The Green Boat: Reviving Ourselves in Our Capsized Culture

by Mary Pipher

"Mary Pipher takes on our planet's greatest problems with the skills of a truly gifted therapist. She knows why we avoid and deny the truth and she knows how we can heal ourselves and our communities even as we try to heal the earth. This book is a deep and true gift."—Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth

In Reviving Ophelia , Mary Pipher offered a paradigm-shattering look at the lives of adolescent women. Now Pipher is back with another ground-breaking examination of everyday life, this time exploring how to conquer our fears about the major environmental issues that confound us and transform them into a positive force in our lives.

Pipher emphasizes the importance of taking small, positive steps to preserve what’s important, drawing from her own experiences as part of a group fighting energy company TransCanada’s installation of the Keystone XL oil pipeline across the Midwest, which will sit atop the Ogallala Aquifer, the source of 40% of the United States’ fresh water. The challenges she confronts reveal surprising answers to the critical questions we face: How do we mobilize ourselves and our communities to work together to solve global problems? How do we stay happy amid very difficult situations?  And what is the true meaning of hope?

Both profound and practical, The Green Boat explains how we can attend to the world around us with calmness, balance, and great love.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Nature, Politics, Psychology, Sustainability, Earth

237 pages, Paperback

First published June 4, 2013

About the author

Mary Elizabeth Pipher, also known as Mary Bray Pipher, is an American clinical psychologist and author, most recently of Women Rowing North, a book on aging gracefully. Prior to that, she wrote The Green Boat, which was published by Riverhead Books in June 2013.

Reviews

[Meg · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just finished reading an advanced review copy.

First of all, I think definite thanks need to be given to Mary Pipher for all her dedicated work around the Keystone XL pipeline. One of the most valuable elements of this book, for me, was reading an insider's account of the coalition-building in Nebraska around that effort, and hearing a story of such a campaign successfully overcoming ideological and partisan divides.

But, while that story is incredibly interesting, I think the book fails at its main goal of breaking through the emotional paralysis to help us adequately address our current ecological, political, and social crisis. Yes, I do believe that taking actions, even small ones, builds hope at those moments when hope itself is what seems in short supply. But Pipher once again offers up the same list of consumerist, individualized actions that we've been reading about for years, and which do not aid in overcoming the despair so many of us (who are already doing these things!) feel in light of the increasingly dire news about climate change.

When she moves on to discuss the collective action taken by her coalition, I thought we would at last see a meatier discussion of the true dynamics of motivation and greater cultural change in face of absolutely sclerotic political system. Instead, the final chapters after the anti-pipeline coalition receives a stunning defeat (despite the obvious support of the majority of Nebraskans) can be summarized as "how to stay cheerful in the face of clear political corruption that just happens to be speeding up our already catastrophic situation." Another way of putting it: "we lost, but at least we made friends."

I think the social bonds that are made during such campaigns are incredibly important. But especially in places where the local community does not seem as close knit as Pipher's idealized Lincoln, NE, those bonds are often not as strong as we might hope and more difficult to maintain in the face of organizing failures.

Many of her points remain relevant: we do need to maintain some focus on friendships, personal health, and a reasonable pace of living in these times, because not to do so is to allow possible trauma to overtake us and prevent our ability to act at all. But the bigger question is still there: how do we manage to find the psychological resources to take action commensurate to the problems at hand - action that succeeds - and that leave us in-tact as whole and caring people? Can those two things be done at once? These are the questions I went into Pipher's book with, and they're still questions that feel mostly unanswered coming out of it.

[Abilouise · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book sat on my shelf for a while, because I didn't want to think about the environmental devastation happening every second in our world. When I started reading this book, I breathed a deep sigh of relief, because this book is about not going crazy in our current world, and not lying to ourselves, and not sinking into inaction and pessimism, and what that looks like for her, and what it might look like universally for people. I really like Mary Pipher's writing style, and also her sly humor and activism. This was a treat to read!

[Tandie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Just received The Green Boat in the mail today. Thank you to Penguin Group for providing me with a free copy. I really enjoyed Mary Pipher's Reviving Ophelia, so I'm looking forward to reading her newest book!

I was a little disappointed in The Green Boat. I loved Letter to a Young Therapist and Reviving Ophelia, so I was set to really like this too. It was much more political than I was expecting, and the author & I differ in our views. About global warming, she made this statement: I knew Hurricane Sandy was no more a "natural disaster" than September 11 had been. That made me wince.

I agree that taking care of the earth is important and that we can have a big impact by making small changes in our lives. Recycle, use cloth grocery bags, buy local organic produce, don't waste water or electricity. These are values I embrace and try to pass on to my children. When I shop, I ask the same questions the author does. Can I buy it used, borrow it, repair what I already have, find a better alternative, or do without? I also agreed about coping with the stress that our economical & environmental issues cause.

On page 204, she says The Occupy movement is a good example of people coming out of their trances and working together to build a new world. If she's talking about Occupy Wall Street, I'm not sure she understands how many individuals & small business owners were HURT by many of the participants' actions. I'm all for being part of a cause you believe in. I just think it's important to tread carefully and do something positive to share your beliefs & promote change.

Not my favorite book by this author. There was still a positive message and I appreciate her efforts to bring important environmental issues to our attention.

Thanks again to Penguin Group for giving me the opportunity to read & review this book!

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

For anyone struggling to stay hopeful in a society in which corporate power rules and serious action on climate change by our government has not even begun, this timely little book provides strong support. As in her previous books, Mary Pipher writes simply, powerfully, humbly, and with a great heart. Instead of giving some intellectual treatise about how to sustain hope, she movingly describes her own experience, along with similarly motivated friends, in opposing the Keystone XL pipeline in her home state of Nebraska (which is on the proposed route of the pipeline).
Pipher's group faced stiff and well-funded opposition, not just from TransCanada, the pipeline's builder, but also from the Nebraska governor and legislators, who sided with TransCanada. Pipher and her coalition in Lincoln starting meeting regularly for potlucks and discussion, became friends, began to plan fun and creative public events and other actions to bring attention to the issue, were sometimes successful, sometimes discouraged, but most importantly, didn't give up despite setbacks. (The ultimate outcome is still uncertain.) She saw firsthand that feelings of frustration and isolation are greatly relieved by taking action on behalf of a passionately-held cause, and that in so doing, a community develops. Ultimately hope is not some elusive feeling we may try to talk ourselves into, but is actively generated by a community that keeps showing up to defend the planet and its living beings. The greater the number of small groups of committed folks there are, the more hope is created, both for those involved and for the larger society.
The Green Boat covers some of the same ground as Joanna Macy's excellent Active Hope, but if you only have time to read one, read Pipher.

[Charlou · Rating 3 out of 5]

How can she have captured my feelings today in a book written in 2013? Some of us just must get to places before the rest of us. And so just doing what I can and know it's OK.

[Sara Dame · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy of this book from GoodReads.

This book was not at all what I expected it to be. I assumed it would be another run-of-the-mill book about the environment that emphasized recycling and saving the animals. And in a way, it was. But, to me, it was so much more than that as well. Pipher uses her experience trying to stop TransCanada from building the Keystone XL pipeline and destroying the tar lands in Nebraska. To me, this made a hot-button topic much more interesting and relatable. Furthermore, she used this example to show how grassroots groups can actually have an impact.

Pipher's story and argument is that of hope. This is hope that the environment can be "saved," but in order to do that there needs to be a culture shift and that culture shift is NOT going to come from the government down (regardless of party lines.... the government is not going to be the savior). It has to come from the bottom up. While Pipher and her group in Nebraska were ultimately unsuccessful in stopping the pipeline from getting built, they definitely made an impact.

Pipher also talks about the reasons that people either deny that climate change is a real thing or don't take action to stop it. She talks about the fact that in America especially we have a mindset that she calls the "Great Acceleration," which makes it difficult for us to even admit there is a problem, let alone make any real effort to solve it. This mindset makes it difficult for people to grasp ways that they CAN help.

While some of Pipher's discussions and arguments probably are oversimplified, I found that refreshing. I am not an expert on climate change by any stretch of the imagination, and I have no desire to read a book that is full of scientific facts about climate change that will simply bore me, scare me, and overwhelm me. Reading this book was refreshing because, to me, it was hopeful. It didn't have any ideas that were incredibly groundbreaking or different than what we've all probably heard before, but it was presented in a way that held my attention and made me feel like even if all I have the time and energy to do is work on recycling more (for example), then I have not failed.

[Bart · Rating 4 out of 5]

“It is no measure of health to be well adjusted to a profoundly sick society," said Krishnamurti. But is it possible to be well-adjusted if you are painfully aware that society is profoundly and dangerously sick, and you can't accept, forget or ignore that sickness? I may have looked in the wrong places, but I've had a hard time finding books that address this, or that deal with the deep interconnections between the personal and the political on an individual level. Often it seems that psychotherapy is psychotherapy, and activism is activism, and never the twain shall meet.

So I picked this book up the moment I came across it and read the cover blurbs.

Having finished it, it's very hard to "rate" it with a simple star system, but I read it all quite quickly and mostly with keen interest. Much of the book is drawn from the author's own personal and recent experience. If I have one quibble, it's that many of the off-hand references to this person and that person in her circle of activists seem too quick and shallow to add much value. On the whole, though, I found it a thought-provoking and encouraging read.

[Kendrick Herbert · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love historical events like this.
Boats and historical events are what make me love reading. Could you please share the sequel books of your series?

In fact, even though I started reading very late, I'm getting more and more immersed every day.

It is a great chance to read the books of important authors. I know that. I'm looking forward to your new books.

I am writing the importance of reading a book here for friends who want to read this book. I hope it will benefit sellers and customers...

Are the top 10 benefits of reading for all ages:

1. Reading Exercises the Brain

While reading, we have to remember different characters and settings that belong to a given story. Even if you enjoy reading a book in one sitting, you have to remember the details throughout the time you take to read the book. Therefore, reading is a workout for your brain that improves memory function.

2. Reading is a Form of (free) Entertainment

Did you know that most of the popular TV shows and movies are based on books? So why not indulge in the original form of entertainment by immersing yourself in reading. Most importantly, it’s free with your Markham Public Library card.

3. Reading Improves Concentration and the Ability to Focus

We can all agree that reading cannot happen without focus and in order to fully understand the story, we have to concentrate on each page that we read. In a world where gadgets are only getting faster and shortening our attention span, we need to constantly practice concentration and focus. Reading is one of the few activities that requires your undivided attention, therefore, improving your ability to concentrate.

4. Reading Improves Literacy

Have you ever read a book where you came across an unfamiliar word? Books have the power to improve your vocabulary by introducing you to new words. The more you read, the more your vocabulary grows, along with your ability to effectively communicate. Additionally, reading improves writing skills by helping the reader understand and learn different writing styles.

5. Reading Improves Sleep

By creating a bedtime routine that includes reading, you can signal to your body that it is time to sleep. Now, more than ever, we rely on increased screen time to get through the day. Therefore, by setting your phone aside and picking up a book, you are telling your brain that it is time to quiet down. Moreover, since reading helps you de-stress, doing so right before bed helps calm your mind and anxiety and improve the quality of sleep.

6. Reading Increases General Knowledge

Books are always filled with fun and interesting facts. Whether you read fiction or non-fictions, books have the ability to provide us with information we would’ve otherwise not known. Reading a variety of topics can make you a more knowledgeable person, in turn improving your conversation skills.

7. Reading is Motivational

By reading books about protagonists who have overcome challenges, we are oftentimes encouraged to do the same. The right book can motivate you to never give up and stay positive, regardless of whether it’s a romance novel or a self-help book.

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[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful reading for those frustrated by political polarization or climate issues.

In some ways, this is two books combined into one.

The first part has some useful insights into how human psychology works in unpleasant, unacceptable situations, and how this impacts responses to the climate crisis. These insights may be second nature for someone in the counseling profession, but they're something I need to go back and re-read after time passes in order to fully operationalize them.

Since the pros like Ms. Pipher know how humans respond to overwhelming problems, I was hoping she would offer a strategy that would instantly mobilize the public to wake up and take appropriate action for survival. But alas, this is not the case. What happens in "The Green Boat" is more like the approach recommended by the Yale Program on Climate Communication.

The second part of the book is about reaching out to neighbors in Nebraska, and appealing to their love of place and home to protect their surroundings.

A very important lesson-- people want to save the people and places they love. If you accept the narrative that it's all about political polarization and having your side win, there's no way to appeal to people with opposing political viewpoints. If you look to a shared home, and love of nature and beauty, then citizens can unite and work to preserve the environment.

[Bruce · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a psychology book, The Green Boat is interesting, but as a support for Global Warming, it is a self-righteous diatribe whose every argument could be and indeed is used to by the opponents of Global warming. To cart blanch judge those who oppose the belief in Global warning, and many of them are far more qualified that Mary Pipher to talk about such matters, is ludicrous.
I am an engineer, and I believe that I am significantly more of a scientist than Mary Pipher, and that I've forgotten more about physics and planetary / celestial mechanics than she has an inkling of. The science and the math of those scientist that proposed global warming back in the early 90s was in error because of a decimal error in their unexamined and unchecked calculations is unprofessional, unethical, and irresponsible. I am disappointed that Mary Pipher throws every cheap psychological explanation and rationalization at the character of those with whom she disagrees with. She goes out of her way to denigrate the spiritual and psychological maturity of those who simply disagree with her.

[Chava · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the kind of book I would normally choose. I like Mary Pipher's writing, and I thought it was a more general psychology book. It's about the grass roots struggle to prevent the XL TransCanada pipeline from running through the Nebraska Sandhills.

While our politics may differ in many ways, I enjoyed the straight-forward presentation of the facts and the activities Pipher's group undertook to rally support for their cause. Rather than an angry mob focused on one issue, the group tried to look at the environment as a whole, and to expand out from local, regional, and state issues to the same issues in the rest of the world - clean water and green space.

For anyone who wants to stand up to the government/big business hierarchy and organize a caring group of people, this is an excellent blueprint. I'm glad I read the book.

[Carmen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although she writes simply and clearly, Mary Pipher is able to make her words and thoughts resound. The main idea of the book is relationships, how we value them and use them to improve our lives. She shows how getting together to make a difference is important, but people often join clubs for the companionship. She discusses the individual acts versus the group acts. How we can never know all the effects of our actions. But the phrase that really resounded with me is "Our world needs passionate people who will work at what they love."

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book really touched me. I'm still not totally sure what to think about it. But as usual, I think Pipher is wise and correct in what she says. To integrate and accept the wreck we've made of our world we need to connect and not let go of the fight to make things better. Even if it's futile. It was a hard but much needed read.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well written and easy to read and understand. I can see how the ideas presented were revolutionary several years ago. I've encountered most of them before, but reading the book served as a good reminder. A little too much detail for me about the coalition to stop the pipeline from coming through Nebraska.

[Phil · Rating 4 out of 5]

Having read Pipher before, I was not disappointed. Now a grandmother, she lives in Nebraska and is fighting the pipeline by fostering a grass roots movement. Along the way, she tries to tackle the issue of why we all feel so helpless against global climate change.

A good read. I fished this one out of trash pile and it will be heading to a little free library in my neighborhood.

[Bethany Divakaran · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an influential book for me, representing a shift in mindset from taking individual action to finding hope in collective action. Mary's language to describe the process of transcendence from ignorance to despair to hope is still helpful to me today.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first portion of the book talks about how we are experiencing a form of trauma from climate change and our awareness of it. That part was interesting, the rest not so much.

[Deb M. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found the book slow getting into but glad I stuck with it. Her coping mechanism idea is perfect for the world today.

[Ru201132 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love the author message. Especially the last chapter as she talks about the meaning behind the title and it is beautiful.

[Lesley Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great reminder of what's at stake... Pipher urges the reader to take off the blinders!

[Cath Sharp · Rating 3 out of 5]

did not finish. I get her points though.

[Scott · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's just not for me. And Pipher retreated from activism too, so I guess it wasn't for her either. Didn't finish it.

[Steve Malone · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting and thought provoking book but a little too preachy for me. There are gobs of assertions made and quotes from many different authors, in most cases either "it goes without saying" or somewhat obscure. It is an interesting journey taking on stopping the XL Pipeline through Nebraska and its relevance to climate change issues. The specifics of how the author and her group proceeded is a strong point.

[Katy Lovejoy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eh.

I've read better and more impactful non fiction books

[Andrea McDowell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wanted to like this book a lot more than I did.

What environmentalist has not at least sometimes felt the way that Mary Pipher did when she set out to write this book? It can be devastating: every day you set out to fight something, and most of the time you lose; when you win, the wins are often temporary and lost again in the future. Climate change, biodiversity loss, ocean acidification, all continue to worsen, while society as a whole remains willfully unaware, determined to shop its way to salvation. Each of those problems has the potential to collapse human society and even end the human habitability of planet earth; combined, they are terrifying, and yet very few people seem to be terrified. For people working, either professionally or on the side, in the environmental field, the combination can be psychologically debilitating.

So what a wonderful idea, to write a book from a therapist's perspective, on how not to become unhinged and to maintain one's ability to work productively.

Except that Mary Pipher is not qualified to write this book. Her environmental activism began in 2010, and she is unable to consider the humanity of her opponents.

I admire her body of work and have read most of her books, including Writing to Change the World , which was phenomenal. I understand and respect that she has a lifetime of activism behind her on many issues. But environmental activism and specifically climate change activism are different in some key ways that she does not discuss or admit to, the key difference being that the loved Other is constantly dying, and this may cause the death of everything. And with all due respect, those of us who have been working on this for more than three years have already gone through the process she describes--more than once. What will she do when all of the work she pours into this comes back again and again as worth nothing or less than nothing? When she fails, not once, but dozens of times--will she keep getting up and finding solace in continuing to work and building a community? Maybe. But I'd find it a lot more convincing if she either had that experience herself, or had talked to those of us who had.

The other issue, the dehumanization of the proponents of the Keystone XL Pipeline, is particularly ironic as she spent a large part of Writing to Change the World arguing how important it is not to do that. As a result, she comes off as less of a climate activist and more of a NIMBY, determined to keep the Keystone Pipeline away from Nebraska but otherwise content to keep her climate activism to reusable shopping bags and CFL lightbulbs.

As someone who has been in the environmental field since highschool (I helped start my highschool's environmental club), who has studied it and worked in it full-time ever since, it is impossible to overstate how enormously frustrating this is. Every landscape is special to the people who live there. Every one has some feature or service that makes it unique and important and worthy of conservation. No project is perfect or without impact. There is no such thing as a "perfect" location for any project; just ones that are good enough, and ones that aren't.

Having been on the receiving end of the kinds of character assassinations that she engages in (in my case for wind energy projects), I can state categorically that it has no positive outcome whatsoever to speak or write of people that way. Whoever produced the Keystone XL Environmental Impact Statement, and without regard to the quality of their work or the accuracy of their conclusions, they are almost certainly good people trying to do what they believe is the right thing. To characterize them as corrupt evil-doers trying to buy off Nebraska politicians goes far beyond "unhelpful."

There is some good material here to those new to climate activism--say, post the Copenhagen debacle--in terms of how to cope and keep working. For anyone who has been through more than a few rounds on this one, this is not the book for you. I wish Pipher had sat on this for a few years and written it with the benefit of more hindsight and perspective, after having had some conversations with her enemies, and after having talked to climate activists who have had to cope with these emotions over decades. How great it would have been to hear Bill McKibben's thoughts on this, or Hansen's. I very much suspect that by 2020, Pipher will feel the same way.

[Glen Grunau · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of my greatest disappointments in Christians has been my discovery of how many there are who care so little for this created earth we have been given by God. Of course, there are many who do not believe in God who also care little for the environment. But this somehow seems easier for me to comprehend.

I appreciated how Mary Pipher kept returning to the connection between caring for and protecting our earth and living a life of simplicity. For once we buy into the mad race of getting ahead and acquiring more, care for our earth inevitably becomes a remote afterthought.

Mary offers a very contemplative approach to earth care, explaining how we first need to face our denial and our despair about the trajectory the human race has taken in our neglect of the earth before we can take any meaningful steps to reverse this trend.

This book is full of little wisdom quotes, many contributed not by the author or other wisdom sayers, but by her friends assembled together with her for a specific environmental cause. What I wasn't expecting from this book was the amount of wisdom-for-living-well that extends far beyond any of their environmental concerns.

Mary tells the story of how her community came together for the sole purpose of resisting the building of the Keystone pipeline from the Alberta tar sands through her state of Nebraska. Her exposure of corporate tactics for the use power, wealth, and political influence was insightful. How sad from the point of view of a Canadian like myself that part of the corporate greed behind the building of this pipeline was Canadian in its origins.

My favourite little take-away quote offered near the end of this book: "Healing the earth is not a liberal or conservative idea— it is a form of prayer".

[Sandy H · Rating 2 out of 5]

I need to start by saying that I'm a huge Mary Pipher fan--I believe I've read every one of her books and often recommend them to others--her book In the Middle of Everywhere is on my "must read" list for anyone volunteering with refugee populations. So as soon as I saw she had a new one out, I pre-ordered it and had great expectations.

Sadly, I was disappointed. I very much appreciate Pipher's work on the pipeline. But I felt the topic of the book was a bit thin, as if Pipher really wanted to write an environmental book about the pipeline but felt she didn't have the street cred for that so couched it in psychotherapeutic terms. It ended up feeling a bit weak to me on both fronts. I also couldn't help feel but the focus on the pipeline was a bit "not in my backyard," as it didn't really address any possible solutions other than the pipeline taking another route--so apparently it's okay for it to go through someone else's environmental backyard. But that's a different issue and probably has no place in a book review, so let me stick to reviewing this as a book. I would've preferred to have the book be either more fully environmental or more fully psychotherapeutic about hope, advocacy, activism in very general terms. The straddling of both worlds wasn't particularly effective for me.

That being said, I'm sure I'll still pick up her next book, regardless of the topic. I enjoy her writing style and have really loved all of her past books, so the fact that this one didn't particularly strike a chord for me doesn't affect my overall view of her as an author.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Psychologist, author, and long-time Nebraska resident Mary Pipher (Raising Ophelia and many others) writes about first feeling overwhelmed by climate change and other environmental issues facing the world, and then responding by becoming an activist. In a warm, folksy, passionate, and intelligent style she points out how much many people do to help without even realizing it, and goes on to describe many more things to do. This is never presented in a judgmental fashion, instead emphasizing the positive and recognizing that at different points in their lives people have varying abilities and opportunities for involvement.

This is a short book, but in places it was repetitive. For me, the engaging tone made this fairly easy to overlook.

My favorite parts of the book were those focusing on the work of the coalition Pipher helped form to fight approval of the Keystone XL (“Xtra Leaky”) Pipeline. A group of strange bedfellows embraced the common cause of protecting the Nebraska Sandhills and the Ogallala aquifer from the eminent domain the Nebraska legislature was willing to hand to TransCanada. The book describes the coalition’s creative methods, embracing all talents and levels of commitment, and its victories and setbacks through the book’s publication in 2013. Of course the end to this story is still up in the air, now on the national level – probably with much more to come within a few days of this review.

[Marty Troyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I arrived at the last page of Mary's Pipher's The Green Boat, I immediately turned back to the beginning and read it entirely again.
And then I emailed two separate groups of people - for two completely different reasons - and encouraged them to read it also. They almost all did, and found it helpful.

Here are the two reasons I gave.
First, it tells an extraordinary story of how hope is lodged in community. When a network of like-minded people find each other, commit to mission together, and creatively set about their task together they not only do far more good than they ever could together. They find themselves more transformed than they ever dared imagine. I think her story can be my story, and your story as well.

To a second group I talked about her passion for overcoming climate change. She is sharp, honest, prophetic at times, and does a great job of communicating the science in accessible ways. She doesn't preach. The story of a granddaughter who convinces her grandmother to learn more about climate change because SHE cares about it is a case in point. Grandma says, and she's right of me too, "It's the only way I'll learn."

But there's a third huge reason to love this book. Pipher's writing style is of the highest excellence. If you are like me, and want to hone your writing skills, read Pipher's books - all of them. And perhaps you'll do like I did; read them all again.

Marty Troyer
Author, The Gospel Next Door.

[Mike Vaughnwilliams · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm one of those who tends to avoid books that dwell on problems like global warming that can seem so overwhelming that you end up with even more pessimism than you had before reading the book. But, our book club decided on this book so I felt duty-bound to read it. I actually liked the book. Mary Pipher is an accomplished author who knows how to combine the local and anecdotal with the big perspective. She traces the incredible success against all odds of the Nebraska-based group opposed to the XL Pipeline, of which she played a significant role -- infusing her book with a sense of hope that people can make a difference in the fight to keep our planet from becoming unlivable in the future.

Recently I met some people who are part of climatemarch.org who have been walking across the country from west coast to east coast to raise awareness of this same subject. I was impressed with their willingness to dedicate themselves to endure hardship over many months for a cause they believe in. It turned out one of the walkers was reading Green Boat and was inspired by it. Maybe there is hope.