Terrible Beauty

Reckoning with Climate Complicity and Rediscovering Our Soul

De: Auden Schendler

Narrado por: Michael Butler Murray

Something's gone badly awry with environmentalism. We faithfully separate our waste into different streams, but wonder whether it really makes a difference. Global companies announce their commitment to carbon negativity while simultaneously sponsoring oil conferences. American businesses, communities, and individuals assiduously measure their carbon footprints, then implement voluntary emissions-reduction programs, all while trumpeting their do-gooderism.

The problem is, none of this—whether individual efforts or corporate sustainability tactics—will make a dent in solving the civilizational threat of climate change. We only pretend it will, at our peril.

As Auden Schendler argues in this provocative, powerful book, we're living a big green lie. The hard truth is that much of the modern environmental road map could have been written by the fossil fuel industry specifically to avoid disrupting the status quo. But there is another truth: while ineffective or duplicitous environmentalism has become standard practice, we all have friends and family we love and care about, whose future depends on solving the problem of climate change. Conscience tells us we have an obligation to repair the world. How can our common dreams be so at odds with our daily practice? And how might we meld our spirit and our passion to create a better future?

©2025 Auden Schendler (P)2024 Ascent Audio

Powerful and Fun Must Read Hits Home!

This book is a master class in focusing on what really matters and not getting distracted by the noise. With a narrative that’s poetic, flip and honest, it’s equal parts “fight climate change” and “Fight Club.” A fun and thoughtful read that packs a gut punch and truly hits home. Terrible Beauty challenges us to do more by asking us to reconcile our passion for the things we love (life, community, nature, family) and our underwhelming efforts to self regulate ourselves in ways that actual protect our world and our children from climate change. Terrible Beauty asks us to let that fragility of life drive a renewed commitment to protecting it. In that way, the book transcends typical climate discussions by humanizing and personalizing it. But what it also gets right is: 1) harnessing the power of storytelling in a fast but compelling way, 2) Making science simple, tangible and accessible, and 3) Providing an honest assessment of the author’s real world, lived experiences (successes and failures) that help point to the bigger drivers that can, if we focus on them, create meaningful change.

Bomb Thrower

I applaud Auden Schendler for throwin’ bombs. Truth-to-power bombs. Come-to-Jesus bombs. Wake-the-f*ck up bombs. Bombs that expose the true inability of corporate sustainability, ESG and carbon offset programs to make a dent in climate breakdown. Pointing out the absurdity of letting free market capitalism lead the way to a cleaner future. We’ve run out of time and have few options. We need experienced voices like Schendler’s to cut through the greenwashing chaff and help us focus on what’s really going to work. And yes, even though this book is part tough-love, it’s also part, “I have a dream.” He does provide solutions and a path forward. Terribly Beauty is wonderfully written and expertly narrated. If you truly care about our future and what it will look and feel like, this is a must read.