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christianhartman 's review for:
The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming
by David Wallace-Wells
My theory holds yet again on reading books which I know aggressively lean one way or the other: cut off 40% of the most partisan statements, the data interpreted incorrectly, and the policy conclusions drawn not from careful analysis but from alarmist pathos, and the 60% that is spared the paring knife remains an unambiguous picture of our current crisis. Nothing is harder to fight than a slow motion disaster, there is no clear villain, political and social will is hard to sustain decades at a time, and the problem hurts those who have caused most of the problem, the wealthiest, the least.
I am not ashamed of the progress humanity has made, largely based on fossil fuels, this has been the only great time in the history of the world for the majority of the population, billions have been raised at the very least out of extreme poverty and there is so much to look forward to. However, while I absolutely do not agree with the socialist tendencies that arise from a noble intention to pull together through collective action to combat this problem, let alone to idolize the totalitarian climate initiatives made by leaders such as Xi Jinping, I do not agree either with the libertarian "leave me alone" at almost any cost philosophy than downplays the need for any sort of collective, for it is an easy step to move from asking the government to largely leave you at peace (which I agree with), to asking everyone to leave you alone (which I must admit I must fight every day), for then are social institutions, charities, churches, clubs eroded, and the paths to collective (non-governmental) actions are eroded as well.
This book is worth the read, because while this should not be the only book you read about the climate, it clearly defines the limits of fear this issue can produce. Lastly, that fear should not be our guiding principle, but fear used properly as a motivating force, clearly identifying which issues should marshall our clearest thinking, widest compassion, and cleverest problem solving, we might need a little more of.
I am not ashamed of the progress humanity has made, largely based on fossil fuels, this has been the only great time in the history of the world for the majority of the population, billions have been raised at the very least out of extreme poverty and there is so much to look forward to. However, while I absolutely do not agree with the socialist tendencies that arise from a noble intention to pull together through collective action to combat this problem, let alone to idolize the totalitarian climate initiatives made by leaders such as Xi Jinping, I do not agree either with the libertarian "leave me alone" at almost any cost philosophy than downplays the need for any sort of collective, for it is an easy step to move from asking the government to largely leave you at peace (which I agree with), to asking everyone to leave you alone (which I must admit I must fight every day), for then are social institutions, charities, churches, clubs eroded, and the paths to collective (non-governmental) actions are eroded as well.
This book is worth the read, because while this should not be the only book you read about the climate, it clearly defines the limits of fear this issue can produce. Lastly, that fear should not be our guiding principle, but fear used properly as a motivating force, clearly identifying which issues should marshall our clearest thinking, widest compassion, and cleverest problem solving, we might need a little more of.