New Books in Popular Culture Michael Maniates, "The Living-Green Myth" (Polity Press, 2025)
Nov 2, 2025
Michael F. Maniates, a leading scholar in environmental politics, discusses his book, The Living-Green Myth. He challenges the notion that individual green choices can drive systemic change, calling it 'utter nonsense.' Maniates delves into the origins of lifestyle environmentalism and critiques its depoliticizing effect. He emphasizes the power of collective action over consumer-focused change and advocates for institutional reforms. Additionally, he highlights the need for structural changes that simplify sustainable living, pushing back against the myths that hinder genuine progress.
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Lifestyle Acts Don't Drive Systemic Change
- Living green practices alone won't aggregate to force systemic political or economic change.
- Michael F. Maniates calls the belief that individual green acts will topple corporations or systems "utter nonsense."
Use Lifestyle Habits As Launchpads
- Do treat living green as personally meaningful but not as the primary lever for social change.
- Use lifestyle commitments as springboards to organized civic or political action, not as endpoints.
How The Living‑Green Myth Emerged
- The living-green myth grew from a 1980s mix of public anxiety, NGOs' strategic choices, and corporate marketing.
- That alliance turned green consumption into a depoliticized, market-driven route to feel effective.
