The New Normal: An Agenda for Responsible Living

by David Wann

In Simple Prosperity, Dave Wann showed readers how to have an abundant, sustainable life. In The New Normal, he challenges us to do some heavy lifting and transform our non-sustainable culture by transforming ourselves. For Wann, our current "old normal" lifestyle - buying water in disposable bottles, allowing the government to ignore global warming - will not preserve the planet. To nurture our world, he challenges us to rethink our lives, stand up for a healthy planet and move towards a "new normal" lifestyle in an agenda that Initiating local business alliances that actively lobby for local buying.- Creating an investment strategy that values the balance of nature.- Supporting the design, manufacture, and use of products made with natural chemicals.- Publicly advocating a more efficient use of water by placing a higher cultural value on wetlands, streams, rivers, and lakes.The New Normal is Dave Wann's way forward, a blueprint for a better life that preserves our world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Sustainability

438 pages, Kindle Edition

First published December 21, 2010

About the author

David Wann is an author, filmmaker, market gardener, amateur musician, father, husband and co-founder of a cohousing neighborhood in Colorado, where he's lived for 26 years, growing vegetables for 27 households. His non-fiction books include best-seller Affluenza; Superbia: 31 Ways to create Sustainable Suburbs; and Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle.

His new novel, Tickling the Bear, portrays a small band of colorful, purposeful change makers on the cusp of a new Era.

Reviews

[Rachelle · Rating 2 out of 5]

"The New Normal" has a great premise: we need to reevaluate our values and priorities. But I questioned some of Wann's conclusions, especially his reliance on government regulations and tax policies to change our behavior, and his seeming dismissal of the small changes many of us are already starting to make. His writing style is a little impersonal, almost academic, and he overwhelms us with all of the things that are wrong with our current life. I was disturbed by Wann's belief that Americans must accept a lower living standard and accept wealth redistribution to other countries via public policy, not individual choice or generosity.

[Abeera · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked how practical the advice is, def pushed me to reflect on my lifestyle.

[Adam Sherritt · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book. You will read others reviews that say Wann's ideas are extreme, or that this book talks about public policy and government interacting with their citizens in a way that goes against the status quo, there will be reviews that say this book is not a "fun" read, or that there is a lot of information to digest. All of these reviewer's are right in their assessment. This book is for dreamers. This book is for people who are tired of the same old story we hear day after day. Those who realize that a storm is approaching and once it hits it will be infinitely harder to change course than it would have been in calm waters. This book is not for people who fear change, but rather for those who crave change. This book is not for those who are unwilling to alter their perceptions of the world we live in but rather for those who can admit that they are ignorant about the problems we face and know that the only way to change is to become informed.

I loved this book. I started reading it about a year ago, became inspired, took notes, it was my bible. But about a third of the way through I stopped, fell back into my same old consumer habits, and let it collect dust. But I remembered the energy I felt while reading it, the optimism about our race that I couldn't help but feel. So I started from the beginning about a month ago and haven't looked back since. I inhaled this book. Sure there are parts that I disagree with, but in my opinion if you agree with someone/something 100% then you aren't thinking hard enough.

Wann see's a completely different society of the future. A society that respects nature instead of abuses it. A society that see's the hidden costs of a product rather than just the number on the price tag. A society that is informed and active with regards to a lifestyle that benefits the entire bee hive, and not just a few bee's at the top of the economic scale. Yes, he is talking about a completely different society. And that scares a lot of people because we want to know that if we jump there will be solid ground to catch us. He shows us that nature can be trusted to catch us as long as we trust in it. It's been helping us out for the last 13 billion years, I think it can be trusted. Ask yourself, who is looking out for your best interests? Nature or the worlds largest Corporations?

[Jessica · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Wann brings up some good points, but I feel like this book, as a whole, is too over my head. I feel like I should have read his other book, Simple Prosperity: Finding Real Wealth in a Sustainable Lifestyle, first.

The basic structure of the book is Wann giving an old paradigm, explaining why it should be abolished, and in its place, a new paradigm is given and expanded upon showing up how this way benefits a higher percentage of the population than the old way.

He has a lot of great ideas and is somewhat well explained, but a lot of the proposed ideas, we, as a society, aren't ready for. Like abolishing current farms and replacing them with organic farms or, the even-further-out-of-our-reach, a non-profit economy (but don't get me wrong, I would love to see a non profit economy, it's just not going to happen within the next twenty years).

We're well on our way to having this "new normal" (Wann thinks that we're in this delicate balance where all of the current green efforts could fall and amount to nothing. I disagree. I think that the green movements are here to stay and will hopefully pick up even more steam.), but there is one thing I completely and utterly disagree with. E-books. Save the printed word! (Sorry, I'm in love with the idea of turning the pages on a freshly printed book)

[C · Rating 3 out of 5]

The New Normal is an intense read! David Wann takes environmental change far beyond "Hey! You can ride your bike to work!" and offers real solutions to our ecological and economical crisis. Packed with facts and statistics showing where we are and where we could go, The New Normal lays out a 33-point plan that establishes concepts for everything from reducing our dependence on oil to boosting the local economy.

I have to admit, this book took a while to grow on me. Initially, I felt that many of Wann's solutions were a bit extreme, but as I read further I couldn't argue with the fact that this plan is certainly plausible. While it would take mass commitment (no doubt the hardest part), Wann has created a plan that could actually work.

Overall, it's a strong read with a lot of eye-opening statistics that can certainly change the way one looks at how they live in and use the world.

(I won a copy of this book through GoodReads First Reads.)

[Kimberly Morghan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this book pretty interesting and informative. I'm already one of those folks who has made much of the "paradigm shift" the author is talking about, and would like to see much more of us make the same switch in thinking. I appreciate the author's optimism and enthusiasm. I like how thoroughly he covered a whole suite of diverse "green" topics, and it is obvious he has done his research. I'm pretty well informed already and have apparently been reading many of the same things he has, but I learned a few new things. The book, however, was a bit repetitive at times, which would make sense for readers who were only tuning in for a chapter, but was a little annoying for somebody who was reading it cover-to-cover. I'm glad he brought so many different aspects of the green (DEEP Green!) paradigm shift together in one book, and I can only hope his arguments are compelling enough to sway a few of the non-converted folks to start taking the first steps to a new future.

[Susan Peterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's one thing to complain about mega-corps and worry about peak oil; it's another thing to figure out what to do about it. The New Normal looks at what a sustainable life would look like. It looks at (among other things) food, fuel, health, and possessions. It describes why the current way of living isn't sustainable, then offers suggestions for what might be a viable "new normal." In sections entitled "the Heavy Lifting," Wann suggests ways to get a jump on the change right now. If I had to sum up the book in one phrase, I'd say "a practical look at the big picture." The tone is a pragmatic, "we have a problem, so let's stop whining and do something about it." The writing is a serviceable, journalistic style. The layout is no-nonsense, though maybe a bit cramped, consistent with a book that is more about substance than frills.

[Amanda · Rating 4 out of 5]

In "The New Normal," David Wann outlines a plan for a new paradigm that values community above money and redefines success. Wann emphasizes compassion and contentment as new values that should replace selfishness and consumerism. The book is packed with ideas to lessen our negative impact on the world and on others. But while Wann is clear about the urgency of reducing our carbon footprint and admits that the meat indstrusty has a one of the largest negative impacts on the environment, he stops short of encouraging vegetarianism or veganism, instead saying vaguely that if we all "eat less meat," that will be enough. It sounds hollow coming from someone who encourages us to undertake specific and life-changing actions in every other area.

[Kate Lawrence · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is not a "50 easy ways to save the environment" kind of book. Rather, this is a well thought out, in-depth description of more major changes individuals can make: "heavy lifting," as the author terms it. What we really need, he says, is not just surface changes while continuing business as usual. We need major paradigm shifts about how we look at our economy, energy use, etc. He remains upbeat about our ability to make these changes, saying that if individuals change how they think, overall priorities will change. Fortunately, we don't have to wait for politicians or corporations to get on board.

[Carol Kuniholm · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wann's premise is that we're going to need to make major changes as we move from an unsustainable dependence on fossil fuel to a less fuel reliant paradigm. It's not a great read, but it offers some very practical ideas in a wide range of areas, from housing to transportation to food supply to entertainment. Some of the ideas are familiar and predictable; some more intriguing. It's not a book I would read through again, but it would be a helpful reference, a reminder to move from the easy to what Wann calls "heavy lifting," high-impact changes.

[Bobbettylou]

Suggests 34 "New Normal Agenda Points" for society as we adapt to the new realities of oil shortages and high cost, degradation of the environment, etc.

some good quotes:
"If at first the idea is not absurd, there is no hope for it." Albert Einstein p xi
"It always seems impossible until it's done." Nelson Mandela p. xi
"Speed is irrelevant if you're traveling in the wrong direction." Ganddhi p. 3
"That which is not good for the beehive cannot be good for the bee." Marcus Aurelius, AD 170, p. 15

[Heidi · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was one of the better "go Green" books i have read, although i found it a bit repetitive in that the author continued to talk about the changes that have to happen on a large scale. The small scale changes were not stressed as much. I completely agree with and understand the need for change overall, but the problem is how do we go about this? The book was well written and well cited and overall a good reference for information about green policy changes

[Nini Villanova · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book and would recommend it to anyone. The author certainly has some far-fetched ideas, but I think he is mostly on the right track, and I love that he gives actionable ideas. I took notes while I was reading of things I want to do differently, products and services that are instrumental in change.

[Alix · Rating 2 out of 5]

Won this in a First Reads Giveaway. It sounded interesting and like something that would provide some useful tidbits. Unfortunately, this book just didn't keep my interest -- I found it difficult to slog through to the end.

[Divya · Rating 4 out of 5]

The New Normal was truly an incredible read! The book has kept me mesmerized by it's fantasic chapters. David Wann has created yet another bestselling book that rivals Affluence and Simple Prosperity. I dearly want to thank Goodreads in which through its giveaways I have gotten this book!

[Marjorie Elwood · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Wann has created a blueprint for transitioning from an industrial civilization to an ecological one. While it's tough to see how the changes will be implemented the point is clearly made that we can't afford *not* to take the suggestions presented. Thought-provoking.

[Craig · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent and thought provoking book. Presents an alternative to the normal left/right Demo/Republican debate. Lays out a sensible and practical vision for solving the big problems facing humanity and our planet.

[Denese · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gave me some new ideas on how I can live "more green", more alert to what must change in our economies, politics, ideas about what is really important. Startled to find USA is not the "best" country in these terms. "It always seems impossible until it's done" - Nelson Mandela.

[Deborah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great Points on what we can do to help the planet and for use to be more responsible on our impact of the world. The book reminded me of my life style in Boulder, but is a bit of a stretch in Pensacola lifestyle.

[Rena]

I won this book from First Reads Giveaway. Waiting to read it when I receive it. Thanks.

[sara frances · Rating 4 out of 5]

ready to leave suburbia for superbia!

[David · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really wanted to like this book. I thought the premise was interesting and it started out strong, but it did not keep my interest. I will have to try reading it again someday

[Josh Lamb · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the best books about the environment EVER! It gives step by step information, it is very informative, and its a very good read.

[Wendy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book.

[Sandie]

Did not finish, but enjoyed the section on food

[Charity · Rating 3 out of 5]

This started off great, and then I lost interest about halfway through. This may have been just me - I'll have to try it again one day.