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42nd out of 107 books
—
67 voters
EcoMind: Changing the Way We Think, to Create the World We Want
In EcoMind, Frances Moore Lappé—a giant of the environmental movement—confronts accepted wisdom of environmentalism. Drawing on the latest research from anthropology to neuroscience and her own field experience, she argues that the biggest challenge to human survival isn’t our fossil fuel dependency, melting glaciers, or other calamities. Rather, it’s our faulty way of thi...more
Hardcover, 304 pages
Published
September 13th 2011
by Nation Books
(first published September 6th 2011)
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This book was fascinating, and the lessons it teaches are useful just not for discussing how we can go about tackling the numerous environmental crisis the planet faces, but also many social ills. Through a combination of stories about environmental advances in other countries that one hardly ever hears about in the news, and an analysis of the "thought traps" that lead many people to feel there's no way the U.S. can change it's direction, she imbues the reader with a sense that all may not be q...more
Scientists are telling us a lot of depressing news these days about climate change, species extinction, overpopulation, and dwindling resources. Plus, we have unrestrained corporate power, vast wealth disparity, and workers in crisis. It can seem hard to stay hopeful and engaged--until, that is, you encounter Lappe', who has taken on the role of cheerleader to show us positive signs. The book is a litany of new ideas small groups of people all over the world have implemented to achieve better ou...more
6/12/12 - While I'm still reading EcoMind I had to put down some of my initial thoughts. It might seem cliche to say this, but this book has been eye-opening for me. Two of the concepts that Lappe has so far covered, the thought traps of no-growth being the answer and consumer society being the problem to our climate and pollution issues, were tings that I had never really thought about. I've always been iffy on the no-growth idea, and I had the mindset that consumer society was one of the bigge...more
Climate change is overwhelming and the news is always bad. Reading a book like EcoMind is a welcome relief as it re-frames problems and potential solutions.
Using the phrase "Thought-Trap", Lappe tackles assumptions such as "No Growth is the only solution" and "Human nature must be overcome" and the far too commonplace "It's too late! We're F*@#$*!".
She provides well researched data to show the above and other assumptions are false, and writes about recent examples of people, groups, and commun...more
Using the phrase "Thought-Trap", Lappe tackles assumptions such as "No Growth is the only solution" and "Human nature must be overcome" and the far too commonplace "It's too late! We're F*@#$*!".
She provides well researched data to show the above and other assumptions are false, and writes about recent examples of people, groups, and commun...more
I finished the book this week and went Lappe give a book talk about this book on Thursday evening in Brookline. I have been a Frances Moore Lappe fan for a long time and was very happy with this book. Now I'd like to read more from other authors (philosophy or psychology or economics) about the importance of "frames of mind" -- how the way we think affects the world around us. I like the concept of frames of mind (which I first encountered in her book "Getting a Grip" and would like to apply it...more
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I am on a mission to find ways to re-frame liberal goals in ways that focus on how to draw in people who usually see anything "eco" as meaning that humans are bad and must stop doing things they like. This book is full of ideas, facts to back up the ideas, and lists of resources one can contact for further detail.
This is the same author who wrote "Diet for a Small Planet" many years ago. You can get more information about her teachings at www.smallplanet.org.
I read this in about 4 hours, includi...more
This is the same author who wrote "Diet for a Small Planet" many years ago. You can get more information about her teachings at www.smallplanet.org.
I read this in about 4 hours, includi...more
This is one of Lappe's recent books and its main theme is considering climate change, politics, the food system, etc. not as isolated problems/issues, but as part of a larger ecosystem to reshape our thinking in defining solutions to our world's largest problems. The idea is that it is all connected and each change we make impacts the whole system. Because it was published earlier this year, the book also includes tons of fascinating case studies from around the world for greener living that I h...more
When too many environmental experts are scared and fatalistic about climate change and environmental degradation, Frances Moore Lappe says "don't give up." She admits she's scared too but advises we use that energy to find positive actions to take. She notes that humans are most likely to do something if it has proven successful and proceeds to provide examples from across the world.
Re-forestation projects in Africa, Asia, and S America that help local women and men prosper in rural areas is jus...more
Re-forestation projects in Africa, Asia, and S America that help local women and men prosper in rural areas is jus...more
Now that I'm finished reading this important and educational book about the possibilities for our environment, I have more hope for the future. Ms. Lappe truly gives ingenious ideas for the care of our Earth and tells us about others who are in her realm of study and activism so that we can research them also. Now is the time to get involved, Frances Lappe shows us some of those ways.
Very interesting. It was especially nice to learn about various local efforts world-wide to overcome the environmental degradation that's seemed so rampant in past decades (ie, deforestation).
On the downside, at times it read a bit too much like a self-help book. All the same, kudos to the effort to get people looking at the issue from a different perspective.
Well, she's good at reframing the argument, but the author offers few concrete solutions and this book reads more like a wishy-washy book of spirituality. Yes, let's focus on community and creativity, but give us more to go on. I skimmed this book instead of reading it because I found little to sink my teeth into.
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This was a good book that actually challenges the environmental movement. Written by an environmentalist, it asks people involved in the movement, and others, to rethink the way they frame issues. It's an interesting read. Mostly theoretical, but with a few solid examples of things you can do - with the right frame of mind.
Dec 08, 2011
mayhugh
marked it as to-read
Drawing on the latest research from anthropology to neuroscience and her own field experience, she argues that the biggest challenge to human survival isn’t our fossil fuel dependency, melting glaciers, or other calamities.
Quite a thought-provoking book. I had to work hard to suspend my natural cynical impulses, but there is hope for us, it seems. Hard to summarize, for me, but highly recommended.
Everyone should read this book. It explains clearly the problems we are facing and helps to change the frame of the discussion of climate change from blaming to inspiring to change. It's so powerful.
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the penultimate chapter on the connections between the low quality of our democracy, the high levels of economic inequality, and our horrible inability to act in the interest of the environment. In clear, simple language, Lappé explains the way in which hav...more
One of my favorite aspects of this book was the penultimate chapter on the connections between the low quality of our democracy, the high levels of economic inequality, and our horrible inability to act in the interest of the environment. In clear, simple language, Lappé explains the way in which hav...more
I like this author. She makes a clear connection from food to our civic lives. The bibliography is 73 pages...making it a great resource for lots of reasons.
Read this one...you'll laugh, cry and become inspired.
Read this one...you'll laugh, cry and become inspired.
Apr 25, 2013
Brenda Ellis
marked it as to-read
Recommended by author (New Economy series)
It is so nice to find a book dealing with climate and politics that doesn't seek to blame and offers positive solutions.
challenges assumptions
Excellent research. Utopian ideas. Not as revolutionary, in my opinion, as her Diet for a Small Planet.
you are what you think.. that's it..
Really found the last chapter most helpful. It inspired me!
May 19, 2013
Rachelle Ternier
marked it as to-read
May 19, 2013
Laura
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Lindsey Knobloch
marked it as to-read
May 12, 2013
Julia
marked it as to-read
| topics | posts | views | last activity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insight Environme...: Democracy | 1 | 2 | Apr 21, 2013 04:30pm |
Frances Moore Lappe--author of fifteen books, including three-million-copy bestseller Diet for a Small Planet --distills her world-spanning experience and wisdom in a conversational yet hard-hitting style to create a rare "aha" book. In nine short chapters, Lappe leaves readers feeling liberated and courageous. She flouts conventional right-versus-left divisions and affirms readers' basic sanity -...more
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