Read This Book: The Story of More by Hope Jahren

Hope Jahren is scientist and writer who studies geochemistry and geobiology, and in this very accessible and interesting little book she gives readers a short history on how we got to climate change. (Spoiler alert: The answer is capitalism.) As someone who gets very anxious when thinking about how we are destroying the planet, because OH MY GOD THIS IS OUR ONLY PLANET, I was afraid this book would make me even more anxious, but it actually reassured me. Knowledge is power, and Jahren writes in a measured tone. She confronts the facts, talking about the history of farming in the U.S., the sixth extinction, salmon fishing in Scandinavia, the history of the auto industry, and how just because something is electric doesn’t mean it’s energy efficient, just to name a few things. She also touches on politics, and the (seemingly insurmountable) challenge of getting governments from all over the world to make actual progress with climate change.

All of this context and history is important, because it serves to enforce Jahren’s underlying message, which is don’t panic. Scared people make bad decisions, Jahren wisely points out. But it’s time to get very, very serious. The good news is that there’s a lot that normal people can do to start counteracting the effects of climate change on a personal and local level, and it all starts with using less stuff. This isn’t any one person or industry or entity’s responsibility to fix, but it is our human moral imperative to take action. But Jahren doesn’t shame anyone because she understands the complexities of living in a global age–she’s a Minnesotan by birth who lives in Oslo, so she’s not giving up plane rides any time soon–but she asks questions, offers alternatives, and makes suggestions. The back of the book also provides a step-by-step guide to becoming more aware of your consumption, and offers advice for reducing your energy use. Even if you’re not scientifically minded, if you know that you ought to know more about climate change and what we can do, this is an excellent book that empowers you to become more knowledgeable!