Customer Reviews

Ecological Identity: Becoming a Reflective Environmentalist

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Clearly and concisely written, the author deftly probes psychology, sociology, and the multifaceted history of environmental thought, activism, and theory.

The book is a deeply compassionate, insightful discussion that helps environmentalists reflect upon their motivations and resolve internal struggles. A "must read" for all trying to balance realism and the accompanying pain of loss (when viewing the ecological destruction happening around us) with the optimism necessary to keep on fighting positively for societal change.

This book could serve as a guiding text for an environmental discussion group, or for opening communications and building community understanding and consensus in the face of conflict.

Thoughtfully written, and carefully capturing the wonder of his learners --- and their nurturing teacher --- "Ecological Identity" is a superb book. Although the prose can be a little slow at times, the arguments are cogently presented and the style is generally helpful and lucid.

Beginners will enjoy this journey that Thomashow leads, and find the exercise well worthwhile. But this book is by no means only for the neophyte. Long-time environmentalists, eco-activists, or simply environmentally concerned readers will find a wealth of new insights each and every time they return. This is a book you will read again and still find small treasures and new directions to explore.

It's not easy being concerned for the environment or keeping a sustainable outlook life in a consumption-prone, techno-rah-rah society. Yet this is exactly the kind of contradiction swirling around and festering within each and every one of us. Learning to identify these contradictions, embrace them, and move beyond them is a formidable task. Explored so well in these chapters, Thomashow again and again strives to break through these contradictions. He leads the reader along on the quest to develop wider and wider circles of identification while simultaneously exploring one's individuality. The journey is a long one, but with guides like the author, it is a path well worth taking.

Mitchell Thomashow has written a thought-provoking book. I had trouble getting through it, in part because I kept putting it down to think about what I had just read.

Thomashow presents imaginative ways of teaching students of all ages and backgrounds to reflect upon their relationship to Nature, but he is not telling the story of any particular person's exploration, which I think would have been a more compelling way of conveying his ideas. Rather this is a textbook and is written mostly in the form of "assertion - information that backs up the assertion - summary of argument that backs up assertion" REPEAT. Thought-provking, but dry.

I found myself gliding through the personal passages wherein Thomashow describes is own realizations about his relationship to Nature and also breezing through the passages wherein in he gives you some background information on the personal perspectives and lives of his students. Only to come to a stuttering halt when he switches to expository mode.

There is something inorganic about the structure of the chapters. Background information about the diametrically opposed views of John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt (prevervation vs. conservation) does not lead smoothly into a discussion of who occupies those pole positions in the contemporary setting. Rather we get a quick once-over of the contemporary scene that claims that it's all much more complicated now. From there Thomashow proceeds to a description of a classroom exercise that forces students to think about the discrepancy between their own convictions and what position their profession forces them to take. All of this is interesting, but it does fit together neatly.

The reader will find a lot of really well thought out and clearly described teaching techniques here. The book seems largely intended for other teachers rather than for individuals who wish to reflect upon their own environmentalism in private.

Author Mitchell Thomashow,Professor of Environmental Studies at Antioch New England Graduate School present a a scholarly perspective of what it really means to be a "Reflective Environmentalist." In presenting his case, he provides the reader with a solid historical foundation for Environmental Studies, including colorful biographical sketches of ecological pioneers such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, Rachael Carson,and David Brower. Thomashow integrates his own personal observations and revelations of the Natural World with his extensive teaching experiences, thus providing a varied and thoughtful perspective of what is means to establish, and re-create a unique "Ecological Identity."
Anyone who reads this book can not help but be inspired to delve further into the ecological literature...and especially to expand their knowledge to establish a deeper relationship with Nature. Well researched, interesting, and intellectualy stimulating! Elliott Maynard, Ph.D., President, Arcos Cielos Research Center, Sedona, Arizona.