Ratings4
Average rating4.3
United Nations Champion of the Earth, climate scientist, and evangelical Christian Katharine Hayhoe changes the debate on how we can save our future in this nationally bestselling “optimistic view on why collective action is still possible—and how it can be realized” (The New York Times). Called “one of the nation’s most effective communicators on climate change” by The New York Times, Katharine Hayhoe knows how to navigate all sides of the conversation on our changing planet. A Canadian climate scientist living in Texas, she negotiates distrust of data, indifference to imminent threats, and resistance to proposed solutions with ease. Over the past fifteen years Hayhoe has found that the most important thing we can do to address climate change is talk about it—and she wants to teach you how. In Saving Us, Hayhoe argues that when it comes to changing hearts and minds, facts are only one part of the equation. We need to find shared values in order to connect our unique identities to collective action. This is not another doomsday narrative about a planet on fire. It is a multilayered look at science, faith, and human psychology, from an icon in her field—recently named chief scientist at The Nature Conservancy. Drawing on interdisciplinary research and personal stories, Hayhoe shows that small conversations can have astonishing results. Saving Us leaves us with the tools to open a dialogue with your loved ones about how we all can play a role in pushing forward for change.
Reviews with the most likes.
I'll just say it. I loved this book.
I've followed Katharine Hayhoe via social media feeds for a bit now, and I've been impressed by her practical, accessible efforts to communicate climate change. As an emergency management consultant, I've experienced the challenge of connecting the science to action, particularly in the mitigation and disaster recovery phases. I picked up the book not really knowing what to expect, but I figured it would be relatable.
Relatable it was, and I was struck by how actionable it is. It's not that I expected to be brow-beaten by facts. I knew from Hayhoe's social feeds that's not her style. I found myself nodding to the climate data, learning as I went, but I really found myself digging the other data from behavioral and social science disciplines. Integration of fields is challenging, and I feel it's missing from so many good books aiming to inform readers on a variety of important topics. While I'll pick up any interesting book, it was wonderfully helpful to have relevant information on climate, etc., under a single cover rather than just across the room on my shelf.
I found Sections 2 and 3 to be particularly impactful. I'd recommend reading the whole book, but if you're into previewing, there's the place to start.