Animism with Gordon White

Donna Haraway's "Staying with the Trouble" offers a powerful critique of anthropocentrism and calls for a more-than-human approach to understanding the world. The book explores the complexities of living in a world facing multiple crises, including climate change and social injustice. Haraway advocates for a multispecies approach, emphasizing the interconnectedness of all living beings and the need for a more ethical and sustainable relationship with the environment. She challenges traditional boundaries between humans and nature, promoting a more relational and symbiotic understanding. The book's insights have significantly influenced discussions on animism, environmental ethics, and feminist science studies.

Eduardo Kohn's "How Forests Think" delves into the ontological turn in anthropology, challenging traditional Western perspectives on the relationship between humans and nature. The book focuses on the Amazonian Runa people and their unique way of understanding the world, where the boundaries between humans, animals, and plants are blurred. Kohn argues that the Runa's animistic worldview offers a powerful alternative to the anthropocentric views prevalent in Western thought. He emphasizes the importance of understanding different ontologies and the need for a more relational approach to studying human-environment interactions. The book's insights have significantly impacted discussions on animism, indigenous knowledge, and environmental ethics.

The story follows Xander Shute, a former wealthy banker now living on the streets, who witnesses a murder in an empty Mayfair flat. Despite his clear account, the police do not believe him, leading Xander to investigate the truth himself. As he delves deeper, he must confront his fractured memories and a troubled past involving his family and a past relationship. The book is a character-driven thriller that explores themes of trauma, unreliable memories, and the struggle for justice.