Being the Change

"Being the Change is a book I desperately needed to read. The tone of authenticity kept me reading eagerly till the end. It is refreshing and empowering to read about real-life solutions, rather than the guilt-ridden, doom-and-gloom tales that dominate much of the environmental movement. Kalmus is positive, by contrast, bursting with practical strategies. He writes with joy, infectious curiosity, and a hopeful enthusiasm that's hard to resist. -- Treehugger, Katherine Martinko, June 2017 Kalmus, an atmospheric scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is strongly convinced that living without fossil fuels is not only possible but better for both the planet and the individual. The author draws on science, practical action, and spiritual examination to make the case that by reducing our carbon footprint, people can slow global warming and the ensuing civil unrest. Suggestions include biking, growing our own food, using a clothesline and solar-heated water, and turning off the lights when they're not in use. Kalmus encourages meditation to provide satisfaction in the moment rather than the need for more, presenting valuable tips for opting out of what he deems a destructive system. VERDICT Kalmus' straightforward and necessary steps toward ameliorating the challenges of global warming will be welcomed by a wide readership. Highly recommended. -- Library Journal Starred Review, August 2017 Addressing both climate change helplessness and the meaning of everyday life, this book posits a personal, positive approach to environmental mindfulness. Being the Change approaches climate change from a fundamentally different perspective. It repudiates the idea that individuals can do nothing about climate change and encourages mindful transition to a low-energy lifestyle--not as a sacrifice to stop a threat, but as a means of embracing a richer life. This emphasis on the bright side of climate change mitigation has a good chance of resonating with ambivalent audiences...The book offers an unusually comprehensive and scientifically satisfying explanation of how climate change happens. ...That it is able to do so in a straightforward way is a significant feat. ... Likely to be popular, Being the Change is a worthy contender for display space in public libraries. --Foreword Reviews, 5 stars, Anna Call, September/October 2017 ""Being the Change is a book I desperately needed to read.... The tone of authenticity kept me reading eagerly till the end. It is refreshing and empowering to read about real-life solutions, rather than the guilt-ridden, doom-and-gloom tales that dominate much of the environmental movement. Kalmus is positive, by contrast, bursting with practical strategies. He writes with joy, infectious curiosity, and a hopeful enthusiasm that's hard to resist."" -- Treehugger, Katherine Martinko, June 2017 ""Kalmus, an atmospheric scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is strongly convinced that living without fossil fuels is not only possible but better for both the planet and the individual. The author draws on science, practical action, and spiritual examination to make the case that by reducing our carbon footprint, people can slow global warming and the ensuing civil unrest. Suggestions include biking, growing our own food, using a clothesline and solar-heated water, and turning off the lights when they're not in use. Kalmus encourages meditation to provide satisfaction in the moment rather than the need for more, presenting valuable tips for opting out of what he deems a destructive system. VERDICT Kalmus' straightforward and necessary steps toward ameliorating the challenges of global warming will be welcomed by a wide readership. Highly recommended."" -- Library Journal Starred Review, August 2017 This book has shown me that it is worthwhile to keep fighting, and that the littlest actions can be powerful. Written by Peter Kalmus, an atmospheric scientist from Altadena, California, Being the Change is the story of his family's transition to life on one-tenth of the fossil fuels used by the average American family. The story is remarkable.--Katherine Martinko, Treehugger, June 2017Library Journal Starred Review, August 2017 Kalmus, an atmospheric scientist at NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is strongly convinced that living without fossil fuels is not only possible but better for both the planet and the individual. The author draws on science, practical action, and spiritual examination to make the case that by reducing our carbon footprint, people can slow global warming and the ensuing civil unrest. Suggestions include biking, growing our own food, using a clothesline and solar-heated water, and turning off the lights when they're not in use. Kalmus encourages meditation to provide satisfaction in the moment rather than the need for more, presenting valuable tips for opting out of what he deems a destructive system. VERDICT Kalmus's straightforward and necessary steps toward ameliorating the challenges of global warming will be welcomed by a wide readership. Highly recommended."