Paul Hawken is a renowned environmentalist and bestselling author known for his works on sustainable practices. In this enlightening discussion, he delves into the complex relationship between carbon and life, emphasizing nature's intrinsic intelligence. Paul challenges traditional narratives about climate change, advocating for a more compassionate approach that prioritizes interconnectedness. He shares insights on mycelial networks as Earth's connectors, and encourages humility and wonder as vital tools for fostering a deeper connection with nature.
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insights INSIGHT
Climate Narrative Needs Reframing
The climate movement's fear-based narrative has largely failed to engage the majority of people.
Objectifying carbon as an enemy misses the relational and complex nature of the living world.
insights INSIGHT
Carbon is Life's Narrator
Carbon should be seen as a dynamic flow and a fundamental life narrator, not just a pollutant.
Its improbably rare cosmic origin makes it a central thread connecting all life and culture.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Noticing the Sentient Redwoods
Paul Hawken used to walk past the redwoods without noticing them until he learned they can perceive movement.
Realizing the trees notice him changed his relationship with nature profoundly.
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How Fungi Make Our Worlds, Change Our Minds and Shape Our Futures
Merlin Sheldrake
In 'Entangled Life,' Merlin Sheldrake delves into the fascinating world of fungi, discussing their roles in decomposition, fermentation, nutrient distribution, and the production of psilocybin. The book examines how fungi interact with plants and animals, including their ability to manipulate insect behavior and form vast underground networks known as the 'Wood Wide Web.' Sheldrake also explores the historical and modern uses of fungi, from food and medicine to their potential in environmental remediation. The book is both a scientific exploration and a personal account, challenging traditional concepts of intelligence and individuality and offering a new perspective on the interconnectedness of life.
Carbon
Carbon
Paul Hawkins
Finding Ultra
Rejecting Middle Age, Becoming One of the World's Top Ultrarunners
Rich Roll
Finding Ultra recounts Rich Roll’s remarkable journey from an out-of-shape, mid-life couch potato to one of the world’s top ultrarunners. The book chronicles his battle with alcoholism, his transformation into an elite endurance athlete, and his adoption of a plant-based lifestyle. It includes his experiences in the elite Ultraman competition and the EPIC5, five Ironman-distance triathlons completed in less than a week on different Hawaiian islands. The revised and updated edition provides practical tools, practices, and strategies for optimal performance, longevity, and wellness, making it a guide for anyone seeking to transform their life through self-discovery and a healthier lifestyle.
Voicing Change
Rich Roll
Voicing Change is a culmination of Rich Roll's eight-year journey of interviewing unique thinkers and visionaries on his acclaimed podcast. The book distills the collective wisdom from these conversations into thoughtful essays and first-person wisdom, focusing on themes of intentional living, life lessons, and enduring inspiration.
Leaves of Grass
Walt Whitman
Natalie Montoto
First published in 1855, 'Leaves of Grass' is Walt Whitman's magnum opus and a cornerstone of American literature. The collection, which Whitman continued to revise and expand until his death, explores themes of identity, nature, democracy, and the human condition through free verse poetry. It is renowned for its innovative style and its celebration of the individual and the collective.
Civil Disobedience
Henry David Thoreau
In 'Civil Disobedience', Thoreau argues that individuals should prioritize their conscience over the dictates of laws. He criticizes American social institutions and policies, particularly slavery and the Mexican-American War. Thoreau contends that government derives its power from the majority rather than from legitimate viewpoints and that people should refuse to follow unjust laws. He recounts his own acts of civil disobedience, including refusing to pay taxes and spending a night in jail, as a model for moral resistance against oppressive laws. Thoreau emphasizes the importance of accepting the consequences of such actions and argues that true reform cannot come from within the government but through individual acts of defiance[1][4][5].
Paul Hawken is one of the great elder statesmen of environmentalism, a bestselling author, and the mind behind Drawdown and Regeneration.
This conversation explores the biosphere's intrinsic intelligence through the expansive lens of Paul's latest book, Carbon: The Book of Life. We discuss carbon's improbable origins, examine the mycelial networks that function as Earth's connective tissue, and challenge our extractive relationship with nature.
He methodically deconstructs our reductive approaches to climate solutions, highlighting how humility and wonder might be our most powerful tools for planetary stewardship.
Paul’s perspective represents not merely a shift in environmental thinking, but a fundamental reimagining of our relationship with the living world. Enjoy!
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