Harper Horizon, 2022

 ISBN: 978-0785291299

 

Reviewed by Marian McCain
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Well-known American activist Erin Brockovich, in her Foreword to this book, says: “We have to stand up for each other because Superman isn’t coming to the rescue. We all have a role in climate action.” And of course she is right: saving our precious planet from catastrophic climate change and saving our own species and millions of others from extinction has to be a communal effort. We cannot simply leave it to the politicians. We each have to play a role in finding solutions. But how do we know – especially when we are young –  what that role is, or is going to be?

The book’s author, Heather White, who is an environmental lawyer and an ardent activist, quotes a recent study which found that out of ten thousand students, at least half reported feeling so much eco-anxiety  that it interfered with their daily lives. So she has a particular interest in helping to empower today’s young, ‘Gen Z’ adults to find their roles in climate action. But readers of any age will find this book useful, as — unlike any other activism manuals that I have read – it provides a unique, highly practical  formula for doing precisely that.

We each, says White, need to discover what she calls our ‘Superpower’, i.e. the personality trait that best defines the type of service to our world that we are best suited to perform. She describes seven ‘service types’, viz:

The Sage: a thoughtful, compassionate, spiritually-inclined person who loves Nature and inspires others to do likewise and has a talent for healing and for conflict-resolution.
The Spark: an inquisitive, joyful, enthusiastic person who is always ready to volunteer and help others with the work.
The Beacon: someone who is good at organizing projects and is strongly motivated by a sense of justice, care for the disadvantaged and a readiness to speak out and take action.
The Philanthropist: someone who loves to volunteer and to serve and who is good at bringing like-minded people together and bringing about changes.
The Influencer: a charismatic networker who keeps close tabs on what is happening in the world and motivates others to get involved in new projects.
The Adventurer: a person who thrives on being outdoors, exploring and having new adventures and is good at helping others to have similar experiences.
The Wonk: a clear-thinking, task-oriented person with a scientific bent and strong organizational skills.

To make it easier for the reader to define his or her Superpower, the book’s companion website  (https://www.onegreenthing.org/) has a simple questionnaire for determining that. Once you have defined what aspect of the work you are best suited for, there is a ‘kickstarter’ chapter for each type that offers a plan of action, complete with a suggested timetable.

If you feel the need to ‘do something’ for the planet but have no idea where to start, then this is definitely the book for you.