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Confessions of an Eco-Warrior
A book that will set the course for the environmental movement for years to come, Confessions of an Eco-Warrior is an inspiring ecological call to arms by America's foremost and most controversial environmental activist. "Rude and brilliant. Read it and you will see the future".--William Kittredge.
240 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1991
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
December 12, 2008
Before they were taken over by politically correct left coast weenies Foremans Earth First! was a very cool thing. They were "redneck hippies" who had a love for American wilderness and took radical steps to conserve it. Written after the FBI's attempt to set him up on bogus charges and after he left EF! Foreman lays out his ideas on conservation/ecology and his reflections on his life and times in the environmental movement. There is an emphasis on the wilderness in the western United States with Foreman but thats to be expected considering thats where he's from. Excellent auto-biography from an admirable man who has a lot of interesting ideas.
August 19, 2016
This book is the most fervent call-to-action to change our mindset and restore the planet to health. there is a great mix of passion and reason, science and sociology, history and vision. If I were going toteach and environmental literature, this book would be the first book read.
July 25, 2013
I ran into this book when the "environmental movement" was transitioning in this country from one driven by passion to one driven by the new "professionalism" (i.e. the institutionalization of the dampening and shaming of passion). It was comforting and was, and still is, right on.
It is the "professionalizing" of many "environmental groups" that allows them to rationalize the
warping of their missions such as rationalizing drilling on preserves, allowing snow machines,
hunting, "consensus building" with developer types. etc.
The book is based on Dave's long history in the "movement" and pretty much nails it.
It is the "professionalizing" of many "environmental groups" that allows them to rationalize the
warping of their missions such as rationalizing drilling on preserves, allowing snow machines,
hunting, "consensus building" with developer types. etc.
The book is based on Dave's long history in the "movement" and pretty much nails it.
February 5, 2011
As an activist, Foreman has done it all - he's chained himself to machinery meant to destroy forests, he spent years wearing a tie and lobbying in Washington, he started Earth First! His passion is contagious in this account of everything from the history of conservationism/environmentalism to his personal/professional journey to why many people think about tree spiking when they hear about Earth First! I kinda fell in love with him and wanted to go live in a tree for a spell after reading this. I'm inspired all over again to fight, and the rid my own life of the over-consumption habits I've got left to rid. Don't rule this one out because you think Foreman or Earth First! is too radical. His introduction could be a code of ethics for all of us when telling our stories. He recognizes throughout his story that movements to stop destroying Planet Earth require work from MANY vantage points - a portfolio or responses and actions.
Besides all of that, he makes great lists of wilderness places in the US I have yet to visit and would like to, like, tomorrow.
Besides all of that, he makes great lists of wilderness places in the US I have yet to visit and would like to, like, tomorrow.
February 5, 2026
Dave Foreman, a prominent long-time biocentric deep ecologist and advocate of bioregionalism, describes the historical development of radical environmentalism in the U.S., focusing especially on his own work with Earth First! and other groups. He outlines the factors that harm wild nature in the U.S.—which can be taken as a synonym for Europe, because the problems are similar everywhere: road construction, logging and mining, livestock farming, dams and other waterworks, oil pipelines, overpopulation, reckless hunting (sport hunting, trophy hunting, poaching), and so on—and discusses possibilities for change.
Foreman presents biocentric environmentalism through his own eyes—the eyes of a field activist, not a philosopher or a PhD theorist working from an office. This perspective is rare in the literature and sometimes conveys more than purely academic texts, even if it occasionally has minor gaps. The last five chapters (a full 83 pages) are devoted to the topic of eco-sabotage. An interesting read!
Foreman presents biocentric environmentalism through his own eyes—the eyes of a field activist, not a philosopher or a PhD theorist working from an office. This perspective is rare in the literature and sometimes conveys more than purely academic texts, even if it occasionally has minor gaps. The last five chapters (a full 83 pages) are devoted to the topic of eco-sabotage. An interesting read!
December 17, 2020
A collection of good ideas! When this collection started to be assembled, the warnings about the ecological damage of fascist right wing extremist Republicanism was constantly being expressed by the intellectual and vocal minority and, here in the year 2020, wouldn't you know it, all of the warnings have come true.
Spike those trees! Monkeywrench those tractors! Do it not just for Jesus, do it for our children.
Spike those trees! Monkeywrench those tractors! Do it not just for Jesus, do it for our children.
August 20, 2008
A really sane explanation of the biocentric viewpoint, and the urgency of bottom-line defense of the defenseless.
February 11, 2018
Al principio el autor describe que lo único importante es cuidar la naturaleza salvaje. No creo que no sea importante (evidentemente es más importante que cualquier interés económico o político), pero definitivamente no es lo único importante. Tampoco justifica todas las acciones.
Estoy segura que hay otros caminos, empezando por extender las historias a todos y no nada más a los fanáticos. Esto no es una revolución, es un para siempre.
Estoy segura que hay otros caminos, empezando por extender las historias a todos y no nada más a los fanáticos. Esto no es una revolución, es un para siempre.
December 3, 2023
Dave Forman is not only a co-founder of one of the most influential environmental actions of all time, Earth First!, but he is also a fantastic writer. Within this book, Dave Forman gives an amazing first-hand account of his life, and time spent in Earth First!, his good writing is only overshadowed by the good deeds he did during this pivotal era of American southwest environmentalism. It is a must-read for environmentally-minded people.
April 6, 2021
Definitely, a very informative book showing the darker and more aggressive side of a movement I support. The low score mostly is due to the fact that I had to read this in college during a very difficult time in my life. So the low score has less to do with the negative associations I have with it rather than any real criticisms I have of it.
March 10, 2019
Nicht gut geschrieben, aber gute Argumentation, warum man weiter gehen könnte als nur Fotos von Unrecht zu veröffentlichen
February 5, 2026
A FASCINATING AND CHALLENGING SERIES OF ESSAYS BY A FAMED ACTIVIST
Dave Foreman (born 1947) is a US environmentalist and co-founder of the radical environmental movement Earth First! After a 1990 arrest, he left Earth First, to found/work with the Wildlands Project, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, and the Rewilding Institute. He is also the author of 'Rewilding North America: A Vision For Conservation In The 21St Century,' 'Man Swarm and the Killing of Wildlife,' 'The Lobo Outback Funeral Home,' and coauthor of 'Defending the Earth: A Dialogue Between Murray Bookchin and Dave Foreman.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1991 book, "I'm not sure what this book is. It's not an autobiography or even a memoir. It's not a work of conservation history or a technical discussion about environmental issues. It's not a comprehensive exposition of biocentric philosophy or an in-depth discussion of conservation biology. It's not a polemic or a how-to guide... I hope it gets you, the reader, thinking or wondering, whether you like it or not... I must also admit that after twenty years as a full-time conservationist, I have more questions than answers... My environmental career is not a linear progression from moderate to radical. It's more of a spiral..." He frankly admits, "I am no saint. We are often lectured to clean up our own acts before poking our noses into other people's business. Well, there isn't time for me to achieve perfection before trying to save the Earth. It's got to be done now... This is a book about the destruction of the Earth by someone who is part of the problem. We are all part of the problem." (Pg. viii)
Concerning the question, "Why wilderness?" he replies, "because wilderness IS. Because it is the real world, the flow of life, the process of evolution..." (Pg. 3) While he and four others sat around a Wyoming campfire in 1980 proposing the formation of Earth First!, they discussed the "reasons and purposes for environmental radicalism," such as "to inspire others to carry out activities straight from the pages of 'The Monkey Wrench Gang (P.S.), even though Earth First!', we agreed, would itself be ostensibly law-abiding." (Pg. 18)
He freely expresses some controversial ideas. For example, he asserts that "there are far too many human beings on Earth" (pg. 27), and that "human overpopulation is the fundamental problem on Earth today." (Pg. 219) He admits, "I am a hunter, and offer no apology for it. Hunters have been among the most effective wilderness and wildlife conservationists." (Pg. 77) He writes, "I'll admit that I'd just as soon sink my teeth into a bloody slab of beef as into anything but wild meat. I'm no bleeding-heart vegetarian." (Pg. 99)
He defines monkeywrenching as "nonviolent resistance to the destruction of natural diversity and wilderness." (Pg. 113) He charges that "Ignored in the debate about ecoterrorism are the simple facts about who has been hurt by whom." He lists various acts of violence upon ecological protesters, concluding with the bombing of Judi Bari, adding, "no real effort has been made by the FBI or police to find the bomber." (Pg. 125-127) He concedes, however, that "I have come to question the utility or tree spiking... It is time for advocates of monkeywrenching to reconsider this tactic." (Pg. 150)
Foreman's book is fascinating reading, and will be of great interest to anyone interested in environmentalism or ecology--"radical," or otherwise.
Dave Foreman (born 1947) is a US environmentalist and co-founder of the radical environmental movement Earth First! After a 1990 arrest, he left Earth First, to found/work with the Wildlands Project, the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance, and the Rewilding Institute. He is also the author of 'Rewilding North America: A Vision For Conservation In The 21St Century,' 'Man Swarm and the Killing of Wildlife,' 'The Lobo Outback Funeral Home,' and coauthor of 'Defending the Earth: A Dialogue Between Murray Bookchin and Dave Foreman.'
He wrote in the Introduction to this 1991 book, "I'm not sure what this book is. It's not an autobiography or even a memoir. It's not a work of conservation history or a technical discussion about environmental issues. It's not a comprehensive exposition of biocentric philosophy or an in-depth discussion of conservation biology. It's not a polemic or a how-to guide... I hope it gets you, the reader, thinking or wondering, whether you like it or not... I must also admit that after twenty years as a full-time conservationist, I have more questions than answers... My environmental career is not a linear progression from moderate to radical. It's more of a spiral..." He frankly admits, "I am no saint. We are often lectured to clean up our own acts before poking our noses into other people's business. Well, there isn't time for me to achieve perfection before trying to save the Earth. It's got to be done now... This is a book about the destruction of the Earth by someone who is part of the problem. We are all part of the problem." (Pg. viii)
Concerning the question, "Why wilderness?" he replies, "because wilderness IS. Because it is the real world, the flow of life, the process of evolution..." (Pg. 3) While he and four others sat around a Wyoming campfire in 1980 proposing the formation of Earth First!, they discussed the "reasons and purposes for environmental radicalism," such as "to inspire others to carry out activities straight from the pages of 'The Monkey Wrench Gang (P.S.), even though Earth First!', we agreed, would itself be ostensibly law-abiding." (Pg. 18)
He freely expresses some controversial ideas. For example, he asserts that "there are far too many human beings on Earth" (pg. 27), and that "human overpopulation is the fundamental problem on Earth today." (Pg. 219) He admits, "I am a hunter, and offer no apology for it. Hunters have been among the most effective wilderness and wildlife conservationists." (Pg. 77) He writes, "I'll admit that I'd just as soon sink my teeth into a bloody slab of beef as into anything but wild meat. I'm no bleeding-heart vegetarian." (Pg. 99)
He defines monkeywrenching as "nonviolent resistance to the destruction of natural diversity and wilderness." (Pg. 113) He charges that "Ignored in the debate about ecoterrorism are the simple facts about who has been hurt by whom." He lists various acts of violence upon ecological protesters, concluding with the bombing of Judi Bari, adding, "no real effort has been made by the FBI or police to find the bomber." (Pg. 125-127) He concedes, however, that "I have come to question the utility or tree spiking... It is time for advocates of monkeywrenching to reconsider this tactic." (Pg. 150)
Foreman's book is fascinating reading, and will be of great interest to anyone interested in environmentalism or ecology--"radical," or otherwise.
May 1, 2008
Dave Foreman is one of the founders of the environmental group Earth First! and co-editor of Ecodefense: A Field Guide to Monkeywrenching. The FBI arrested Foreman in 1989 for various felony charges stemming from his environmental activism, including “causing potential damage to humans.” He denied the charges but plead guilty to lesser charges and was given a suspended sentence. He is no longer involved with Earth First!
In his book Confessions of an Eco-Warrior Dave Foreman is very up front with what he plans to offer the reader – or not offer, as it would be. “First of all, I’m not sure what this book is…I guess it’s a little bit like an ugly mongrel dog in which you can see the ears of one breed, the jowls of another, and so on” (vii). Disjointed and at times ridiculous, Foreman’s book contains 19 chapters, presented as mini-essays, covering everything from the basic rules of monkey wrenching to the consequences of defying the law.
In his book Confessions of an Eco-Warrior Dave Foreman is very up front with what he plans to offer the reader – or not offer, as it would be. “First of all, I’m not sure what this book is…I guess it’s a little bit like an ugly mongrel dog in which you can see the ears of one breed, the jowls of another, and so on” (vii). Disjointed and at times ridiculous, Foreman’s book contains 19 chapters, presented as mini-essays, covering everything from the basic rules of monkey wrenching to the consequences of defying the law.
June 4, 2016
Reading Confessions of an Eco-Warrior, the manifesto of Earth First! co-founder Dave Foreman, published twenty-five years ago, is like reading the frantic time capsule of someone who does not think anyone will be able to discover this capsule in the future. It's a bizarre, heartfelt plea to save the world when it may already be too late.
And still, here we are a quarter century later, with many of the same worries on our minds. There is danger out there, but Foreman relies so much on passion that the true problems become jokes. He says early on in the book that he is tired of not speaking with passion, but it becomes riddled with hyperbole and cliche so fast that I cannot help but groan (and I agree with him for the most part!). It's problematic as best, and downright wrong at its worst.
I at least have to admire his spirit and passion here, because there really is something wrong with our world. It may be too late to fix it, but I refuse to believe that it is too late to try.
And still, here we are a quarter century later, with many of the same worries on our minds. There is danger out there, but Foreman relies so much on passion that the true problems become jokes. He says early on in the book that he is tired of not speaking with passion, but it becomes riddled with hyperbole and cliche so fast that I cannot help but groan (and I agree with him for the most part!). It's problematic as best, and downright wrong at its worst.
I at least have to admire his spirit and passion here, because there really is something wrong with our world. It may be too late to fix it, but I refuse to believe that it is too late to try.
April 30, 2016
22nd book for 2016.
In this collection of essays, Foreman recounts the founding and rationale behind the environmental group Earth First!, the arguments for and against the necessity and usefulness of monkey-wrenching, and in the final chapter the reasons behind his leaving the group some years later. Although Earth First! has a reputation for extremism, Foreman (at least) comes across as a rational calm voice in an insane and corrupt society hellbent of destroying what little wilderness is left for little or no good reason.
Worth reading!
In this collection of essays, Foreman recounts the founding and rationale behind the environmental group Earth First!, the arguments for and against the necessity and usefulness of monkey-wrenching, and in the final chapter the reasons behind his leaving the group some years later. Although Earth First! has a reputation for extremism, Foreman (at least) comes across as a rational calm voice in an insane and corrupt society hellbent of destroying what little wilderness is left for little or no good reason.
Worth reading!
February 26, 2026
Reading Edward Abbey led me to reading Doug Peacock, and reading Doug Peacock led me to Dave Foreman. It's a worthwhile trip. Foreman, although easily the most sociable and well-adjusted man in that group, is no less fervent than the other two in his love for and appreciation of the American wilderness. I first read this book in 1997.
March 8, 2007
My friend Ben gave me this followed up by Monkey Wrench Gang. This is a lethal dose and will give one the urge to burn and destroy things that should not be.
October 15, 2007
History of the start of EarthFirst!. I don't agree with everything said but very smart arguments for drawing a distinct line in the sand when it comes to defending nature.
August 17, 2008
I read these essays when they were first published in the Earth First! Journal. They pushed me back into environmental activism.
January 17, 2013
Excellent book. I want to read it again.
May 12, 2016
I would recommend this book as a necessary supplement to Martha Lee's "Earth First!: Environmental Apocalypse."
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews