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How to Save the Amazon: A journalist’s fatal quest for answers
Journalist Dom Phillips traveled deep into the Amazon rainforest searching for solutions to the problem of deforestation, a threat to the local ecosystem, native tribes, and the global climate. When he was murdered in the Javari Valley by a group of environmental criminals, a cohort of journalists and activists took up his work to finish his book and share his important message.
During the dark days of the Bolsonaro administration, British journalist Dom Phillips set out to accomplish an ambitious through research, interviews, and site visits deep in the rainforest, he would emerge with a book answering the question—how can we save the Amazon? Traveling with his companion Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, Dom’s adventure includes trekking through Amazonia to see where ranching, fires, illegal fishing, mining, the drug trade, and urbanization have deforested and degraded millions of acres of important forest, degraded ecosystems, and created dangerous conditions for the Indigenous tribes who have called the Amazon home for thousands of years.
Jair Bolsonaro came into power on a platform of anti-environmental exploitation and deregulation. During his term, deforestation in the Amazon, the “lungs of Planet Earth,” increased exponentially as environmental criminals took advantage of lax rules, advantageous land use policy, and the difficulty of enforcing laws in a remote area of immense size. Lawlessness reigned and environmental activists found themselves in danger. With the intention of discovering strategies to protect both the land and the people who inhabit it, Dom connected with politicians, farmers, and Indigenous activists to study the benefits and pitfalls of solutions like agroforestry, tourism, and the bioeconomy. While traveling by boat in the Javari Valley, Dom and Bruno were brutally murdered. Unwilling to see her late husband’s work be for naught, Dom’s widow, Ale, and his literary agent assembled a team of expert writers, journalists, and activists to complete his work, with each tackling one unfinished chapter and grappling with the challenge of interpreting his field notes and discovering his conclusions. How to Save the Amazon, therefore, is a book both by and about Dom Phillips, his quest for answers, and his search for hope.
“A work of courage interrupted by tragedy. . . No book speaks more persuasively to the importance of the Amazon and the dangers that it faces.”
—Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction
"We can't let life on this earth be snuffed out; this powerful book will help us rise to this challenge."—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature
During the dark days of the Bolsonaro administration, British journalist Dom Phillips set out to accomplish an ambitious through research, interviews, and site visits deep in the rainforest, he would emerge with a book answering the question—how can we save the Amazon? Traveling with his companion Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira, Dom’s adventure includes trekking through Amazonia to see where ranching, fires, illegal fishing, mining, the drug trade, and urbanization have deforested and degraded millions of acres of important forest, degraded ecosystems, and created dangerous conditions for the Indigenous tribes who have called the Amazon home for thousands of years.
Jair Bolsonaro came into power on a platform of anti-environmental exploitation and deregulation. During his term, deforestation in the Amazon, the “lungs of Planet Earth,” increased exponentially as environmental criminals took advantage of lax rules, advantageous land use policy, and the difficulty of enforcing laws in a remote area of immense size. Lawlessness reigned and environmental activists found themselves in danger. With the intention of discovering strategies to protect both the land and the people who inhabit it, Dom connected with politicians, farmers, and Indigenous activists to study the benefits and pitfalls of solutions like agroforestry, tourism, and the bioeconomy. While traveling by boat in the Javari Valley, Dom and Bruno were brutally murdered. Unwilling to see her late husband’s work be for naught, Dom’s widow, Ale, and his literary agent assembled a team of expert writers, journalists, and activists to complete his work, with each tackling one unfinished chapter and grappling with the challenge of interpreting his field notes and discovering his conclusions. How to Save the Amazon, therefore, is a book both by and about Dom Phillips, his quest for answers, and his search for hope.
“A work of courage interrupted by tragedy. . . No book speaks more persuasively to the importance of the Amazon and the dangers that it faces.”
—Elizabeth Kolbert, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Sixth Extinction
"We can't let life on this earth be snuffed out; this powerful book will help us rise to this challenge."—Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature
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307 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 10, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
July 17, 2025
A Testament to Courage and Hope: "How to Save the Amazon" Shines as Essential Reading
Reading "How to Save the Amazon: A journalist's fatal quest for answers" left me profoundly moved and forever changed. This isn't just another environmental book—it's a powerful reminder that some stories are too important to be silenced, even by death.
Dom Phillips was the kind of journalist I deeply admire. He started his career covering techno clubs and writing about music, but something drew him to Brazil and to the Amazon's urgent story. What strikes me most about his approach is how he refused to be just another foreign correspondent parachuting in for dramatic headlines. Instead, he spent years building relationships, learning from Indigenous communities, and genuinely seeking solutions rather than just documenting problems.
The tragic circumstances surrounding this book's completion make it even more compelling. When Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were murdered by the very criminals they were investigating, I initially worried their vital work would be lost. Instead, witnessing how their colleagues and friends rallied to finish the book restored my faith in the power of journalistic solidarity. The fact that twenty writers, editors, and experts donated their time while refusing any royalties speaks volumes about the impact Phillips had on those who knew him.
What I love most about this book is its relentless focus on hope and solutions. Every chapter feels like Phillips asking, "Okay, we know things are bad—but what can actually work?" He explores agroforestry, sustainable tourism, and bioeconomy initiatives with the same rigor he applies to exposing illegal logging and cattle ranching. This balance keeps the book from becoming another depressing catalog of environmental destruction.
The Indigenous voices Phillips amplifies throughout the book are its heart and soul. His central insight—that we need to listen to the people who have successfully protected these lands for centuries—seems obvious once stated, but it's revolutionary in its simplicity. These aren't abstract policy recommendations; they're practical wisdom from communities who have lived sustainably in the Amazon for generations.
Reading the early chapters written by Phillips himself, I can feel his passion bleeding through every page. His writing style is engaging and accessible, mixing personal anecdotes with serious research in a way that kept me turning pages late into the night. The later chapters, completed by his collaborators using his notes and interviews, maintain that same energy while honoring his vision.
This book challenged my own assumptions about environmental activism. Phillips shows that saving the Amazon isn't about stopping all development—it's about supporting the right kind of development led by the right people. The Indigenous communities, traditional populations, and local environmental defenders he profiles aren't obstacles to progress; they're the key to a sustainable future.
The collaborative nature of this book's completion gives me hope for journalism itself. In an era when reporters face increasing dangers worldwide, seeing an entire community come together to ensure a fallen colleague's work survives feels like a small victory against those who would silence the truth.
By the final pages, I felt both heartbroken and inspired. Phillips and Pereira paid the ultimate price for their commitment to environmental justice, but their message rings clear: there is still time, there are still solutions, and there are still people willing to fight for them. As Phillips believed, everyone can do something—and this book shows us exactly what that something might look like.
"How to Save the Amazon" is more than essential reading; it's a call to action wrapped in one of the most moving tributes to journalistic courage I've ever encountered. It's a book that demands to be read, shared, and acted upon.
Reading "How to Save the Amazon: A journalist's fatal quest for answers" left me profoundly moved and forever changed. This isn't just another environmental book—it's a powerful reminder that some stories are too important to be silenced, even by death.
Dom Phillips was the kind of journalist I deeply admire. He started his career covering techno clubs and writing about music, but something drew him to Brazil and to the Amazon's urgent story. What strikes me most about his approach is how he refused to be just another foreign correspondent parachuting in for dramatic headlines. Instead, he spent years building relationships, learning from Indigenous communities, and genuinely seeking solutions rather than just documenting problems.
The tragic circumstances surrounding this book's completion make it even more compelling. When Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira were murdered by the very criminals they were investigating, I initially worried their vital work would be lost. Instead, witnessing how their colleagues and friends rallied to finish the book restored my faith in the power of journalistic solidarity. The fact that twenty writers, editors, and experts donated their time while refusing any royalties speaks volumes about the impact Phillips had on those who knew him.
What I love most about this book is its relentless focus on hope and solutions. Every chapter feels like Phillips asking, "Okay, we know things are bad—but what can actually work?" He explores agroforestry, sustainable tourism, and bioeconomy initiatives with the same rigor he applies to exposing illegal logging and cattle ranching. This balance keeps the book from becoming another depressing catalog of environmental destruction.
The Indigenous voices Phillips amplifies throughout the book are its heart and soul. His central insight—that we need to listen to the people who have successfully protected these lands for centuries—seems obvious once stated, but it's revolutionary in its simplicity. These aren't abstract policy recommendations; they're practical wisdom from communities who have lived sustainably in the Amazon for generations.
Reading the early chapters written by Phillips himself, I can feel his passion bleeding through every page. His writing style is engaging and accessible, mixing personal anecdotes with serious research in a way that kept me turning pages late into the night. The later chapters, completed by his collaborators using his notes and interviews, maintain that same energy while honoring his vision.
This book challenged my own assumptions about environmental activism. Phillips shows that saving the Amazon isn't about stopping all development—it's about supporting the right kind of development led by the right people. The Indigenous communities, traditional populations, and local environmental defenders he profiles aren't obstacles to progress; they're the key to a sustainable future.
The collaborative nature of this book's completion gives me hope for journalism itself. In an era when reporters face increasing dangers worldwide, seeing an entire community come together to ensure a fallen colleague's work survives feels like a small victory against those who would silence the truth.
By the final pages, I felt both heartbroken and inspired. Phillips and Pereira paid the ultimate price for their commitment to environmental justice, but their message rings clear: there is still time, there are still solutions, and there are still people willing to fight for them. As Phillips believed, everyone can do something—and this book shows us exactly what that something might look like.
"How to Save the Amazon" is more than essential reading; it's a call to action wrapped in one of the most moving tributes to journalistic courage I've ever encountered. It's a book that demands to be read, shared, and acted upon.
November 8, 2025
Dom Philips was a BBC journalist and was writing this book when got brutally murdered. He asked the people of Amazonia for possible solutions how to keep the forest standing. Instead of only mourning staying in silence, his friends, colleagues and relatives finished the book - following the notes left behind.
August 14, 2025
A very moving book.
September 19, 2025
I got through about half of this book. The content is fascinating, but the book is REALLY repetitive. The book could have been half the size and conveyed the same ideas.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews