Climate: A New Story

By: Charles Eisenstein

Narrated by: Steve Wojtas

Length: 10 hrs and 18 mins

Publisher's Summary

Flipping the script on climate change, Eisenstein makes a case for a wholesale reimagining of the framing, tactics, and goals we employ in our journey to heal from ecological destruction

With research and insight, Charles Eisenstein details how the quantification of the natural world leads to a lack of integration and our “fight” mentality. With an entire chapter unpacking the climate change denier’s point of view, he advocates for expanding our exclusive focus on carbon emissions to see the broader picture beyond our short-sighted and incomplete approach. The rivers, forests, and creatures of the natural and material world are sacred and valuable in their own right, not simply for carbon credits or preventing the extinction of one species versus another. After all, when you ask someone why they first became an environmentalist, they’re likely to point to the river they played in, the ocean they visited, the wild animals they observed, or the trees they climbed when they were a kid. This refocusing away from impending catastrophe and our inevitable doom cultivates meaningful emotional and psychological connections and provides real, actionable steps to caring for the Earth. Freeing ourselves from a war mentality and seeing the bigger picture of how everything from prison reform to saving the whales can contribute to our planetary ecological health, we resist reflexive postures of solution and blame and reach toward the deep place where commitment lives.

©2018 Charles Eisenstein (P)2018 North Atlantic Books

Critic Reviews

“What a blast of sanity! Eisenstein's corrective is a bracing piece of work, dazzlingly thought through and eloquent in its articulation. He writes from within an uncannily woke worldview, enacting a full-bodied way of thinking that discerns and feels into the complex entanglement of our lives with every facet of this breathing biosphere. This book is visionary and prophetic, achingly grounded and useful to the max.” (David Abram, cultural ecologist, geophilosopher, and author of Becoming Animal and The Spell of the Sensuous)

“There is nothing ‘safe’ in these writings; almost every chapter courts controversy. We as readers are the beneficiaries of this bravery. This is a message that must be heard loud and clear as we chart a path toward social and ecological renewal.” (Helena Norberg-Hodge, author and filmmaker of Ancient Futures and The Economics of Happiness)
 

“This is a groundbreaking book. Eisenstein makes an inspiring, positive, and convincing case for a full and proper understanding of the present human predicament - a radical shift from a utilitarian worldview to an integral world view rooted in a sense of the sacred which recognizes the intrinsic value of nature and life.” (Satish Kumar, founder of Schumacher College and editor emeritus of Resurgence & Ecologist)

Not just a book, but a way of life

If we, as a global society, could only read two books for the duration of our lives they should be: The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible AND Climate A New Story - both by Charles Eisenstein. These two brilliant works of art beautifully articulate the change that is needed as well as the change that IS happening. The change starts with us, with each of our unique expressions of life being embraced and cultivated through love. You are Loved. You ARE Love.

A paradigm pusher of a climate story

Charles Eisenstein presents a compelling argument for a shift in the whole foundation of the climate discourse. In media and politics the discussion is most often framed in terms of finance and economics, a weighing of fiscal gain against climate losses, a story doomed to failure as their can be no reconciliation there. Eisenstein presents powerful examples of where change does actually occur and illustrates how it comes out of individual or collective connection to place, that we react when we see the loss of habitats we have come to love and not at statistics over global temperature changes or indeed the paralysingly catastrophic rhetoric of many climate campaigns. He offers pragmatic ways in which such understandings can be translated into public policy on a local/global level. This is a broad, open and encompassing treatise that will resound with people on all sides of the 'climate debate' without diminishing in any way the depth of the crisis we currently find ourselves in.
The narrater reads as though he were the author - in the best possible sense.

powerful

Really challenged me to think outside the box. A new and broad way to look at healing the planet.

Repetitive Talking Head pays lip service to Heart

I find Charles to be repetitive and verbose. Saying what could be said in a few succinct statements with long winded left brained paragraphs. He is very left brained.

He groups spiritual practices into one thing as if non-dual teachings and shamanism are the same thing. He gets a bit into his feeling when he talks about some magical trees at the end but is often just long winded and boring. if you have listened to one of his books you have listened to them all...

Changing our view of the planet through love.

Charles Eisenstein has a very unique approach to healing. I certainly have been affected by this book specially in seeing the world as a living, integrated being. Humans being a part of it. This vision will help us to radiate love and acceptance for the intertwined, complex web we are all a part of. I used to quantify everything and this book has changed my perspective of the approach of the quantifiable and the story of separating things. I had read and listened to his essay prior to reading the whole book but it was definitely a whole lot better. I hope it can be a source of inspiration to many more.

Incredible Lucidity

I’m a big fan of Charles Eisenstein’s work, and this book was no exception. He has a way of unfolding and revealing a new world story in a way that gives me a very grounded sense of hope. This book is full of both useful, sobering information and inspiring, hopeful possibilities. The narrator was very pleasant to listen to and read the book with heart. Highly recommend!

A lucid approach to saving life on this planet.

Eisenstein takes you through an understanding of our current issues by picking apart climate talking points of both liberalism and conservatism. He does so with balance and fairness. Not only does he help knock down our walls of political dogma, he brings applicable solutions to each member of our society. If there is going to be one book you listen to this whole year please make it this one. This book should be a required read/listen if you are a human.

Great Discussion, No Matter Where You Stand

I really enjoyed being given all perspectives and listening to a discussion on each factor that affects climate and our current situation here on Earth. While I do not agree entirely with all points made, it was extremely helpful to hear arguments and cases made for each idea. Very well done. I would recommend this to anyone, from climate alarmist to climate deniers. All have something to gain from this book.

the story is love

I hope billions of people read and hear this book. Deeply challenging and hopeful. We need a level of shift in our perception and consciousness that is far beyond any mathematical debate around climate. We will always be at war with each other and the environment until we can start from a place of love.

one of this era's most important books

Eisenstein does it again: he gets beyond the reason into the dark spaces of our culture's subconscious narratives and deconstructs its foundation while he holds the reader's hand to steady them as their whole worldview unravels, He offers a new narrative. a new hope, a stronger and more grounded foundation for a new more beautiful world.

This book is a good philosophy book for non-philosophers. It is not meant to be as thorough as a philosopher might expect, but its great for most of us. it does not need to be complex or unintuitive to be granted as true. it is simple and true in the most profound way.

Yes, brilliant, let's do it!

Very many people will recognise important messages and see possibilities for action from this book

Little said in a lot of words

This author talks and talks and never seems to say anything. Just when you think he is getting to the point, another stream of words circle you round and you are left waiting.

Repetitive and rather inconclusive

I appreciate the tentative approach to a commonly discussed problem from a rather unconventional point of view, but the author, in my opinion, makes the mistake of being repetitive while also putting two very different things on the same level.
There is also a tendency to the usage of generalized categories, as if all scientists acted in a cold surgical way and all unconventional thinkers acted out of the pureness of their hearts, instead of delusional thoughts.
Finally, the author offers his objectives as a solution, without offering a real way to get there.