his re-election bid. Let's start with Trudeau who, in 2017, told a cheering crowd of oil executives in Houston, "No country would find 173 billion barrels of oil in the ground and just leave it there." (If Trudeau loses his re-election bid, his outlook will seem benign compared to the likely fate of the Alberta tar sands in the hands of Conservative cretins.) Klein succinctly outlines the impact of such decisions. (However, on a personal basis, I think humans are a "super virus" that is ravaging our planet. But, I'm also an optimist. After a few billion deaths, the planet and enough humans will survive in a new mutual understanding of Mama Nature. Am I right? Well, consider the May 6 Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services report, based on 15,000 research papers. It predicts the extinction of a million species of animals, insects and plants by the end of the century. In other words, at the present of pollution and exploitation, almost everything but 'Indifference' is threatened.) It's time to listen. What is possible? Well, consider the impact of the 'Silent Spring' by Rachel Carson, the early disaster warning in 1962 that is becoming the reality cited by Klein. People always ignore the impact of pending disaster; it's why there have been 10,000 "civilizations" in the last 5,000 years and none have survived its forecast of demise. Carson's working title for the manuscript? 'Man Against the Earth'. Instead of Klein's "Green" response, it's likely people will use the tradition approach - - engineering. It will be called 'geo engineering', and if it's very expensive, 'Brilliant Engineering'. It may shield the planet with a near-space blanket of chemicals (or dust) as an umbrella to block sunlight. Brilliant engineering created our modern world, but its dark side is always the "unknown unknowns." Unk! Unk!! Just how does "life" deal with a "virus" such as humanity? If the past offers any guidance - - the first response will be a 'DDT' quickfix solution. It's nice to invent the future; it's something else to make it work. On that note: Where are the flying cars we were promised in 1945? We don't even have 'smart' cars yet. Granted, she's optimistic. It's the saving grace of her book, and a reason for all to trust in "just a bit of global disaster, nothing too serious." In engineering we trust, all else is rust, dust and bust. Remember the old saying from the 1930's Dust Bowl devastation? "In God We Trusted, In Kansas We Busted." Let's do it again?
A**R
Best analysis of the global political and economic system, and how t change it
An absolutely brilliant book. Comprehensive a analysis of how the issues of environmental justice, social and economic justice and racial justice can effectively be addressed through an integrated transformation of our social, political and economic system. An inspirational book based on encyclopedic knowledge, 360 analysis and a dedicated commitment - and hope for - a fairer and livable world for all. A call for justice and a call for action. An absolute must read. I have been gifting it to all my relatives !
M**O
Interesting
This book is a series of articles from Naomi Klein which attempt to bring a greater awareness to the climate urgency in conforming our lifestyles to sobriety, commitment and hopefulness. Political action plays an important and she values this role more than the role on an individual. I understand, but billions of individuals decide to play a role, this human tsunami would change the world. The universal language which brings awareness is yet unknown.
C**E
My best source to make sense of the "denial" cacophony!
Yeah, Naomi hits it out of the park, AGAIN!! She covers ALL the bases. No denials left that make sense. A Green New Deal is our only savior - if it isn't already too late. EVERY denier needs to read this in order to be informed, compassionate and patriotic! She's even-handed and just tells the truth along with amazin' stories. This book ramps the urgency for me.
S**.
Everyone needs to take this seriously.
As I’m sitting in CT on January 12th... it is 70 degrees and feels like Summer. Last year at this time I was shoveling my driveway every morning. Watching the fires burning in CA and Australia mainly on social media, not cable news, has been a shock.. However it’s just what Naomi talks about in her book. At the same time, governments continue to hide climate truths from the general public. Most people still don’t take it seriously in America. We are going down a path that is not good unless we stand up to big oil, chemical corporations and corrupt governments. It’s scary to see how late we are to confronting the climate crisis. It’s a battle for all life on earth and every plant and creature. Thank you Naomi for your honest and truthful book. I will continue to buy more books from this author.
Á**O
If you only read one thing about climate disruption, this is a good choice
The book is a compelling case for centring climate justice within the chaos and terror of climate disruption, profiling the movements giving cause for hope. Klein is skilled at weaving personal accounts into a bigger story about climate accountability. As a journalist and campaigner myself, I appreciate her well-researched approach that is also unappologetic about laying out a vision for change.
A**R
A must-read!
As a lifelong environmentalist who was vastly impressed by her earlier book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism versus the Climate, I’m a big fan of Naomi Klein. I was not disappointed with this newer book. I wish everyone everywhere would read it and embrace the Green New Deal. On Fire certainly makes an excellent case for the cause it espouses.
Z**N
A simple leap
The fate of our planet depends upon taking a simple leap into sanity, and Naomi Klein clearly shows us the way. Unfortunately, we as a people suffer from the insanity forced upon us by power and money, so Klein's book can merely offer fanciful hope for a possible green future as we continue to suffer drought, famine, floods, and extreme heat. I highly recommend this book if only for the awareness it brings that there are still intelligent people in the world who have a hope for human civilization.
T**Y
Important read for our times - a call to action
Important read for our times - a call to action
S**I
Analisi intellettualmente onesta
Molti anni fa avevo comprato No Logo e lo avevo lasciato sullo scaffale, senza leggerlo, per questo ho preso Green New Deal, per superare un senso di colpa ormai ventennale. All'inizio ero scettico e dubitavo che Naomi Klein potesse aggiungere qualcosa di rilevante su un argomento del quale ho letto in abbondanza, invece mi sono ricreduto. L'approccio al tema è coraggioso e netto perché scarta ogni soluzione fatta di piccoli passi e di compromessi, ritenendola inefficace dopo 40 anni persi, e soprattutto dichiara che l'unica possibilità è affrontare di petto la causa principale: la politica economica ultra liberale. A partire dagli anni '80 il sistema economico ha imboccato la strada di un liberismo senza freni e controlli che produce sfruttamento scriteriato delle risorse naturali e altre gravi conseguenze, come la crescente diseguaglianza di ricchezza, di reddito, di lavoro, e di opportunità in generale per una porzione crescente della popolazione mondiale. Quindi per la giornalista canadese la soluzione è un eco-socialismo democratico che risolva la questione alla radice, affrontando la crisi climatica e contemporaneamente le altre crisi collegate. Chiarezza e grande onestà intellettuale, purtroppo la conferma che avrei dovuto all'epoca leggere anche No Logo.
A**R
Brilliant book
This seems to be a collection of transcriptions of talks Naomi Klein has given over the past few years. She addresses the many causes for our current climate crisis and outlines some solid ways we can pull ourselves back from the brink. If only everyone would read this book maybe we could all pull together because that's what's needed.
C**O
the least interesting book by Naomi Klein thus far
While the book reads well and anectodes are well documented, some of the abstractions and takeaways are sometimes questionable and not properly justified by the underlying facts. Because of that, the book, rather than setting up an important environmental agenda, reads more like an unconvincing call for a revolution.
A**R
It's not about a Green New Deal
I tried to read this, but it doesn't live up to the title. Whilst there is some good work in it about a Green New Deal, it is superficial and I wish the whole book had been dedicated to this much needed topic. It makes random and at times ethically questionable connections to current affairs like the Christchurch massacre, to support what is largely a rhetorical argument of stirring prose but little else. It's a long way from the seminal No Logo written 20 years ago.
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