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Stop Saving the Planet!: An Environmentalist Manifesto
"Pithy, funny, exasperated, and informed…You cannot read a more important hundred pages than Stop Saving the Planet!" —Richard White, author of The Republic for Which It Stands
We’ve been "saving the planet" for decades!…And environmental crises just get worse. All this hybrid driving and LEED building and carbon trading seems to accomplish little to nothing—and low-income communities continue to suffer the worst consequences.
Why aren’t we cleaning up the toxic messes and rolling back climate change? And why do so many Americans hate environmentalists?
Jenny Price says Enough already! with this short, fun, fierce manifesto for an environmentalism that is hugely more effective, a whole lot fairer, and infinitely less righteous. She challenges you, corporate sustainability officers, and the EPA to think and act completely anew—and to start right now—to ensure a truly habitable future.
We’ve been "saving the planet" for decades!…And environmental crises just get worse. All this hybrid driving and LEED building and carbon trading seems to accomplish little to nothing—and low-income communities continue to suffer the worst consequences.
Why aren’t we cleaning up the toxic messes and rolling back climate change? And why do so many Americans hate environmentalists?
Jenny Price says Enough already! with this short, fun, fierce manifesto for an environmentalism that is hugely more effective, a whole lot fairer, and infinitely less righteous. She challenges you, corporate sustainability officers, and the EPA to think and act completely anew—and to start right now—to ensure a truly habitable future.
141 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 20, 2021
30 people are currently reading
789 people want to read
About the author
Jenny Price
2 books12 followersJenny Price is a public writer, artist, and historian—author of Stop Saving the Planet!: An Environmentalist Manifesto, Flight Maps: Adventures with Nature in Modern America, Thirteen Ways of Seeing Nature in L.A., the not-quite advice column Green Me Up JJ, and numerous essays and op-eds about environment, public space, gun violence, and other topics. She is also co-founder of the art collective LA Urban Rangers, and a co-creator of the popular Our Malibu Beaches mobile-phone app. A Research Fellow since 2016 at the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts at Washington University-St. Louis, she is currently working on “St. Louis Division”—a suite of hometown projects on segregation and environmental justice.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 89 reviews
January 27, 2021
A book that made a lot of great, and easily verifiable, points, but given the prestige associated with the author, I honestly expected...more.
Yes, all of Price’s positions are true and offer a very useful perspective on environmentalism. Consumerism and the banner of “personal responsibility” isn't going to fix the environmental crisis. Major corporations are the worst offenders and major environmental groups are not making much progress in curbing that. The people that need to show up aren’t and this will be a necessary level of understanding moving forward. As a layperson’s introduction to a “new” view on saving the environment, this book has the potential to get readers engaged with the idea that there is more to it than cloth diapers and sorting your recycling.
My issue: this isn't particularly well written and, even more importantly for non-fiction from an expert, not even remotely cited or verified. Yes, a quick google search will prove Price’s statements correct, and a quick peruse of peer-reviewed research also backs all this up. However, you wouldn't know that from reading this book. This makes the book feel like an extended letter to the editor and less like a useful resource for understanding the changing direction of environmentalism. Add in that the writing gets repetitive, a few of the sections are just reiterations of the central premise with not much added, and the book leaves a lot to be desired.
Non-fiction can, and should, serve as a user friendly introduction to complicated topics while also adding to the useful body of literature on the topic. This book only kind of succeeds at the former and definitely misses the mark on the latter.
Yes, all of Price’s positions are true and offer a very useful perspective on environmentalism. Consumerism and the banner of “personal responsibility” isn't going to fix the environmental crisis. Major corporations are the worst offenders and major environmental groups are not making much progress in curbing that. The people that need to show up aren’t and this will be a necessary level of understanding moving forward. As a layperson’s introduction to a “new” view on saving the environment, this book has the potential to get readers engaged with the idea that there is more to it than cloth diapers and sorting your recycling.
My issue: this isn't particularly well written and, even more importantly for non-fiction from an expert, not even remotely cited or verified. Yes, a quick google search will prove Price’s statements correct, and a quick peruse of peer-reviewed research also backs all this up. However, you wouldn't know that from reading this book. This makes the book feel like an extended letter to the editor and less like a useful resource for understanding the changing direction of environmentalism. Add in that the writing gets repetitive, a few of the sections are just reiterations of the central premise with not much added, and the book leaves a lot to be desired.
Non-fiction can, and should, serve as a user friendly introduction to complicated topics while also adding to the useful body of literature on the topic. This book only kind of succeeds at the former and definitely misses the mark on the latter.
June 12, 2021
Someone else described this as a long, rambling, repetitive Facebook rant. And they were correct.
December 27, 2021
For a book constructed around a simple premise — stop treating the environment as a separate world — the delivery and arguments feel abstract and disconnected, so much so that I had to keep going back to the intro to understand just what we’re talking about here.
The arguments are valid — everything we do changes the environment so we have to find ways to do so more equitably and sustainably — but the book lacks a cohesion to easily jump from one section to another.
The critique against green washing and whole planetude approach (the doing any env. action which legitimizes do-nothing environmentalism, and the crusade to save the planet which doesn’t insist on the centrality of the environment to our everyday lives) is fair, so is the largely disconnected environmental movement, but the book is so expansive, and short, that it fails to spend adequate time on any idea.
Instead, we’re left with a relatively abstract and soft approach to environmental messaging, with little hard skills to take away from it (I’ll echo a fellow Goodreads reviewer when I ask, where are all the studies??).
The book may very well be a mobilization against insanity — the capitalistic and consumeristic culture we live in is at odds with the tenets of true environmentalism, not to mention extremely out of touch with on-the-ground issues — but we only get two pages of actual federal or international solutions, even less so of practical, actionable solutions.
It’s a fine book as a read to trigger or confirm own beliefs about environmentalism, but doesn’t dive deep enough into any issue to have much staying powers beyond a very rudimentary, introductory book of ideas.
The arguments are valid — everything we do changes the environment so we have to find ways to do so more equitably and sustainably — but the book lacks a cohesion to easily jump from one section to another.
The critique against green washing and whole planetude approach (the doing any env. action which legitimizes do-nothing environmentalism, and the crusade to save the planet which doesn’t insist on the centrality of the environment to our everyday lives) is fair, so is the largely disconnected environmental movement, but the book is so expansive, and short, that it fails to spend adequate time on any idea.
Instead, we’re left with a relatively abstract and soft approach to environmental messaging, with little hard skills to take away from it (I’ll echo a fellow Goodreads reviewer when I ask, where are all the studies??).
The book may very well be a mobilization against insanity — the capitalistic and consumeristic culture we live in is at odds with the tenets of true environmentalism, not to mention extremely out of touch with on-the-ground issues — but we only get two pages of actual federal or international solutions, even less so of practical, actionable solutions.
It’s a fine book as a read to trigger or confirm own beliefs about environmentalism, but doesn’t dive deep enough into any issue to have much staying powers beyond a very rudimentary, introductory book of ideas.
April 1, 2021
STOP SAVING THE PLANET! argues that too much of the conversation about environmental crises focuses on individual consumer actions, when the problems can only be solved at a systemic level. In this opinionated, accessible book, Price calls for corporate accountability, a reframing of environmentalist movements, and a more thoughtful accumulation of stuff. It's a great introduction to concepts like environmental inequality and greenwashing, but even those familiar with the subjects will find new perspectives and ideas here.
The book makes a clear case for why the focus has to shift away from individual actions: "Why can't you find a 50 Simple Things You Can Do to End World Poverty handbook at your bookstore?—or 101 Ways You Can Help Stop Gun Violence (or Solve the Middle East Crisis) Before You're 12!" Still, it does end by offering the reader a list of Ways to Stop Saving the Planet, but—guess what?—they aren't simple, and they aren't solutions. Many of the suggestions revolve around educating yourself, and this book is a good place to start!
The book makes a clear case for why the focus has to shift away from individual actions: "Why can't you find a 50 Simple Things You Can Do to End World Poverty handbook at your bookstore?—or 101 Ways You Can Help Stop Gun Violence (or Solve the Middle East Crisis) Before You're 12!" Still, it does end by offering the reader a list of Ways to Stop Saving the Planet, but—guess what?—they aren't simple, and they aren't solutions. Many of the suggestions revolve around educating yourself, and this book is a good place to start!
February 8, 2025
3.25 stars!
On one hand, this short book has some really good ideas and points to make about shifting our view of environmentalism, and it suggests changes that address our climate problems at a governmental, societal and policy level rather than an individual one. It also does a really good job of addressing these things equitably and with regard to intersectionality and socioeconomic differences, and thinks about who is realistically impacted the most by our current trajectory.
On the other hand, I probably should have known better about how much the delivery and style of this would appeal to me, which is not much -- it's really not my style. It was a bit too quippy and catch-phrasey for my tastes, and I was tempted to put it down at first, but I'm glad that I was able to finish and hear what the author had to say!
On one hand, this short book has some really good ideas and points to make about shifting our view of environmentalism, and it suggests changes that address our climate problems at a governmental, societal and policy level rather than an individual one. It also does a really good job of addressing these things equitably and with regard to intersectionality and socioeconomic differences, and thinks about who is realistically impacted the most by our current trajectory.
On the other hand, I probably should have known better about how much the delivery and style of this would appeal to me, which is not much -- it's really not my style. It was a bit too quippy and catch-phrasey for my tastes, and I was tempted to put it down at first, but I'm glad that I was able to finish and hear what the author had to say!
March 22, 2022
I got the book because I so enjoyed listening to Jenny on the Post Carbon Institute podcast. Indeed, a lot of the book is full of things I appreciate her saying. However, it is somehow both quite niche and broad and feels hastily thrown together. Parts were very difficult to read.
The book primarily is anecdotal about many failed attempts to “save the planet” that get gamed, abused, or were dumb to start and how they’ve actually exacerbated the problem. It dives into green washing and why environmentalism is so polarizing and some of the absurdities of green consumerism. Paraphrased for an example: If it’s good to buy a Prius, it must be even better to buy three.
The second half has 39 strategies that are pretty accurate. In my opinion, much of the actions we must take aren’t straightforward, little changes but more like lifestyle/culture shifts which can be frustrating for people.
The book primarily is anecdotal about many failed attempts to “save the planet” that get gamed, abused, or were dumb to start and how they’ve actually exacerbated the problem. It dives into green washing and why environmentalism is so polarizing and some of the absurdities of green consumerism. Paraphrased for an example: If it’s good to buy a Prius, it must be even better to buy three.
The second half has 39 strategies that are pretty accurate. In my opinion, much of the actions we must take aren’t straightforward, little changes but more like lifestyle/culture shifts which can be frustrating for people.
October 27, 2021
Price has written a “Listen, Liberal”-style wakeup call for environmentalists.
“Environment” has, ludicrously, become a dirty word, and simply another aspect of the culture wars rather than something that we all live in and are affected by each day.
Polluting corporations and the politicians and pundits they pay off have convinced a large segment of the public that the real enemy isn’t the folks filling your water with dangerous toxins, but rather the people who arguing that it’s not okay to dump toxins in your water.
So when the book asks, Why do people hate environmentalists, it also gives us a hard answer. Yes, we can blame part of it on this cynical manipulation. However, we can also blame a sizeable chunk on the mess environmentalism has become on environmental advocates!
We have made environmentalism just another consumer choice and excuse for buying stuff. In many cases, the stuff branded as more “environmental” (whether it actually is or not) is more expensive and harder to obtain. The green buying revolution has just become another separator of haves and have nots. Sadly, many eco-aware people seem fine with this.
Corporations that have put the future of a habitable environment in the hands of the individual are laughing all the way to the bank. In many cases the “green” and “ungreen” items are made by the exact same company!
So instead, what we have is two people driving down the same highway, one in a message sticker covered- hybrid to show “I am thoughtful and caring”, and one in a huge truck that’s belching black smoke to show “I am tough and uncaring.” They might glance at each other and roll their eyes, but that doesn’t help one iota the pollution put out by the vehicles, the energy expended to make the vehicles, or everything that is done to build and maintain the highway.
The moral of the story is, don’t get mad at the consumer for using the inefficient vehicle or non-green energy service, get mad at the companies for making wasteful products in the first place, when they obviously have the ability to do otherwise!
There are plenty of other examples relating to safety that aren’t spun as simple consumer preference. You cannot buy a new car without safety belts; why is it even a choice to buy an energy inefficient vehicle? Think about it.
Obviously, this is a big issue—the biggest issue of them all--and one skinny book isn’t going to solve it. But simply talking back to a damaging narrative counts for something. The big question is whether enough seeds can be planted to steer people away from thinking of clean water, air, and natural spaces as either a political or consumer preference—and not something every one of us needs for survival.
“Environment” has, ludicrously, become a dirty word, and simply another aspect of the culture wars rather than something that we all live in and are affected by each day.
Polluting corporations and the politicians and pundits they pay off have convinced a large segment of the public that the real enemy isn’t the folks filling your water with dangerous toxins, but rather the people who arguing that it’s not okay to dump toxins in your water.
So when the book asks, Why do people hate environmentalists, it also gives us a hard answer. Yes, we can blame part of it on this cynical manipulation. However, we can also blame a sizeable chunk on the mess environmentalism has become on environmental advocates!
We have made environmentalism just another consumer choice and excuse for buying stuff. In many cases, the stuff branded as more “environmental” (whether it actually is or not) is more expensive and harder to obtain. The green buying revolution has just become another separator of haves and have nots. Sadly, many eco-aware people seem fine with this.
Corporations that have put the future of a habitable environment in the hands of the individual are laughing all the way to the bank. In many cases the “green” and “ungreen” items are made by the exact same company!
So instead, what we have is two people driving down the same highway, one in a message sticker covered- hybrid to show “I am thoughtful and caring”, and one in a huge truck that’s belching black smoke to show “I am tough and uncaring.” They might glance at each other and roll their eyes, but that doesn’t help one iota the pollution put out by the vehicles, the energy expended to make the vehicles, or everything that is done to build and maintain the highway.
The moral of the story is, don’t get mad at the consumer for using the inefficient vehicle or non-green energy service, get mad at the companies for making wasteful products in the first place, when they obviously have the ability to do otherwise!
There are plenty of other examples relating to safety that aren’t spun as simple consumer preference. You cannot buy a new car without safety belts; why is it even a choice to buy an energy inefficient vehicle? Think about it.
Obviously, this is a big issue—the biggest issue of them all--and one skinny book isn’t going to solve it. But simply talking back to a damaging narrative counts for something. The big question is whether enough seeds can be planted to steer people away from thinking of clean water, air, and natural spaces as either a political or consumer preference—and not something every one of us needs for survival.
May 20, 2021
While I like and agree with the premise of this book - that the individual "feel good" actions we are always told to take in order to "save the planet" distract/prevent us from looking at the bigger picture of legislative and financial actions - the tone of this book is awful. Condescending, sarcastic, and full of sentences that don't actually make sense. Not sure what audience Price is going for with this book that reads more like an internet message board rant.
December 6, 2021
A good, short overview of the problems facing the environment, and how we focus on the wrong stuff when trying to fix it. I liked the focus on how low income people (anywhere in the world) have the most pollution forced upon them, and they can do the least about it. Also that we need to focus on forcing the large corporations and governments to make major changes, because they have the largest negative impact, and once they are on board it becomes easier for the average person as well.
August 13, 2024
This is not quite a three star read, more a 2.75 star.
Price makes good points here, but unfortunately this book very much absorbs the vibe of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck with an incredibly annoying writing style that presented more like a tumblr.net blog than a think piece written by someone with a Doctorate.
I'd never heard the phrases Whole Planetude or Green Virtue before, but if these are coined terms of the environmentalist movement, I'd hate us too. Is Planetude supposed to be a spoof of the word platitude? Or is it planet-attitude? It's not explained. And 'Green Virtue' really needs a rework. Furthermore, her analysis of the perception of environmentalism being an "out there" concept to non-environmentalists also didn't make a lot of sense to me. I think the idea is that people see environmentalism as a cause that doesn't effect humans, because people perceive humans as being outside of the natural world somehow, therefore environmentalism isn't for us, and therefore why should we care? Is that what we're saying here? ...do people really believe that?
Price makes good points here, and excellent references to 'Green Virtue' which is a really odd way of saying 'eco friendly virtue signaling' -- the act done by many companies (Exxon, J.P. Morgan Chase, BP, Walmart, etc) who outwardly proclaim eco-forward initiatives, but on the back end utilize their earnings to fund policies and industries that bolster the manufacturing of crude oil, GHG emissions, fracking, and more.
Meanwhile, these same "initiatives" creatively throw the onus of pollution and environmentalism back on consumers, and the prescribed cure is often consumerism. Want to save the environment? Buy a Prius! Buy organic! Meanwhile, no one is asking about the CO2 production of manufacturing, or how wasteful Whole Foods' is. Global Environmentalism on corporate and government levels is very "don't look behind the curtain" because if you do, you'll find there's very little good being done behind the scenes.
Unfortunately, Price fails to do something very crucial in this book: cite her sources. While most everything in here can be looked up quite easily, its unacceptable to me that the only footnotes of this book are to add a bit more "spunk" to her otherwise "witty" diatribes. The page formatting is wildly erratic as well. Random statements are put in text blocks at various intervals in each chapter. Sub-headers act as subject shifts but in reality just break the overall flow of the book (not that there's much to speak of) and she hyper-fixates on things that are simply annoying, specifically Miami.
I could go on about other issues I have with this book, but I won't. Suffice it to say, I think this should have been marketed to a younger demographic and scrutinized by a better editor. Being in my mid 30s, this book didn't tell me much that I didn't already know, and what it did tell me was overshadowed by my annoyance with the presentation.
Price makes good points here, but unfortunately this book very much absorbs the vibe of The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck with an incredibly annoying writing style that presented more like a tumblr.net blog than a think piece written by someone with a Doctorate.
I'd never heard the phrases Whole Planetude or Green Virtue before, but if these are coined terms of the environmentalist movement, I'd hate us too. Is Planetude supposed to be a spoof of the word platitude? Or is it planet-attitude? It's not explained. And 'Green Virtue' really needs a rework. Furthermore, her analysis of the perception of environmentalism being an "out there" concept to non-environmentalists also didn't make a lot of sense to me. I think the idea is that people see environmentalism as a cause that doesn't effect humans, because people perceive humans as being outside of the natural world somehow, therefore environmentalism isn't for us, and therefore why should we care? Is that what we're saying here? ...do people really believe that?
Price makes good points here, and excellent references to 'Green Virtue' which is a really odd way of saying 'eco friendly virtue signaling' -- the act done by many companies (Exxon, J.P. Morgan Chase, BP, Walmart, etc) who outwardly proclaim eco-forward initiatives, but on the back end utilize their earnings to fund policies and industries that bolster the manufacturing of crude oil, GHG emissions, fracking, and more.
Meanwhile, these same "initiatives" creatively throw the onus of pollution and environmentalism back on consumers, and the prescribed cure is often consumerism. Want to save the environment? Buy a Prius! Buy organic! Meanwhile, no one is asking about the CO2 production of manufacturing, or how wasteful Whole Foods' is. Global Environmentalism on corporate and government levels is very "don't look behind the curtain" because if you do, you'll find there's very little good being done behind the scenes.
Unfortunately, Price fails to do something very crucial in this book: cite her sources. While most everything in here can be looked up quite easily, its unacceptable to me that the only footnotes of this book are to add a bit more "spunk" to her otherwise "witty" diatribes. The page formatting is wildly erratic as well. Random statements are put in text blocks at various intervals in each chapter. Sub-headers act as subject shifts but in reality just break the overall flow of the book (not that there's much to speak of) and she hyper-fixates on things that are simply annoying, specifically Miami.
I could go on about other issues I have with this book, but I won't. Suffice it to say, I think this should have been marketed to a younger demographic and scrutinized by a better editor. Being in my mid 30s, this book didn't tell me much that I didn't already know, and what it did tell me was overshadowed by my annoyance with the presentation.
April 28, 2021
This is a quick, snappy little read that has some very good points about environmentalism, mainly: 1) what we are doing isn’t working; 2) we cannot “buy” our way out by green washing our economy; and 3) where, when, why, how, and to whom pollution happens matters. It gets to the point of environmental justice, useless virtue signaling, and the fact that personal choice isn’t going to save us. It’s a shakeup for anyone who thinks they’re saving the planet by driving a Prius. However, some of the phrasing in this little manifesto was clunky, and I think it actually would have been strengthened with some more examples and details. However, if you’re looking for a wake up call and only have an hour or two, this will do the trick
June 30, 2021
What can we do or what needs to be done for the environment
The author gives a very interesting point of you on the environmentalism. You’ll have to looks at all the efforts that people and companies know but they really don’t have the effect desire. This is a great book if you want to find a different perspective on environmentalism. The main point is not to say what can we do but rather what needs to be done. I recommend this book for all who to learn more about the impact of environmentalism.
The author gives a very interesting point of you on the environmentalism. You’ll have to looks at all the efforts that people and companies know but they really don’t have the effect desire. This is a great book if you want to find a different perspective on environmentalism. The main point is not to say what can we do but rather what needs to be done. I recommend this book for all who to learn more about the impact of environmentalism.
October 24, 2024
some good takeaways but I have so many critiques with this book. My largest being: who is the target audience? She seems to blame everyone to include individuals. I hate how she shuts down individual action. I hate how she lumps in all environmentalists when making generalizations. The last 39 tips were the best part but the beginning 2 hours was rough. If you’re an environmentalist I don’t really recommend it 🫢
I have so much more to say I’ll put it on bookstagram 😅
I have so much more to say I’ll put it on bookstagram 😅
July 4, 2021
This book is short, but amazingly earth shattering. I wish the book included sources to follow up with (mostly for my own sake/interest; there is a part with resource suggestions, and all of the information is fairly easy to search on the internet,) but the argument she makes doesn't really need direct sources. Her premise is based on several, varies examples that are widely common knowledge-- which makes the factual nature of it worse???
Why people hate environmentalists, why our current approaches don't work, why successful approaches will include JUSTICE for disadvantaged people instead of just cute animals and our National Parks.
The dripping sarcasm used to repeatedly drop the mic here is necessary and relatable. The hardest bit to swallow is that there isn't much individuals can do to stop climate change. We need a larger overhaul of how we do things. Buying a bamboo toothbrush isn't going to change the fact that Flint has lead in the tap water. And that sucks. There is an actionable list at the end for ways you can help push broader change-- kudos for it not being a "this shit sucks and that's it" book.
Why people hate environmentalists, why our current approaches don't work, why successful approaches will include JUSTICE for disadvantaged people instead of just cute animals and our National Parks.
The dripping sarcasm used to repeatedly drop the mic here is necessary and relatable. The hardest bit to swallow is that there isn't much individuals can do to stop climate change. We need a larger overhaul of how we do things. Buying a bamboo toothbrush isn't going to change the fact that Flint has lead in the tap water. And that sucks. There is an actionable list at the end for ways you can help push broader change-- kudos for it not being a "this shit sucks and that's it" book.
July 5, 2021
Such a good read in redefining economy and environment.
July 26, 2021
An average introduction into basic environmentalism. The way information was presented was not always clear and I found the author's attempts at humor to be lacking.
March 25, 2024
DNF because I kept skipping my English language class to the degree that by the time i showed up, they were finished with the book. Also, this sounded like a Facebook rant.
May 27, 2025
idk
... bit too quirky yet not really funny, kinda felt less informative than it could've been
... bit too quirky yet not really funny, kinda felt less informative than it could've been
July 25, 2024
Interesting information. The way it was written I think was meant to be funny or entertaining but it got a little confusing at times. The book was laid out in reasons to stop "saving the planet" but they were kind of confusing and I couldn't tell the difference between most of them.
January 31, 2021
Stop Saving the Planet is a refreshing look at the direction environmentalism has gone in our culture. It was striking to look at how some of the government's environmental actions have actually done more harm than good. It started to explore subjects like how economics play into environmentalism and why people hate righteous environmentalist. Throughout the whole read, you could clearly hear the author’s voice. Prices have a uniquely snarky perspective that was energizing.
I felt there was a little repetitiveness to the chapters. Some of the examples could have gone into more depth and cited current examples. I would love to have seen how different presidential administrations have impacted efforts. Historical accounts of what changes have actually been made and things that did and didn’t work.
It looked more at the social and cultural aspects of Saving the Planet. It touches on the corporate influence and past marking claims.
I think this was a good read for those that want to make a difference and stop pretending they care.
This review based on ARC obtained via NetGalley from W. W. Norton & Company in return for a candid review.
I felt there was a little repetitiveness to the chapters. Some of the examples could have gone into more depth and cited current examples. I would love to have seen how different presidential administrations have impacted efforts. Historical accounts of what changes have actually been made and things that did and didn’t work.
It looked more at the social and cultural aspects of Saving the Planet. It touches on the corporate influence and past marking claims.
I think this was a good read for those that want to make a difference and stop pretending they care.
This review based on ARC obtained via NetGalley from W. W. Norton & Company in return for a candid review.
January 26, 2021
Stop Saving the Planet! is a thought-provoking and insightful read about key issues with “environmentalists” and our desperate (and failed) attempts to save the planet.
I respect this book for fearlessly calling out everything that is wrong with environmentalism. I really admired Price’s ability to taking difficult to understand topics and condense them to short segments. I also enjoyed the fact that Price did not exclude other key elements that are delicately intertwined with environmental issues, such as poverty, race, and class.
One of the good things about this book was that it was not sugar coated. My favorite part of this read was the list of ways to stop saving the planet. I would have preferred that section to be longer since the earlier segments often felt long-winded, although necessary. Overall, I think this short manifesto is an absolute must-read if you want to stop saving the planet and actually make a difference.
I respect this book for fearlessly calling out everything that is wrong with environmentalism. I really admired Price’s ability to taking difficult to understand topics and condense them to short segments. I also enjoyed the fact that Price did not exclude other key elements that are delicately intertwined with environmental issues, such as poverty, race, and class.
One of the good things about this book was that it was not sugar coated. My favorite part of this read was the list of ways to stop saving the planet. I would have preferred that section to be longer since the earlier segments often felt long-winded, although necessary. Overall, I think this short manifesto is an absolute must-read if you want to stop saving the planet and actually make a difference.
May 6, 2021
Deceptively inviting, "Stop Saving the Planet!" looks like a bathroom book. This fun little volume is formatted as a couple different lists, with lots of cute icons thrown in, of Why You Should Stop Saving the Planet and 39 Ways to Stop doing it. Each point of the second list is printed on a separate page that's half blank ("Scribble Zone: write, draw, ponder..."). It's partially ironic but also deadly serious.
Price's lighthearted approach coats the pill of assumption-busting with enough sugar to help the medicine go down.
Her language ranges from snarky to mildly fed up and can be summed up by Point #30, Tell a Frickin' Joke. Price puts fun to good use to puncture the gloom and self-righteousness of much environmentalism.
A lot of the problem of traditional environmentalism is the belief that big problems like climate change and toxic pollution can be solved by small personal lifestyle changes like buying a Prius or Tesla or recycling more. Nobody thinks that you can solve the Middle East crisis from your kitchen, so why should we act this way about the environment?
Price has a few theories. First, the real polluters like oil and plastics companies have successfully deflected blame from themselves to consumers ("We're all in this together!"). Second, too many environmentalists live in a white suburban middle-class bubble, ignoring the everyday impacts of dumping and pollution on people of color in low-income communities like Cancer Alley in Louisiana. Third, too many of us also wrongly believe that the "environment" is something "out there," unspoiled nature found in protected or untouched wilderness like Yosemite but far away from the places where we live and work.
Price reminds us that humans are part of nature, and that environments (plural) are found everywhere, including big cities and suburbs, and inside our homes and offices. Humans cannot help but alter their environments. Price wants us to dump the assumption that the best or most sustainable way of running the economy would be to be as hands-off on the environment as possible.
Instead, she wants us to recognize the awesome responsibility that comes with changing our environments and then to embrace the goal of changing them well, not badly. That means making the economy clean, cutting out pollution anywhere and everywhere (but especially cutting pollution near people of color who are affected most) and ensuring social equity.
In the end, says Price, there's no conflict between the environment and the economy. A successful economy must do more than make a few people richer while the rest of us just limp along financially and have to suck up the pollution. She supports a Green New Deal and suggests a bunch of alternate names that show the many reasons why it's needed: The Toxics Be Gone New Deal, the War on Greed and Pollution, the Huge Fat Initiative to Massively Rethink a T Shirt, or the You Shouldn't Have No Choice but to Work in Jobs That Are Ruinous to People and Environments Great New Plan.
To help readers make a real difference, as opposed to doing things that feel helpful but really aren't like buying a Prius, Price does actually offer a few personal life changes, like buying less stuff or buying higher quality stuff at lower quantity. But most of her ideas are about thinking differently about the environment--such as Redefine Economy or even Redefine Extremism (greedheads, not environmentalists, are the real extremists). Or getting active in public policy--from the strikingly simple "Vote!" to "Join up locally--government & economy R us."
A welcome corrective to the trend of X number of things you can do in your personal life to save the Earth that won't threaten the rule of greedy polluters over the economy and government, Price's book welcomes the reader with a smile but strikes hard against bullshit from PR flacks for corporate polluters while she stands up for climate justice.
Until Cancer Alley is clean, then no place is clean. That's just what Americans need to hear right now.
Price's lighthearted approach coats the pill of assumption-busting with enough sugar to help the medicine go down.
Her language ranges from snarky to mildly fed up and can be summed up by Point #30, Tell a Frickin' Joke. Price puts fun to good use to puncture the gloom and self-righteousness of much environmentalism.
A lot of the problem of traditional environmentalism is the belief that big problems like climate change and toxic pollution can be solved by small personal lifestyle changes like buying a Prius or Tesla or recycling more. Nobody thinks that you can solve the Middle East crisis from your kitchen, so why should we act this way about the environment?
Price has a few theories. First, the real polluters like oil and plastics companies have successfully deflected blame from themselves to consumers ("We're all in this together!"). Second, too many environmentalists live in a white suburban middle-class bubble, ignoring the everyday impacts of dumping and pollution on people of color in low-income communities like Cancer Alley in Louisiana. Third, too many of us also wrongly believe that the "environment" is something "out there," unspoiled nature found in protected or untouched wilderness like Yosemite but far away from the places where we live and work.
Price reminds us that humans are part of nature, and that environments (plural) are found everywhere, including big cities and suburbs, and inside our homes and offices. Humans cannot help but alter their environments. Price wants us to dump the assumption that the best or most sustainable way of running the economy would be to be as hands-off on the environment as possible.
Instead, she wants us to recognize the awesome responsibility that comes with changing our environments and then to embrace the goal of changing them well, not badly. That means making the economy clean, cutting out pollution anywhere and everywhere (but especially cutting pollution near people of color who are affected most) and ensuring social equity.
In the end, says Price, there's no conflict between the environment and the economy. A successful economy must do more than make a few people richer while the rest of us just limp along financially and have to suck up the pollution. She supports a Green New Deal and suggests a bunch of alternate names that show the many reasons why it's needed: The Toxics Be Gone New Deal, the War on Greed and Pollution, the Huge Fat Initiative to Massively Rethink a T Shirt, or the You Shouldn't Have No Choice but to Work in Jobs That Are Ruinous to People and Environments Great New Plan.
To help readers make a real difference, as opposed to doing things that feel helpful but really aren't like buying a Prius, Price does actually offer a few personal life changes, like buying less stuff or buying higher quality stuff at lower quantity. But most of her ideas are about thinking differently about the environment--such as Redefine Economy or even Redefine Extremism (greedheads, not environmentalists, are the real extremists). Or getting active in public policy--from the strikingly simple "Vote!" to "Join up locally--government & economy R us."
A welcome corrective to the trend of X number of things you can do in your personal life to save the Earth that won't threaten the rule of greedy polluters over the economy and government, Price's book welcomes the reader with a smile but strikes hard against bullshit from PR flacks for corporate polluters while she stands up for climate justice.
Until Cancer Alley is clean, then no place is clean. That's just what Americans need to hear right now.
July 11, 2025
I have a very vivid memory of being maybe 5 or 6 years old and questioning my mum, who decided to not take a plastic bag at the grocery store to ‘save the environment’, about how us not taking a bag has any impact. I thought that someone’s going to use that bag anyway.
This is how I’ve always felt. Individual consumer habits in this guise of saving the environment are total bs. Nothing I do short of collective change and institutional policy is going to have any effect. It’s simply to make us feel good, and more importantly, not question the corporations and systems that are causing this mess.
Price does a pretty solid job of communicating this idea in a way that is both easy to understand and compelling to a lay-person. But she also comes off unorganized, under-developed, and reeking of the same ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude that she (fairly) ascribes to people who deem themselves environmentalists. There is nothing here I disagree with, I just wish it was willing to go into more depth. This book is wide, but far from deep.
Basing the main argument of the book around ‘out there’ and ‘in here’ environmentalism is effective and easily illustrates the ineffectiveness of treating climate change/environmental concerns as their own isolated problem. Still, I find that many of Price’s “39 Ways to Stop Saving the Planet” ultimately fall into this ‘out there’ thinking or end up placing the burden on the individual in ways that she consistently advocated against earlier in the book.
Take reason number 1 for example: “Pay more attention to how you make money than to what you use it to buy”. Sure, our labour certainly has an impact on our environments, but this reason puts the onus on the labourer instead of the employer. Most people cannot change the ways they make money as a way to be more ‘green’ in the same way that she argues that lower-income people cannot buy ‘green’. There’s a chapter in here that focuses on the intersectional aspects of environmentalism and how lower-income and people-of-colour are often left behind while affluent communities are the ones who see the benefits of environmental activism. The people who can choose to pay attention to how they make money are already the ones that are systemically impacted less by environmental crises. It really feels like it misses the point of everything she spent the past 100 pages advocating for.
I think at the end of the day, this book just isn’t really made for me. I have a bachelor’s degree in geography, I have worked on food security matters, in creating equitable spaces. If I had no previous experience with these topics, I’d likely find this more compelling, but maybe I’d just be turned off by Price’s snarkiness. Who knows!
This is how I’ve always felt. Individual consumer habits in this guise of saving the environment are total bs. Nothing I do short of collective change and institutional policy is going to have any effect. It’s simply to make us feel good, and more importantly, not question the corporations and systems that are causing this mess.
Price does a pretty solid job of communicating this idea in a way that is both easy to understand and compelling to a lay-person. But she also comes off unorganized, under-developed, and reeking of the same ‘holier-than-thou’ attitude that she (fairly) ascribes to people who deem themselves environmentalists. There is nothing here I disagree with, I just wish it was willing to go into more depth. This book is wide, but far from deep.
Basing the main argument of the book around ‘out there’ and ‘in here’ environmentalism is effective and easily illustrates the ineffectiveness of treating climate change/environmental concerns as their own isolated problem. Still, I find that many of Price’s “39 Ways to Stop Saving the Planet” ultimately fall into this ‘out there’ thinking or end up placing the burden on the individual in ways that she consistently advocated against earlier in the book.
Take reason number 1 for example: “Pay more attention to how you make money than to what you use it to buy”. Sure, our labour certainly has an impact on our environments, but this reason puts the onus on the labourer instead of the employer. Most people cannot change the ways they make money as a way to be more ‘green’ in the same way that she argues that lower-income people cannot buy ‘green’. There’s a chapter in here that focuses on the intersectional aspects of environmentalism and how lower-income and people-of-colour are often left behind while affluent communities are the ones who see the benefits of environmental activism. The people who can choose to pay attention to how they make money are already the ones that are systemically impacted less by environmental crises. It really feels like it misses the point of everything she spent the past 100 pages advocating for.
I think at the end of the day, this book just isn’t really made for me. I have a bachelor’s degree in geography, I have worked on food security matters, in creating equitable spaces. If I had no previous experience with these topics, I’d likely find this more compelling, but maybe I’d just be turned off by Price’s snarkiness. Who knows!
May 28, 2022
A quick, thought-provoking and a fair introduction to some major problems with environmentalism (the so-called “Save the Planet” approach) and why it’s become such a dirty word to so many today. The two main things I think you’ll get away from it are: 1) every little individual action wherever and whenever does NOT add up to holding those responsible for the worst environmental changes and pollution accountable for their actions and 2) don’t fall for greenwashing schemes. That is not to say that we shouldn’t seek to reduce waste (especially plastics), purchase more sustainable goods (even if they’re more expensive, but only AFTER using up what we already have rather than throwing it away and ensuring that they actually ARE sustainably made), etc., but if we really want to make a real difference regarding climate change civic engagement is essential.
I appreciate Price’s emphasis the interconnectedness of environmental issues and humanitarian crises that is often ignored. She speaks to the blame that is often placed on individuals those who are most horrifically affected by pollution (often low-income, communities of color) for their lack of individual action (who cannot afford sustainable options, for example) rather than on large corporations responsible for doing the polluting. (Though, there’s also a fair point made that poor white-folks in similar situations often support politicians who oppose their best interests on environmental issues.) Finally, her closing “39 Stop Saving the Planet” and actually do something meaningful includes some great actions for beyond just the usual minimize waste, turn off lights, reuse and repair whenever possible, etc. (which all sum up to only ONE of her proposed actions).
I think the book could have been vastly improved with the inclusion of even just a few more solid studies and citations, but it’s a quick and decent starting place—especially given the attention catching title and length.
I appreciate Price’s emphasis the interconnectedness of environmental issues and humanitarian crises that is often ignored. She speaks to the blame that is often placed on individuals those who are most horrifically affected by pollution (often low-income, communities of color) for their lack of individual action (who cannot afford sustainable options, for example) rather than on large corporations responsible for doing the polluting. (Though, there’s also a fair point made that poor white-folks in similar situations often support politicians who oppose their best interests on environmental issues.) Finally, her closing “39 Stop Saving the Planet” and actually do something meaningful includes some great actions for beyond just the usual minimize waste, turn off lights, reuse and repair whenever possible, etc. (which all sum up to only ONE of her proposed actions).
I think the book could have been vastly improved with the inclusion of even just a few more solid studies and citations, but it’s a quick and decent starting place—especially given the attention catching title and length.
December 10, 2024
I promoted this book even before reading it, and after reading it, think it's a good one overall, important for society to be more aware of less effective solutions for example. I learned (p. 33) that municipal waste, as opposed to industrial waste, is only ~3% of total waste stream - where to focus our efforts?!
I believe a few good samples of this book are:
- (p. 65) - “How do our strategies to reduce CO2 emissions also contribute to CO2 emissions? Who cares, something is better than nothing! - which allows you to insist, essentially, that 1 + 1 - 2 = 100”
- (p. 91) “the ABC purpose (of jobs, businesses, and government) should be to change environments fairly and in ecologically healthy ways… regardless, we definitely don’t have time for all this ‘what can I do?,” “buy something!,” carbon speculating, green growth, greenwashing, just do something, A for effort!, self-deluding, trickle-down “save the planet!” utter ridiculous bulls#!@. Call it Good Intentions Aren’t Anywhere Close to Good Enough Environmentalism.”
Finally a constructive criticism. Jenny suggests (p. 38) it's not what individuals can do about huge, systemic, epidemiological problems, but “what needs to be done” by the corporate/initial producers of the global crisis, who I believe are doing their duties, very successfully by catering to a consumer demand - albeit misguided demand, and the situation is similar to a parent continuing to spoil the children, but also knowing that if they do the right thing and stop spoiling the child, or stop doing such ecologically insane business, another company will simply step in and do it, unless (like South Park's profound satire "Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes") the consumers' hearts drastically change.. or?
I believe a few good samples of this book are:
- (p. 65) - “How do our strategies to reduce CO2 emissions also contribute to CO2 emissions? Who cares, something is better than nothing! - which allows you to insist, essentially, that 1 + 1 - 2 = 100”
- (p. 91) “the ABC purpose (of jobs, businesses, and government) should be to change environments fairly and in ecologically healthy ways… regardless, we definitely don’t have time for all this ‘what can I do?,” “buy something!,” carbon speculating, green growth, greenwashing, just do something, A for effort!, self-deluding, trickle-down “save the planet!” utter ridiculous bulls#!@. Call it Good Intentions Aren’t Anywhere Close to Good Enough Environmentalism.”
Finally a constructive criticism. Jenny suggests (p. 38) it's not what individuals can do about huge, systemic, epidemiological problems, but “what needs to be done” by the corporate/initial producers of the global crisis, who I believe are doing their duties, very successfully by catering to a consumer demand - albeit misguided demand, and the situation is similar to a parent continuing to spoil the children, but also knowing that if they do the right thing and stop spoiling the child, or stop doing such ecologically insane business, another company will simply step in and do it, unless (like South Park's profound satire "Something Wall-Mart This Way Comes") the consumers' hearts drastically change.. or?
February 18, 2021
Stop Saving the Planet is a short, accessible and insightful read about environmentalism and climate change. It's a subject I'd long wondered about (how valuable are individual actions if corporations and government policy don't change significantly too), and so I'm glad the subject is being addressed in a short, non-academic text. It also tackles the subject on a broader issue, such as how social deprivation is intertwined with environmentalism, which is a hugely important conversation to be having.
The problem is, this book is a really difficult one to put together. The short and fun nature is a big selling point (would I have picked it up or continued reading if it was longer? Quite possibly not). But I was also left wishing there had been more to it, particularly in terms of human anecdotes and examples. As a UK reader, I also found it very US-centric and would have liked to read more global examples. Essentially I came away not feeling entirely satisfied: like I needed to look up these subjects more, and overwhelmed about what to do next. Perhaps that's the point.
I also understand why some readers didn't like the writing style, though I didn't mind it myself (though think it may work even better as a documentary or podcast).
Overall I think this book kickstarts an important and valuable conversation, but personally I was left wanting a little more from it.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
The problem is, this book is a really difficult one to put together. The short and fun nature is a big selling point (would I have picked it up or continued reading if it was longer? Quite possibly not). But I was also left wishing there had been more to it, particularly in terms of human anecdotes and examples. As a UK reader, I also found it very US-centric and would have liked to read more global examples. Essentially I came away not feeling entirely satisfied: like I needed to look up these subjects more, and overwhelmed about what to do next. Perhaps that's the point.
I also understand why some readers didn't like the writing style, though I didn't mind it myself (though think it may work even better as a documentary or podcast).
Overall I think this book kickstarts an important and valuable conversation, but personally I was left wanting a little more from it.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
September 22, 2021
3⭐️
As someone who considers myself “eco-friendly” due to my individual choices (being vegan and childfree, mostly), I think this was a valuable and humbling read. It reminded me how the whole “save the environment” propaganda we are fed is often so much more about consumerism than it is promoting real change. Environmentalism is one of the biggest global crises and somehow the responsibility has been shifted from corporations and producers into the hands of consumers, which isn’t ethical or effective.
I also appreciated the conversation on how we so often think doing one eco friendly thing will excuse another (i’m vegan so it’s no big deal if i never recycle). This mindset doesn’t really help anyone, and just makes us feel better about not doing what needs to be done to stop climate change.
Now for some cons…
This read like a blog post rant. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re looking for a highly researched book with tons of reputable resources to learn deeply about how to shift the worlds perspective on environmentalism, this probably isn’t it. I also think the footnotes were very distracting and could’ve just been integrated into the text. I do think this was a good humbling reminder for me not to fall into a “holier than thou” mindset, but beyond that I don’t feel empowered to do anything drastically different in my daily life.
As someone who considers myself “eco-friendly” due to my individual choices (being vegan and childfree, mostly), I think this was a valuable and humbling read. It reminded me how the whole “save the environment” propaganda we are fed is often so much more about consumerism than it is promoting real change. Environmentalism is one of the biggest global crises and somehow the responsibility has been shifted from corporations and producers into the hands of consumers, which isn’t ethical or effective.
I also appreciated the conversation on how we so often think doing one eco friendly thing will excuse another (i’m vegan so it’s no big deal if i never recycle). This mindset doesn’t really help anyone, and just makes us feel better about not doing what needs to be done to stop climate change.
Now for some cons…
This read like a blog post rant. I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing, but if you’re looking for a highly researched book with tons of reputable resources to learn deeply about how to shift the worlds perspective on environmentalism, this probably isn’t it. I also think the footnotes were very distracting and could’ve just been integrated into the text. I do think this was a good humbling reminder for me not to fall into a “holier than thou” mindset, but beyond that I don’t feel empowered to do anything drastically different in my daily life.
January 18, 2022
I liked this book for the interesting perspectives it had on (not) saving the planet. It touches a lot on green washing, green virtuism, whole planetism, out-there-ness, and how the current system we live in basically works to prevent any climate action from happening. We live in feedback loops that prevent the small consumer from having a lot of impact in the war on climate and this book does a good job at recognizing that. Price's 39 ways to help (not) save the planet she lists at the end of the book provide some instruction the public can take, but some may be out of reach/impractical.
The writing style of Price is a bit hard to follow at times, so I occasionally had to reread sentences, chapters for the message to get through. The book repeats itself often and I found that it became a bit dull towards the end when I could practically predict what the author was going to write. So three stars for the effort to put a book out there that communicates the climate problem in a non-traditional sense, effort in compiling the list of things to do to (not) save the planet, and for providing insight into how corrupt and broken our system really is, which prevents any real climate action from occurring. Loss of full five stars for predictability, and for (personal) difficulty of reading due to word choice.
The writing style of Price is a bit hard to follow at times, so I occasionally had to reread sentences, chapters for the message to get through. The book repeats itself often and I found that it became a bit dull towards the end when I could practically predict what the author was going to write. So three stars for the effort to put a book out there that communicates the climate problem in a non-traditional sense, effort in compiling the list of things to do to (not) save the planet, and for providing insight into how corrupt and broken our system really is, which prevents any real climate action from occurring. Loss of full five stars for predictability, and for (personal) difficulty of reading due to word choice.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 5, 2024
I see some Goodreads comments that complain that this book lacks citations and studies. I don’t mind that — this book is more about the philosophies of environmentalism. Price takes a staunchly critical lens towards how corporations, individuals, and governments push forward “green” solutions, with the onus on individual action and maintaining the economic status quo, and heavily critiques white environmentalism, environmental racism, and extractive capitalism.
This is a good introduction for those who participate in good-faith environmental practices, like recycling, buying “sustainable” products, etc. I found the structure a bit confusing, and the ranting and raving (justifiable though it may be) could be off-putting to those who don’t already agree with her stance. Like, I don’t think this book will convert any climate deniers. But it might level up a receptive person’s environmentalist practices. Fun rainy day read!
This is a good introduction for those who participate in good-faith environmental practices, like recycling, buying “sustainable” products, etc. I found the structure a bit confusing, and the ranting and raving (justifiable though it may be) could be off-putting to those who don’t already agree with her stance. Like, I don’t think this book will convert any climate deniers. But it might level up a receptive person’s environmentalist practices. Fun rainy day read!
April 15, 2025
3.5 - read this for a work book club. Straightforward and “back to basics” - goes over a lot of things I already know from prior books I’ve read/my job/existing in 2025 but I can see how all of this would be helpful for people that are unfamiliar with these general ideas. I did really like the list of “things you can do” at the end - easy to point to, actionable, etc. I especially found the discussion on offsets to be interesting as well as focusing less on the LEED building and more on the actions of the company that the building houses - what good really is a LEED platinum corporate office if Amazon is inside committing crimes against the environment and humanity lol. A lot of my coworkers have disdain for LEED for this and other reasons (there is more often than not a bit of fudging with the whole certification process…..) so it was interesting thinking about these things from the perspective of someone who works in this space.
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