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3.72 AVERAGE
3.72 AVERAGE
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I can see how this book would not be for everyone as it is written in more of a discussion style however I absolutely loved it. Many of the authors thoughts, and feelings mirrored my own. I will likely re-read this book and definitely recommend it to friends.
challenging
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
I received an ARC of this as a FirstRead in exchange for my unbiased opinion.
Most people believe the scientific data that the planet is warming because of human activity. However, what are most of us actually doing to change the trend? Will future generations look back on climate believers any better than climate deniers if the believers don't actually do anything to fix the problem? In We Are the Weather, Jonathan Safran Foer looks at what we can do on an individual level to have the greatest impact on reducing climate change.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone in the western world. So many of us who believe in climate change don't do much beyond recycling and waiting for governments and/or companies to mandate change in the use of fossil fuels. That's not good enough to bring about change. Foer does an excellent job of recognizing how difficult it can be to make the necessary changes in our life, even though we know theoretically that it is what needs to be done. He admits that he himself struggles but impresses upon us that we need to keep trying, even if we can't be perfect. This is a highly readable book with a lot of data and persuasive arguments. This is my first book by Jonathan Safran Foer, and it makes me want to check out his other books, both fiction and nonfiction.
Most people believe the scientific data that the planet is warming because of human activity. However, what are most of us actually doing to change the trend? Will future generations look back on climate believers any better than climate deniers if the believers don't actually do anything to fix the problem? In We Are the Weather, Jonathan Safran Foer looks at what we can do on an individual level to have the greatest impact on reducing climate change.
I would highly recommend this book to everyone in the western world. So many of us who believe in climate change don't do much beyond recycling and waiting for governments and/or companies to mandate change in the use of fossil fuels. That's not good enough to bring about change. Foer does an excellent job of recognizing how difficult it can be to make the necessary changes in our life, even though we know theoretically that it is what needs to be done. He admits that he himself struggles but impresses upon us that we need to keep trying, even if we can't be perfect. This is a highly readable book with a lot of data and persuasive arguments. This is my first book by Jonathan Safran Foer, and it makes me want to check out his other books, both fiction and nonfiction.
challenging
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
Read this. Right now.
A well-written - and more importantly, an extremely relatable - book about climate change. I am now - for the first time - seriously considering a vegan diet. "Choosing to eat fewer animal products is probably the most important action an individual can take to reverse global warming—it has a known and significant effect on the environment, and, done collectively, would push the culture and the marketplace with more force than any march."
“It is dangerous to pretend that we know more than we do. But it is even more dangerous to pretend that we know less.”
A well-written - and more importantly, an extremely relatable - book about climate change. I am now - for the first time - seriously considering a vegan diet. "Choosing to eat fewer animal products is probably the most important action an individual can take to reverse global warming—it has a known and significant effect on the environment, and, done collectively, would push the culture and the marketplace with more force than any march."
“It is dangerous to pretend that we know more than we do. But it is even more dangerous to pretend that we know less.”
Good ideas but a bit rambling and disjointed. I thought his book Eating Animals was much better
Because of the chaos of the battlefield, and because each soldier's experience is wholly consuming for him, and because it feels like fighting, no one realizes that it only feels like fighting—that he is as effective a soldier as the dummies parachuting from the sky.
This book, much like the planet, is a hot mess.
Let's put it frankly: We Are the Weather needed to be better than it was. Jonathan Safran Foer tried to do way too much with way too little of an argument over an issue that we all know is extremely complicated. His thesis is an important one, and warranted a book this long or even longer. But the argument he presents is only worth an essay in the New York Times or the Atlantic - albeit a very good one.
For some reason, Safran Foer is convinced that, when it comes to climate change and the significant role of meat and dairy consumption, the telling requires more "philosophical rigor" and that "the retelling is as important as what is being told." This is so frustrating because these comments mean that Safran Foer is consciously doing the things that makes this book virtually unreadable.
The result is a book where Safran Foer, an excellent writer and communicator, is totally lost in his own thoughts (there's genuinely an entire section where he debates with and berates himself) and fails to communicate or enlighten. Every chapter is philosophical and hypothetical meanderings with truly stunning realities and anecdotes randomly dropped in, all to build toward a punchline, sometimes related to what you just read and sometimes not. The book frankly reads a bit like a breakdown, which is the last thing we need for this topic.
This book is so disappointing because of its simultaneous potential and inutility - we do need a good book that puts the real threat of animal agriculture to our planet into understandable terms. We just still don't have that book. I am one of the converted, but Safran Foer’s prose and train of thought here are practically impenetrable.
What did I learn from this book? I should probably stop eating cheese. So should you. It has some pretty intense environmental impact - comparable to beef. Who knew. You don't have to read this book now.
The planet will get revenge on us, or we will be the planet's revenge.
This book, much like the planet, is a hot mess.
Let's put it frankly: We Are the Weather needed to be better than it was. Jonathan Safran Foer tried to do way too much with way too little of an argument over an issue that we all know is extremely complicated. His thesis is an important one, and warranted a book this long or even longer. But the argument he presents is only worth an essay in the New York Times or the Atlantic - albeit a very good one.
For some reason, Safran Foer is convinced that, when it comes to climate change and the significant role of meat and dairy consumption, the telling requires more "philosophical rigor" and that "the retelling is as important as what is being told." This is so frustrating because these comments mean that Safran Foer is consciously doing the things that makes this book virtually unreadable.
The result is a book where Safran Foer, an excellent writer and communicator, is totally lost in his own thoughts (there's genuinely an entire section where he debates with and berates himself) and fails to communicate or enlighten. Every chapter is philosophical and hypothetical meanderings with truly stunning realities and anecdotes randomly dropped in, all to build toward a punchline, sometimes related to what you just read and sometimes not. The book frankly reads a bit like a breakdown, which is the last thing we need for this topic.
This book is so disappointing because of its simultaneous potential and inutility - we do need a good book that puts the real threat of animal agriculture to our planet into understandable terms. We just still don't have that book. I am one of the converted, but Safran Foer’s prose and train of thought here are practically impenetrable.
What did I learn from this book? I should probably stop eating cheese. So should you. It has some pretty intense environmental impact - comparable to beef. Who knew. You don't have to read this book now.
The planet will get revenge on us, or we will be the planet's revenge.
I read this book at the beginning of 2020 and it has taken a lot of time for me to think about how I wanted to write this review. There are two books that have had a lasting impact on me this year. The Future We Choose and this one.
Climate change, for me, is not only terrifying in general, but adds to a general sense of anxiety about large scale economic and social issues that on a daily basis there is very little we can actually do about it.
I will add here that I very much like Safran Foer's style of writing. And this does add bias to my review, his semi stream of consciousness, rhetorical writing is enjoyable for me.
So, this sense of hopelessness and powerlessness about how one person can effect climate change and environmental action (beyond voting, my god voting is so important) is something I think about frequently.
The actions of one person, when corporations are by far more responsible for climate change than we are, can feel helpless and apathy to such a large and complex problem is common.
This book addresses this, it talks about apathy, helplessness, about honest personal actions that can be taken and have an immediate impact on a personal and global level. This includes energy providers, cars and of course, the aspect of any individual life (especially so in affluent countries) diet.
This in itself is a complicated issue. Of time, money, the ways and places we were raised. This is raised in the book and could have been better addressed, but ultimately these sections of the book read more to me as a mournful letter to Safran Foer himself, about how this struggle is very deep and personal, but so profound (to me at least).
Others will have found this a self indulgent lacklustre attempt at pushing a vegan agenda. Which is valid. I however, saw it as a self reflective, mournful plea for difficult and real change for a concept that is difficult to grasp and act on.
If you want to read a book that will make you think and feel (even if that feeling is, I don't like this) please let it be this book.
5 Stars.
Climate change, for me, is not only terrifying in general, but adds to a general sense of anxiety about large scale economic and social issues that on a daily basis there is very little we can actually do about it.
I will add here that I very much like Safran Foer's style of writing. And this does add bias to my review, his semi stream of consciousness, rhetorical writing is enjoyable for me.
So, this sense of hopelessness and powerlessness about how one person can effect climate change and environmental action (beyond voting, my god voting is so important) is something I think about frequently.
The actions of one person, when corporations are by far more responsible for climate change than we are, can feel helpless and apathy to such a large and complex problem is common.
This book addresses this, it talks about apathy, helplessness, about honest personal actions that can be taken and have an immediate impact on a personal and global level. This includes energy providers, cars and of course, the aspect of any individual life (especially so in affluent countries) diet.
This in itself is a complicated issue. Of time, money, the ways and places we were raised. This is raised in the book and could have been better addressed, but ultimately these sections of the book read more to me as a mournful letter to Safran Foer himself, about how this struggle is very deep and personal, but so profound (to me at least).
Others will have found this a self indulgent lacklustre attempt at pushing a vegan agenda. Which is valid. I however, saw it as a self reflective, mournful plea for difficult and real change for a concept that is difficult to grasp and act on.
If you want to read a book that will make you think and feel (even if that feeling is, I don't like this) please let it be this book.
5 Stars.