Book Review: This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate

I’m not quite finished yet, but Naomi Klein’s new book, This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate, is an absolute must read, regardless of where you are on the political spectrum and regardless of where you place the environment on your list of priorities.

To be sure, this is one of the most comprehensive yet readable books on climate change to come out. But it’s more than that. It’s a dire warning that what Klein calls extractive capitalism will doom us if we let it. It’s an indictment of corrupted environmental organizations, including the Nature Conservancy and the Environmental Defense Fund. It’s an explanation of the worthlessness of “market-based” solutions, like cap-and-trade. It destroys the myth that natural gas is a “bridge fuel” we can use while we wean ourselves from coal and oil. It’s an explanation of why we can’t believe in billionaires, no matter how sincerely they claim to be well intended. It’s a definitive takedown of the insanity of geo-engineering.

And it describes how maybe, just maybe, we can move past not only the threat to our climate, but the other monumental challenges of our time. (Hint: It’s not the ballot box)

This book is long, but I wouldn’t call it a slog. It’s actually a fairly easy read, just time-consuming.

The bottom line: This really does change everything. Read it.

2 thoughts on “Book Review: This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate”

  1. I’m glad that you wrote this…I’ve seen a few opinions on this book that echo your thoughts…so, I’ll put it on the “must read” list. Thanks.

    May I also suggest that you read , “The New New Deal” by Michael Grunwald. Would make for an interesting contrast. Excellent read

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