Unsettling: surviving extinction together

This beautifully written offering centers around a literal interpretation of its title. Weinberg, a science writer based in the Pacific Northwest, urges readers to take action against the horrific, man-made environmental effects of settling (or colonizing) land, forests, oceans, and waterways. Weinberg offers well-documented, personal background stories about the polluting and thoughtless consumption of natural resources that have caused the eradication of entire species and destruction of ecosystems. She lays the blame on thoughtless, entitled exploitation resulting from traditionally male, white supremacist, heteronormative systems. Weinberg shares anecdotes about growing up queer and never feeling like she fit in anywhere. In nature, though, she still finds great solace, having spent much of her life in the outdoors, especially in the mountains near her home in Portland. The author's plea for action envisions a future that protects our planet through a new kind of environmentalism that incorporates feminist and queer perspectives. Weinberg's fresh observations and lyrical descriptions of wildlife and various environments create vivid word pictures for readers, and her unique book deserves a wide audience.

Essayist Weinberg debuts with an impassioned if uneven argument that the broad American conception of climate change has roots in colonialism and racism. Americans are far more culpable for warming the planet than politicians often admit, Weinburg writes, citing data that suggests that "from 1850 to 2014, our nation sent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other." That's tied in with a colonial way of thinking, she posits, and is largely due to the loss of Indigenous ways of life: "In our quest for glory--for gold, for land, and now for oil--we've lost not only the culture-keepers but also physical records that might help us understand what we've lost." But while she insists change is necessary, there isn't much in the way of actionable advice, and the author spends much of her time stuck on winding reflections ("How do you radically change a world where extractive capitalism is the rule? How do you change the actions of eight billion people, each with their own agenda, whether it's getting rich or just surviving?"). This might work as a thought exercise. (Oct.)

*Starred Review* This beautifully written offering centers around a literal interpretation of its title. Weinberg, a science writer based in the Pacific Northwest, urges readers to take action against the horrific, man-made environmental effects of settling (or colonizing) land, forests, oceans, and waterways. Weinberg offers well-documented, personal background stories about the polluting and thoughtless consumption of natural resources that have caused the eradication of entire species and destruction of ecosystems. She lays the blame on thoughtless, entitled exploitation resulting from traditionally male, white supremacist, heteronormative systems. Weinberg shares anecdotes about growing up queer and never feeling like she fit in anywhere. In nature, though, she still finds great solace, having spent much of her life in the outdoors, especially in the mountains near her home in Portland. The author's plea for action envisions a future that protects our planet through a new kind of environmentalism that incorporates feminist and queer perspectives. Weinberg's fresh observations and lyrical descriptions of wildlife and various environments create vivid word pictures for readers, and her unique book deserves a wide audience. Copyright 2022 Booklist Reviews.

Essayist Weinberg debuts with an impassioned if uneven argument that the broad American conception of climate change has roots in colonialism and racism. Americans are far more culpable for warming the planet than politicians often admit, Weinburg writes, citing data that suggests that "from 1850 to 2014, our nation sent more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere than any other." That's tied in with a colonial way of thinking, she posits, and is largely due to the loss of Indigenous ways of life: "In our quest for glory—for gold, for land, and now for oil—we've lost not only the culture-keepers but also physical records that might help us understand what we've lost." But while she insists change is necessary, there isn't much in the way of actionable advice, and the author spends much of her time stuck on winding reflections ("How do you radically change a world where extractive capitalism is the rule? How do you change the actions of eight billion people, each with their own agenda, whether it's getting rich or just surviving?"). This might work as a thought exercise. (Oct.)