AUTHOR: George Monbiot
STARTED: August 7, 2017
FINISHED: September 21, 2017
PAGES: 319
GENRE: Non-Fiction
FIRST SENTENCE: Arrange these threats in ascending order of deadliness: wolves, vending machines, cows, domestic dogs and toothpicks.
SUMMARY: [From BN] To be an environmentalist early in the twenty-first century is always to be defending, arguing, acknowledging the hurdles we face in our efforts to protect wild places and fight climate change. But let’s be honest: hedging has never inspired anyone. So what if we stopped hedging? What if we grounded our efforts to solve environmental problems in hope instead, and let nature make our case for us? That’s what George Monbiot does in Feral, a lyrical, unabashedly romantic vision of how, by inviting nature back into our lives, we can simultaneously cure our “ecological boredom” and begin repairing centuries of environmental damage. Monbiot takes readers on an enchanting journey around the world to explore ecosystems that have been “rewilded”: freed from human intervention and allowed—in some cases for the first time in millennia—to resume their natural ecological processes. We share his awe, and wonder, as he kayaks among dolphins and seabirds off the coast of Wales and wanders the forests of Eastern Europe, where lynx and wolf packs are reclaiming their ancient hunting grounds. Through his eyes, we see environmental success—and begin to envision a future world where humans and nature are no longer separate and antagonistic, but are together part of a single, healing world. Monbiot’s commitment is fierce, his passion infectious, his writing compelling. Readers willing to leave the confines of civilization and join him on his bewitching journey will emerge changed—and ready to change our world for the better.
THOUGHTS: Some time ago, I saw George Monbiot's TED talk on rewilding. I found it utterly fascinating and immediately added his book to my TBR list. When I came across Feral in a local independent bookstore, I immediately scooped it up to come home with me.
This book is far more narrative than I expected it to be. Monbiot's arguments for rewilding are somewhat hidden in his hikes along the heather, canoe trips, and conversations with locals. I don't think this is a bad thing, it was just not what I was expecting. I thought this would be a much more cut and dried sciencey book. Instead, it's a conversation about how man intereacts with nature. Monbiot's thesis comes from his experiences. He wants man to experience the land, not take from it. It's a beautiful book and one that has stuck with me. It's impossible not to look at the natural world differently after you've seen the decay Monbiot points out. I can only hope that his views are more widely shared and gain traction in local communities and governments.
A few week's back, my MIL shared Monbiot's talk on Facebook. I asked if she wanted me to bring the book when we come for Thanksgiving and she jumped at the chance. I am so happy that this book is going to be read my someone else. I think it's an important topic that pushes brilliant ideas to make this world better.
RATING: 9/10 [Excellent!]
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