Wisdom for a Livable Planet: The Visionary Work of Terri Swearingen, Dave Foreman, Wes Jackson, Helena Norberg-Hodge, Werner Fornos, Herman Daly, Step

By Carl N. McDaniel

Book Overview

The author profiles the work of eight visionaries who have dedicated their lives to various environmental issues. Each story provides a portrait of an individual's valiant and inspiring campaign to improve the conditions for life on our planet. Taken together, the work of these people points the way toward creating an ecologically centered civilization in which a brighter future for all life, including human, is possible.
*Terri Swearingen takes on one of the world's largest hazardous waste incinerators burning toxic waste next door to an elementary school.
*Stephen Schneider establishes the scientific basis for climate change
*Herman Daly advocates a dynamic steady-state economy that respects the laws of nature and human behavior.
*David Orr champions educational reform to make universities a place where students learn how to be environmentally aware citizens
*Werner Fornos works toward empowering every person with the knowledge and means to decide when and how many children to have
*Helena Norberg-Hodge champions local living with appropriate technologies to enhance our spiritual and ecological well-being.
*Wes Jackson promotes sustainable agriculture based on local ecology and community values
*Dave Foreman leads the effort to rewild almost half of North America with wolves, mountain lions, jaguars, falcons, and others to restore functional ecosystems and preserve biodiversity

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1595340092
• ISBN13: 9781595340092
• Release Date: March 2005
• Publisher: Trinity University Press
• Length: 277 Pages
• Weight: 0.96 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Wonderful book and great addition for relevant courses

I can't say enough good things about this book, and the heroes within it. If you want inspiration, it is here. If you want to get energized to fight for the environment, you will find it within the pages of this book. I use it in my courses to bring hope to my students, which are otherwise doom and gloomed by our current environmental conditions. There is plenty of that in this book, but the hope within it makes it quite different from other similar works. It has my highest recommendation.

Important and thought-provoking

"Wisdom" is a collection of very readable and thought-provoking biographies of people who are trying to make a difference at a time when every obstacle is being placed in the way of ideas and actions that are concerned with our future. These people are today's heroes. McDaniel knows his subject and explains in very understandable terms the ideas and actions of each person plus what their causes mean for the future and the consequences if we don't listen to what they are telling us. Everyone, regardless of their political persuasion, should read this book.

Important book

'Wisdom for a Livable Planet' highlights the incredible environmental contributions of eight people in various fields. It gives a sense of the breadth of environmentalism today, while uniting all eight of the book's subjects in their resolve to fight against the overwhelming forces of anti-environmentalism found in our political and academic institutions today. Why is it so hard to fight to protect our planet? Because most of us see everything through the filter of economics which treats the environment as a commodity. Until leaders (political, educational, and spiritual) understand the importance of defending our environment, until they spread the word of living within the context of our environment, we are doomed to destroy ourselves. Those leaders could start by educating themselves with this book. I think everyone should read it. I even donated a copy to my local library.