Bringing the Biosphere Home: Learning to Perceive Global Environmental Change

by Mitchell Thomashow

This book shows how to make global environmental problems more tangible, so that theybecome an integral part of everyday awareness. At its core is a simple that the best wayto learn to perceive the biosphere is to pay close attention to our immediate surroundings. Throughlocal natural history observations, imagination and memory, and spiritual contemplation, we developa place-based environmental view that can be expanded to encompass the biosphere.Interweaving globalchange science, personal narrative, and commentary on a wide range of scientific and literary works,the book explores both the ecological and existential aspects of urgent issues such as the loss ofbiodiversity and global climate change. Written in a warm, engaging style, Bringing the BiosphereHome considers the perceptual connections between the local and global, how the ecological news ofthe community is of interest to the world, and how the global movement of people, species, andweather systems affects the local community. It shows how global environmental change can become theprovince of numerous educational initiatives -- from the classroom to the Internet, from communityforums to international conferences, from the backyard to the biosphere. It explains importantscientific concepts in clear, nontechnical language and provides dozens of ideas for learning how topractice biospheric perception.

Hardcover

First published October 26, 2001

Reviews

[Z · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thomashow's main goal is to help teach the effects of climate change and extinction at the local level. He doesn't go off any theoretical deep ends--he integrates scientific, spiritual, and personal thoughts on "place" and nature observations into a beautifully conceived book.

I was impressed by his sophisticated ethic of "bioregional cosmopolitanism" that's much needed in a field that often over-romanticizes the local. He shows how migration, diaspora, and painful exile are part of the biosphere--and not just among humans.

Frankly, anyone interested in the world today should pick this book up. It's based in environmental studies, but touches on everything from art to religion to global business.