A Conservationist Manifesto

February 2, 2009
In these predictable but frequently insightful essays, Sanders (Writing from the Center
) muses on how to care for the Earth, local communities and future generations. He condemns the mainstream “American way of life” as an “infantile dream of endless consumption, endless novelty, and endless play” and, calling for a “dream worthy of grownups,” explores ways to realize this dream, such as his own decision to stay put in one place and discover that his ambition was not to “make a good career but to make a good life” and remain attentive to nature and the present moment. Sanders offers a 40-point “Conservationist Manifesto,” which, in its thoroughness, thoughtfulness and inclusion of environmental justice issues would serve the environmentalist community well. But the most original and intriguing ideas in this book are Sanders's thoughts about words and their meanings, as when he suggests that for a season we make explicit the meaning of “consumers” by replacing it with “devourers,” or that wilderness is a Sabbath of space rather than time, and we need both kinds of Sabbath “because Earth could use a respite from our demands.”

April 1, 2009
How should we act in response to alarming environmental havoc? As with every great endeavor, such as the abolition of slavery, whats needed is a declaration of values and intent. A manifesto. Sanders, a proven voice of reason and clarity, offers exactly such a document in the hope of shaping an effective green movement. But first he has some stories to share, terms to define, and fresh perspectives to establish. Writing lucidly and stirringly from his home base in Indiana, Sanders views preserving wilderness as a Sabbath in space instead of in time. People who practice an ethic of restraint are ark builders because their simpler ways of living are vessels holding the wisdom we need to survive the rising flood of environmental concerns. Sanders writes crisply about what it really means to call a place home; reminds us of our common wealth, the living world; and decries endless consumption. Generosity of spirit and love of life underpin Sanders 40-point blueprint for ecological health.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2009, American Library Association.)