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Reviews tagging 'Genocide'
We Are the Weather: Saving the Planet Begins at Breakfast by Jonathan Safran Foer
14 reviews
emilyseebold's review
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide, Grief, Antisemitism, War, Suicide, Animal cruelty, and Mental illness
charlottemmeline's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, War, Genocide, Antisemitism, and Self harm
thebearlinwall's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
slow-paced
2.5
Not sure if I didn't like it because of the audiobook or the writing, or that I'm not the intended audience but I found it condescending, sanctimonious, and generally not a helpful perspective
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Murder, Genocide, War, Suicide, Suicide attempt, and Antisemitism
rebekahatkinson's review
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide, War, Genocide, and Death
whatlacereads's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
Essential reading.
Content Warnings
Minor: Antisemitism, Genocide, Hate crime, and Suicide
marisa_n's review against another edition
emotional
informative
reflective
slow-paced
2.0
Never before have I read a book where the author makes so many good points while simultaneously coming off as completely unhinged.
I had such high hopes for this book. In the first chapter, Foer argues that our failure to address climate change is really a failure of storytelling-- arguing that climate change advocates have failed to capture the publics attention, imagination, and sense of responsibility...
... and then he proceeds to spout out every statistic about climate change he can find, has a full-blown 45 min argument with himself to give up animal products, and continually compares the threat of climate change to the holocaust. The whole thing felt bizarre, rambling, & self-indulgent.
I think some of his points were solid, including:
-The citizens of the wealthiest countries are living unsustainable lifestyles, and the citizens of LMICs will be impacted the most by climate change
- We all need to significantly reduce our meat consumption, as it's one of the biggest causes of pollution & resource consumption (ex: no animal products before dinner)
- Individuals (esp of wealthy countries) should fly less, use public transit more, have fewer children, & vote for politicians committed to addressing climate change
Despite the importance of these points, Foer really hurt his own argument with his bizarre tangents & self-centered narrative. This book is an example of all the strategies you should not use when persuading others to change their behavior.
I had such high hopes for this book. In the first chapter, Foer argues that our failure to address climate change is really a failure of storytelling-- arguing that climate change advocates have failed to capture the publics attention, imagination, and sense of responsibility...
... and then he proceeds to spout out every statistic about climate change he can find, has a full-blown 45 min argument with himself to give up animal products, and continually compares the threat of climate change to the holocaust. The whole thing felt bizarre, rambling, & self-indulgent.
I think some of his points were solid, including:
-The citizens of the wealthiest countries are living unsustainable lifestyles, and the citizens of LMICs will be impacted the most by climate change
- We all need to significantly reduce our meat consumption, as it's one of the biggest causes of pollution & resource consumption (ex: no animal products before dinner)
- Individuals (esp of wealthy countries) should fly less, use public transit more, have fewer children, & vote for politicians committed to addressing climate change
Despite the importance of these points, Foer really hurt his own argument with his bizarre tangents & self-centered narrative. This book is an example of all the strategies you should not use when persuading others to change their behavior.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Suicidal thoughts, Genocide, and Suicide
Minor: Car accident
miriam009's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Genocide, Suicidal thoughts, and Suicide
Moderate: Antisemitism
misslexisaurus's review
challenging
dark
emotional
informative
sad
slow-paced
3.5
If you're already doing everything you can as you learn what you can do, and are fighting hopelessness about the climate crisis - do not read this book.
It did give me some insight into the people I love who believe the climate science but don't do anything, but it also made me feel utterly hopeless and guilty for not doing enough and not being able to encourage others to do anything.
On my part, I should have stopped reading it a few chapters in and I was irresponsible and didn't. If you have a weak grip on hope or the will to live, this is absolutely not the climate book for you.
It's one I will recommend to people who know but do nothing, but I wish I hadn't read it.
It did give me some insight into the people I love who believe the climate science but don't do anything, but it also made me feel utterly hopeless and guilty for not doing enough and not being able to encourage others to do anything.
On my part, I should have stopped reading it a few chapters in and I was irresponsible and didn't. If you have a weak grip on hope or the will to live, this is absolutely not the climate book for you.
It's one I will recommend to people who know but do nothing, but I wish I hadn't read it.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Genocide
vgp's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
3.5
The first part of this book is excellent and I’d like everyone to read. Then the stories feel more like rambles. Nevertheless, the message is clear: we need to do more against climate change, despite being the worst story a crisis could have.
Content Warnings
Minor: Death and Genocide
avadore's review against another edition
challenging
dark
informative
inspiring
fast-paced
5.0
I found this more challenging than I initially thought I would. I'm vegan and this book is largely about how our choices with food are one of the ways we can make the biggest impact on the climate crisis. So shouldn't I have smug in the way that people often lambast vegans for being? Rather than fit the uncharitable stereotype I felt increasing dread with every page. Will it really be enough. Will we really be able to do it. This book doesn't answer those questions, and it's not as didactic as Eating Animals. I really appreciated having a deep dive into the existential side of climate change. If you're unconvinced that reading a book can help with sorting out your feelings about the biggest crisis we're going to face together as people I would highly recommend Leena Norm's POSITIVE PANIC series on YouTube.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Suicide and Genocide
Minor: Body shaming
Some distracting and uncalled for fat-shaming towards the end but otherwise just the existential dread you would expect from a book about the climate crisis.