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bluestarfish's review
3.0
I think many thoughts about this book. How I really value the concept of "ecological boredom" as one that has given me a lot to think about. How I felt aggrevated about some of the writing style and anecdotes that feel like they belong in a different book. How I got cross about the conservationist-bashing. How I got excited about some of the ideas of rewilding and value GM's input as the bringer of crazy ideas into the discussion and why shoudln't they be there. How I like the idea of wolves and beavers in the isles, but not so sure about elephants. So yeah, mixed feelings. But I'm glad he's pouring grand ideas into the conversation.
I'm not sure that I can relate to ecological boredom only being alleviated by access to experiences with predatory megafauna. That seems to narrow the field down far too much and deny the joy of finding woodlice in your garden. And I wonder where all the women were in his book...
I'm not sure that I can relate to ecological boredom only being alleviated by access to experiences with predatory megafauna. That seems to narrow the field down far too much and deny the joy of finding woodlice in your garden. And I wonder where all the women were in his book...
eilidhwarnock's review against another edition
adventurous
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
slow-paced
4.75
patrickwreed's review against another edition
5.0
One of the most inspiring, exciting and - hopefully - revolutionary books I have read in recent years. Utterly phenomenal stuff, a must-read.
momodellacasa's review against another edition
5.0
Extraordinary! Offers a positive environmentalism. Brings hope where hope seemed vanished. Leads the way towards a sustainable, enjoyable and beautiful future.
Absolutely recommended!
Absolutely recommended!
yellowbeard's review
4.0
I do dread reading these types of book as they so often bring about the usual and so customary feeling of doom. The apocalypse is nigh. This is the the end of the end... But George Monbiot writes some pretty compelling arguments for rewilding in such a way that does inspire glimmers of hope. That the devastation wreaked upon this wonderful Earth by humanity may, in part, be undone; that seas could be brought back to life; that our wild spaces can be truly wild again; that this is achievable; in reasonable time-frames and without overwhelming and insurmountable societal changes.
Yes, his stories can seem a little arrogant, 'when I was chasing lions with the Maasai' and 'when I was dodging serial killers in the Amazon', but his personal tales do bring the book to life and provide some wonderful illustrations to his arguments. I did wonder if he was going to end with a personal rendition of The Old Man and the Sea.
Overall, a very interesting, thought-provoking and inspiring read. I will certainly consider the Welsh mountains under my feet and the 'harmless' sheep grazing upon them in a different light from now on. The world would certainly be a better place if everyone had read this book.
Yes, his stories can seem a little arrogant, 'when I was chasing lions with the Maasai' and 'when I was dodging serial killers in the Amazon', but his personal tales do bring the book to life and provide some wonderful illustrations to his arguments. I did wonder if he was going to end with a personal rendition of The Old Man and the Sea.
Overall, a very interesting, thought-provoking and inspiring read. I will certainly consider the Welsh mountains under my feet and the 'harmless' sheep grazing upon them in a different light from now on. The world would certainly be a better place if everyone had read this book.
bookherd's review against another edition
3.0
I learned a lot from this book about the ancient ecology of Britain before it became a country of cattle and sheep, and the ancient ranges of large animals like elephants, bears and lions. I learned, to my surprise, that some of those large animals could be reintroduced in Britain and the United States and do fine, even benefiting the ecosystems there, as long as there was public support. And I learned quite a bit about the debates among conservationists about just what they are supposed to conserve and the best ways to do it. So, Monbiot's book contains a lot of eye-opening information, and a way of looking at wildlife and ecology that is different from most conservationists that I have read. However, this book would have benefited from some serious editing. At times it reads like a series of rants, where Monbiot makes the same point repeatedly, asks rhetorical questions, accuses government officials of being in the pockets of agriculture lobbyists, etc. By the end of the book I had lost patience with the ranting and skipped over whatever didn't seem to be imparting information. I'm glad I read this book, but others may not have the patience to wade through Monbiot's opinion pieces.
isisa's review against another edition
expected sth a bit more nonfiction and a little less personal essay about connecting with your Palaeolithic past self. no hard feelings but not for me at this point
brnycx's review against another edition
5.0
the almost complete loss of any really wild spaces in the uk, and our complacency about it, is something i and many others lament. there is something missing in most of our lives that can't be found in the concrete tower-blocks and halogen lamps of our cities, or the plasma and LED screens of our hand-held devices, or even the endless, depressing uniformity and monotony of the countryside that we're meant to cherish - there's an emptiness there.
in this impassioned book, george monbiot writes of the magic of wild places, and how - even though it's been repressed and pruned almost to non-existence - nature still exists at the sidelines, ready to reclaim the places it's been banished from if only we give it a chance to do so. drawing on exhaustive research and case studies where rewilding has already begun, the vision he imagines is a refreshingly hopeful one.
in this impassioned book, george monbiot writes of the magic of wild places, and how - even though it's been repressed and pruned almost to non-existence - nature still exists at the sidelines, ready to reclaim the places it's been banished from if only we give it a chance to do so. drawing on exhaustive research and case studies where rewilding has already begun, the vision he imagines is a refreshingly hopeful one.
holly_117's review against another edition
3.0
This book was only sort of what I was expecting. I would have liked a lot more detail on how governments and private groups are successfully rewilding areas in the UK, Europe and the US, since those seemed to be the author's main frames of reference. The author eventually got into the heart of the subject matter about 3 or 4 chapters into the book; the first several chapters really don't go anywhere, so it's a very slow start.
Overall it was still interesting and pretty good. I definitely agree that more wilderness needs to exist in the world, both on land and in the seas, so it was kind of preaching to the choir.
Overall it was still interesting and pretty good. I definitely agree that more wilderness needs to exist in the world, both on land and in the seas, so it was kind of preaching to the choir.