In a captivating conversation, Paul Hawken, a renowned environmentalist and entrepreneur, discusses his inspiring work, Carbon: The Book of Life. He reframes carbon as essential to life, emphasizing our interconnectedness with nature. Hawken highlights the importance of regeneration and the role of grief as a measure of love. He shares insights on Indigenous wisdom, the transformative impact of fire on humanity, and how listening to nature can deepen our existence. His thoughts inspire curiosity and a renewed commitment to environmental stewardship.
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insights INSIGHT
Climate Crisis is a Human Crisis
The climate crisis reflects a human crisis, not a crisis of the climate itself.
Humans' objectification of nature perpetuates disconnection and harmful actions.
insights INSIGHT
The Importance of Regeneration
All life regenerates, but humans disrupt this flow by taking more than they give.
Shifting towards regeneration requires recognizing our interconnectedness with all life.
question_answer ANECDOTE
The Rye Seed Example
A single rye seed has 14 million roots, each interacting with mycelium in a complex exchange.
This demonstrates the vast, unseen life beneath the surface and our limited understanding of it.
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Set in 1917 at Craiglockhart War Hospital in Scotland, 'Regeneration' follows the story of army psychiatrist William Rivers as he treats shell-shocked soldiers, including the poets Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, and the fictional character Billy Prior. The novel delves into the psychological and emotional traumas inflicted by the war, highlighting the complexities of identity, masculinity, and social structure. It contrasts humane and inhumane treatments of war trauma, reflecting on the broader impact of the war on individuals and society[3][4][5].
The Light Eaters
How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth
Zoë Schlanger
In 'The Light Eaters,' Zoë Schlanger delves into the world of plant intelligence, challenging our understanding of agency, consciousness, and intelligence. The book takes readers on a global journey, highlighting the remarkable abilities of plants, such as their adaptive techniques, communicative abilities, and social behaviors. Schlanger works closely with scientists to uncover the latest epiphanies in botanical research, revealing how plants have formed a parallel system of intelligence that is distinct from human and animal intelligence. The book is a blend of science journalism, travelogue, and introspective journey, offering a fresh and transformative understanding of plants and their essential role in the ecosystem.
The book of life
daily meditations with Krishnamurti
Jiddu Krishnamurti
The Book of Life presents 365 timeless daily meditations developed thematically over seven days. It illuminates concepts like freedom, personal transformation, and living fully awake. Inspired by Krishnamurti's belief that truth is found through living, the book compels readers to introspect and understand the deep-rooted fears, anxieties, sorrows, and pleasures that are part of human experience. Each quotation can be read daily to provide motivation and a new perspective on life and the self[2][4][5].
Drawdown
The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming
Blaffert & Wamhof (Artist group)
Drawdown is a seminal text on climate solutions, compiled by an international coalition of researchers, professionals, and scientists. The book presents 100 substantive, existing solutions to address climate change, ranging from clean energy and educating girls in lower-income countries to land use practices that pull carbon out of the air. It provides a roadmap to drawing down greenhouse gas emissions and emphasizes the importance of sustainable development and collective action to combat climate change[1][4][5].
Blessed Unrest
Paul Hawken
The realities of human-driven climate change are only just starting to hit home for many of us. Meanwhile, activists like Paul Hawken—along with the people who have endured the devastating impacts of environmental degradation in the places they call home—continue to raise the alarm for a planet in peril. In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with the renowned environmentalist and entrepreneur about his latest work, Carbon: The Book of Life, an awe-inspiring read that Tami dubs “a love letter to the flow of life.”
Give a listen to their conversation on: why the climate is never really in crisis (and who is); the narratives of disconnection that perpetuate a sense of separation from life; why “the only way forward is regeneration”; how humanity’s “othering” in order to get ahead just puts us all behind; the concept of flow in the natural world; the extraordinary complexity of life and the trillions of creatures communicating with each other every day; tapping into the power of curiosity and wonder; overcoming the overwhelming inertia of the existing capitalist system; why our grief is a measure of our love; embodying the timeless qualities of compassion, cooperation, and respect; the connection between the loss of Indigenous languages and species loss; apocalypse—the revelation of that which is hidden; how the discovery of fire impacted human evolution; mystical experiences in nature; leadership—listening to all the voices; and more.
Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
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