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A Conservation Notebook
Are You Optimistic We Can Save the Planet?
A Conservation Notebook has plenty of Paul in it, but it’s not intended to be a memoir. Nor is it a history of the modern conservation movement.
This highly personal volume from the former head of Creative Services for WWF International wanders from crowded UN conference rooms in Rio to simple farmers in Bhutan, to coral reefs in Micronesia and the Philippines to the wild regions of Indonesian New Guinea where outsiders want a piece of a poor farmer’s soul to the rainforests of Borneo where indigenous tribesmen fight for their land. From a mythical sacred mountain in India to holy groves in Burma to an ecological war zone in Zimbabwe, from brave people with good intentions to nasty folks with greed tarnishing their hearts.
Warning. This book contains no finger-wagging lectures, not too many depressing statistics, and no easy solutions.
It is a collection of adventures, encounters, traveler’s tales, outlying ideas, commentaries, and observations reflecting five decades of work in the nature conservation wonderland, linked by the theme that nature is too important to ignore.
A Conservation Notebook has plenty of Paul in it, but it’s not intended to be a memoir. Nor is it a history of the modern conservation movement.
This highly personal volume from the former head of Creative Services for WWF International wanders from crowded UN conference rooms in Rio to simple farmers in Bhutan, to coral reefs in Micronesia and the Philippines to the wild regions of Indonesian New Guinea where outsiders want a piece of a poor farmer’s soul to the rainforests of Borneo where indigenous tribesmen fight for their land. From a mythical sacred mountain in India to holy groves in Burma to an ecological war zone in Zimbabwe, from brave people with good intentions to nasty folks with greed tarnishing their hearts.
Warning. This book contains no finger-wagging lectures, not too many depressing statistics, and no easy solutions.
It is a collection of adventures, encounters, traveler’s tales, outlying ideas, commentaries, and observations reflecting five decades of work in the nature conservation wonderland, linked by the theme that nature is too important to ignore.
348 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 22, 2022
4 people are currently reading
6905 people want to read
About the author
Paul Spencer Sochaczewski
24 books686 followersPaul Sochaczewski's highly acclaimed nonfiction books of personal travel include the five-volume Curious Encounters of the Human Kind series,An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, The Sultan and the Mermaid Queen, Soul of the Tiger (with Jeff McNeely), and Distant Greens. Gary Braver, bestselling author of Tunnel Vision, said Paul's work is "in the great tradition of Asian reporting. The humanity of Somerset Maugham, the adventure of Joseph Conrad, the perception of Paul Theroux, and a self-effacing voice uniquely his own." Paul's handbook for people who want to write their personal stories, Share Your Journey, is based on the creative writing workshops he runs in more than 20 countries. Redheads and EarthLove are his eco-thrillers set in the rainforest of a mythical sultanate in Borneo.
Paul is an American writer (born in Brooklyn, New York), writing coach, conservationist, and communications advisor to international non-governmental organizations. He lives in Geneva, Switzerland, and has lived and worked in more than 80 countries, including long stints in Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand.
Paul served in the United States Peace Corps from 1969 to 1971, working as an education advisor in Sarawak, Malaysia. This exposure to Asia informed his writing, and as a result, most of his work has a Southeast Asian theme. He was also founding creative director of the J. Walter Thompson advertising agency in Indonesia and Singapore.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 4, 2022
This book offers a unique and insightful perspective on the state of the world through the lens of the author’s experience. Sochaczewski does a beautiful job capturing the essence of an area when he adventures in and does an even better job of giving us an accurate snapshot of the environment—both social and natural—of the places he treks. His comments and message about the need to preserve the wonderful world we live in give vision to those of us s who are unable to travel as extensively don’t get to see. All while still allowing us to feel our efforts matter in these far-reaching places. One of my favorite parts of this book is the bit about Zakarias, and how one person’s local efforts may seem small and meager but can be impactful. It also implies how conservationists have to recruit world-saving folks like a religion recruits disciples…“operate on the faith of a future reward” as a way to bring more people into the efforts.
I enjoyed this book. It’s not quite a memoir or a conservation manual but more like a hybrid of someone’s personal experience with the world and our place in it. It's well worth your time and a read.
August 16, 2022
As I started reading this latest work by Paul Sochaczewski, a jungle fowl was making its distinctive definitely un-melodious call from outside, which always makes me smile because I live in a major city on the 16th floor of a high-rise on one of the most trafficked streets in the city-republic of Singapore. Yet there is a jungle fowl (which may have begun life as a farmyard rooster centuries ago, but has evolved into a wild descendant) that has found his way into the green space between our buildings and has remained so elusive that I've yet to actually spot him. But his call always brings a smile to my face. As does the motley array of plants on my study windowsill--all of which is a long way of saying that a touch of the wild side (nature) obviously fills a basic need of even the most urban citizen such as me. Paul S, who has written many many books begging, pleading with us to respect and preserve the remaining wildlife and wild spaces we have today, understands this, and this latest book beats that same drum. How many books is it going to take to get us from nodding our heads to standing on our feet and actively doing something? How many stories? How many polluted river and charcoal forests?
That said, Paul's writing is so colourful and so smile-generating and thought-provoking (while simultaneously being so maddening), that I definitely don't want this to be his last book on this topic. But I d--- well hope that the collective 'we' begin to start getting the message. Tomorrow is too late.
But conservation scares isn't the only reason to read A Conservation Notebook. For anyone interested in greater Asia, it's just a plain good read, a jungle full of folk tales, mythology, interesting encounters, scientific as well as travel information (I now have a whole new wish list of travel destinations). You'll read about sacred forests, medicinal plants, the reason why elephants are so highly regarded in Hindu mythology, as well as a number of compelling reasons why trying to teach a monkey how to be more 'human' might not be such a good idea after all. Paul is simply an amazing raconteur, and it is this combination of dead serious environmental concerns packed between dozens of riotous encounters ("No you may not go in that temple!") that earned this latest work five stars.
That said, Paul's writing is so colourful and so smile-generating and thought-provoking (while simultaneously being so maddening), that I definitely don't want this to be his last book on this topic. But I d--- well hope that the collective 'we' begin to start getting the message. Tomorrow is too late.
But conservation scares isn't the only reason to read A Conservation Notebook. For anyone interested in greater Asia, it's just a plain good read, a jungle full of folk tales, mythology, interesting encounters, scientific as well as travel information (I now have a whole new wish list of travel destinations). You'll read about sacred forests, medicinal plants, the reason why elephants are so highly regarded in Hindu mythology, as well as a number of compelling reasons why trying to teach a monkey how to be more 'human' might not be such a good idea after all. Paul is simply an amazing raconteur, and it is this combination of dead serious environmental concerns packed between dozens of riotous encounters ("No you may not go in that temple!") that earned this latest work five stars.
August 9, 2022
A Conservation Notebook
by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Conservation Notebook is brilliantly written by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski. It is an insightful book covering his trials and tribulations whilst experiencing some of the remaining rainforests. The author raises relevant issues at a crisis peak today and highlights greed as an underlying factor for many environmental problems.
As I read, the feeling of sadness and despair is overwhelming, as the author shows certain statistics. The rainforest is at a critical point, a point of no return. They still pump raw sewage into our rivers, and the Northern White Rhino is basically extinct, to name a few. Where did humanity go wrong with our planet? And is it too late to stop the destruction, “ to stem the tide of environmental destruction? ”
Paul Spencer Sochaczewski was the former head of Creative Services for WWF International. He delivers his tales with humour and visits areas I can only dream of, such as Borneo, Indonesia, and New Guinea. In meeting the indigenous tribes and learning their way of life, he recognises that ignorant people, such as a Malaysian businessman, think that “ it’s just useless rainforest “, without knowing the myriad consequences if it disappeared.
I thoroughly appreciated and am in awe of the mass of knowledge the author has on so many relevant topics in this book. Particularly the many discussions surrounding the hunter-gatherer Penan, conservationist heroes like Bruno Manser, who mysteriously disappeared in the Sarawak rainforest in 2000 and the sheer luck of being led by a guide, stumbling upon a group of mountain gorillas whilst on the trek to meet with the iconic Dian Fossey.
The reader becomes enlightened on the dilemmas of conservation politics, the “ uncertainties and conflicting values “ of conservation and green colonialism. Included are many interesting photos, drawings etc, such as a photo of Bo Wan Kan, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, in his village in the southern corner of China’s Yunnan province.
A Conservation Notebook is “ a selection of adventures, encounters, traveller’s tales, outlying ideas, commentaries, and observations, reflecting on five decades of work in the nature conservation wonderland “.
I highly recommend it to all.
by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski
I received a complimentary copy and am voluntarily leaving a review.
A Conservation Notebook is brilliantly written by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski. It is an insightful book covering his trials and tribulations whilst experiencing some of the remaining rainforests. The author raises relevant issues at a crisis peak today and highlights greed as an underlying factor for many environmental problems.
As I read, the feeling of sadness and despair is overwhelming, as the author shows certain statistics. The rainforest is at a critical point, a point of no return. They still pump raw sewage into our rivers, and the Northern White Rhino is basically extinct, to name a few. Where did humanity go wrong with our planet? And is it too late to stop the destruction, “ to stem the tide of environmental destruction? ”
Paul Spencer Sochaczewski was the former head of Creative Services for WWF International. He delivers his tales with humour and visits areas I can only dream of, such as Borneo, Indonesia, and New Guinea. In meeting the indigenous tribes and learning their way of life, he recognises that ignorant people, such as a Malaysian businessman, think that “ it’s just useless rainforest “, without knowing the myriad consequences if it disappeared.
I thoroughly appreciated and am in awe of the mass of knowledge the author has on so many relevant topics in this book. Particularly the many discussions surrounding the hunter-gatherer Penan, conservationist heroes like Bruno Manser, who mysteriously disappeared in the Sarawak rainforest in 2000 and the sheer luck of being led by a guide, stumbling upon a group of mountain gorillas whilst on the trek to meet with the iconic Dian Fossey.
The reader becomes enlightened on the dilemmas of conservation politics, the “ uncertainties and conflicting values “ of conservation and green colonialism. Included are many interesting photos, drawings etc, such as a photo of Bo Wan Kan, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine, in his village in the southern corner of China’s Yunnan province.
A Conservation Notebook is “ a selection of adventures, encounters, traveller’s tales, outlying ideas, commentaries, and observations, reflecting on five decades of work in the nature conservation wonderland “.
I highly recommend it to all.
June 14, 2024
The book provides a first-hand picture of what is happening in the world and highlights those fighting to preserve endangered species and ecosystems. The previous director of creative services for WWF International was Paul Spencer Sochaczewski. He travels to places like Borneo, Indonesia, and New Guinea and tells his stories with a humorous touch.
This deeply personal book, written by the former head of creative services for WWF International, travels from crowded UN conference halls in Rio to simple farmers in Bhutan; coral reefs in Micronesia and the Philippines; the wilds of Indonesian New Guinea, where outsiders vie for a piece of a poor farmer's soul; and the Borneo rainforests, where native tribesmen fight for their land.
From holy forests in Burma to an ecological battle zone in Zimbabwe, from heroic individuals with noble intentions to evil people with greed tainting their hearts. The reader gains knowledge about the political conundrums surrounding conservation, the "uncertainties and contradictory values" surrounding conservation, and green colonialism. Numerous fascinating images, including pictures of Bo Wan Kan, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, in his village in the Yunnan province of China, are also included.
You might like to check out more similar books here.
This deeply personal book, written by the former head of creative services for WWF International, travels from crowded UN conference halls in Rio to simple farmers in Bhutan; coral reefs in Micronesia and the Philippines; the wilds of Indonesian New Guinea, where outsiders vie for a piece of a poor farmer's soul; and the Borneo rainforests, where native tribesmen fight for their land.
From holy forests in Burma to an ecological battle zone in Zimbabwe, from heroic individuals with noble intentions to evil people with greed tainting their hearts. The reader gains knowledge about the political conundrums surrounding conservation, the "uncertainties and contradictory values" surrounding conservation, and green colonialism. Numerous fascinating images, including pictures of Bo Wan Kan, a practitioner of traditional Chinese medicine, in his village in the Yunnan province of China, are also included.
You might like to check out more similar books here.
August 24, 2022
This book is extremely important and very timely. Paul worked for the WWF and writes knowledgeably about the issues facing our planet. I enjoyed all the pictures and the cartoons. I enjoyed the personal anecdotes about the things he saw, the animals he encountered, the people in the various countries and their stories. I especially enjoyed the story of the Girl Scout who took a stand.
This book brought home that each of us can make a difference. We need to start somewhere - eat less beef, less ice cream, be conscious of our choices, use less water and electricity, understand the impact that your choices have on the world. Animals are losing their habitat due to the commercialism of food products and corporate greed. The more we can be conscious of the ripple effect, the better it will be, and the closer we will be to saving the planet from destruction.
Important book - necessary reading.
This book brought home that each of us can make a difference. We need to start somewhere - eat less beef, less ice cream, be conscious of our choices, use less water and electricity, understand the impact that your choices have on the world. Animals are losing their habitat due to the commercialism of food products and corporate greed. The more we can be conscious of the ripple effect, the better it will be, and the closer we will be to saving the planet from destruction.
Important book - necessary reading.
September 5, 2022
With great pics and even better stories the author tells us about his truck around the world helping when he can fighting when necessary and trying to enjoy it all. Although this is about conservation it isn’t at all a guilt trip nor is it full of information that would be pointless to the reader I found all the stories entertaining and delightful summer sad but it all can’t be laughs and giggles Canet? For those of us who like to travel in Books this one will take you everywhere the author went to places that most people on holiday wouldn’t go I thoroughly enjoyed this book and highly recommend it. This is a definite five star read!
August 16, 2022
A Conservation Notebook: Ego, Greed, and Oh-So-Cute Orangutans by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski is a unique book that covers many stories collected by the author about environmental causes, effects, and direction. He doesn't give solutions, yet some stories clearly illustrate a solution that works for that country or a species. I found the most fascinating is the author's storytelling abilities. You feel as if you are right there, staring into the eyes of an orangutan or traveling the tropical rainforests foraging for medical plants. This book does cause you to dwell on the wonders of this world we will miss if, or when, they are gone. Many things that are endangered are not in our backyard, but it gives because to think about how we can prevent the loss of the things we take for granted.
July 27, 2022
‘What are our options to save the world?’ – A VERY essential book for everyone!
American born Swiss author Paul Spencer Sochaczewski has been called a world-class searcher, reporter, and observer – ‘an insightful guide to an often obscure and rapidly changing world.’ In addition to his writing, he holds writing workshops worldwide helping writers tell their personal stories. His books to date – EarthLove, Eco-Bluff, Dead But Still Kicking, Redheads, Share Your Journey, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, Distant Greens, Soul of the Tiger, The Sultan and the Mermaid, Curious Encounters of the Human Kind series (Myanmar, Indonesia, Himalaya, Borneo, Southeast Asia), Searching For Ganesha, and now A CONSERVATION NOTEBOOK.
The timing for the release of this book could not be more propitious as the summer of 2022 is the hottest on record, lakes are drying up, the North and South Poles are melting, wildfires are torching the planet, food supplies diminish, and mental dispositions around the planet are frayed. Climate control is front and center. Paul’s book tackles these issues in one of the most highly readable personal memoirs, stories from his life of global adventures and his stance on the environment. He opens his book with ‘Are you optimistic about the future of our world? If you had asked me this question four decades ago when I joined World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International, I would have given you my most earnest smile and said, “Sure, it won’t be easy, but if we work together…” Today I’m not so sure.’
With that candor, Paul discusses the realities of conservation failures, both from the vantage of those who mainstream the terms carbon footprint, eco-friendly, biodiversity, ecocide, corporate and personal responsibility and from the alternate vantage of those who are taking advantage of the planet’s illness. As he states, ‘I feel like we in the conservation movement are doomed to push a green boulder a few meters up a hill only to lose control and watch it tumble. Eco-Sisyphus takes one step forward, two steps back.’
Relating his colorful experiences around the globe with photographs and drawings supplementing his fifty years of commitment to conservation and ecology, Paul illustrates his views through stories about observed peoples and happenings from every part of the planet. His delivery is at once humorous (he possess a keen wit!) and open-eyed as he cites the damages we are inflicting on our environment and the various responses to conservation he has observed and encountered. This is a must read, go-to book for everyone, especially now and for the future – if there is one…Very Highly Recommended.
American born Swiss author Paul Spencer Sochaczewski has been called a world-class searcher, reporter, and observer – ‘an insightful guide to an often obscure and rapidly changing world.’ In addition to his writing, he holds writing workshops worldwide helping writers tell their personal stories. His books to date – EarthLove, Eco-Bluff, Dead But Still Kicking, Redheads, Share Your Journey, An Inordinate Fondness for Beetles, Distant Greens, Soul of the Tiger, The Sultan and the Mermaid, Curious Encounters of the Human Kind series (Myanmar, Indonesia, Himalaya, Borneo, Southeast Asia), Searching For Ganesha, and now A CONSERVATION NOTEBOOK.
The timing for the release of this book could not be more propitious as the summer of 2022 is the hottest on record, lakes are drying up, the North and South Poles are melting, wildfires are torching the planet, food supplies diminish, and mental dispositions around the planet are frayed. Climate control is front and center. Paul’s book tackles these issues in one of the most highly readable personal memoirs, stories from his life of global adventures and his stance on the environment. He opens his book with ‘Are you optimistic about the future of our world? If you had asked me this question four decades ago when I joined World Wildlife Fund (WWF) International, I would have given you my most earnest smile and said, “Sure, it won’t be easy, but if we work together…” Today I’m not so sure.’
With that candor, Paul discusses the realities of conservation failures, both from the vantage of those who mainstream the terms carbon footprint, eco-friendly, biodiversity, ecocide, corporate and personal responsibility and from the alternate vantage of those who are taking advantage of the planet’s illness. As he states, ‘I feel like we in the conservation movement are doomed to push a green boulder a few meters up a hill only to lose control and watch it tumble. Eco-Sisyphus takes one step forward, two steps back.’
Relating his colorful experiences around the globe with photographs and drawings supplementing his fifty years of commitment to conservation and ecology, Paul illustrates his views through stories about observed peoples and happenings from every part of the planet. His delivery is at once humorous (he possess a keen wit!) and open-eyed as he cites the damages we are inflicting on our environment and the various responses to conservation he has observed and encountered. This is a must read, go-to book for everyone, especially now and for the future – if there is one…Very Highly Recommended.
August 12, 2022
The Conservation Notebook is an engrossing read about the author's real life experiences with conservation emergencies and efforts around the globe.
I was impressed with the writing, and the efforts to be fair and inclusive in the storytelling, while it's clear the author holds strong opinions and ideas about the urgency around conservation.
The book is an eye-witness account of what's happening in our world, and highlights those trying to protect the vulnerable environments and animals. While it doesn't offer any pat solutions to the environmental crisis, it certainly spurs the reader to think more deeply and act in even small ways to make a difference.
I was impressed with the writing, and the efforts to be fair and inclusive in the storytelling, while it's clear the author holds strong opinions and ideas about the urgency around conservation.
The book is an eye-witness account of what's happening in our world, and highlights those trying to protect the vulnerable environments and animals. While it doesn't offer any pat solutions to the environmental crisis, it certainly spurs the reader to think more deeply and act in even small ways to make a difference.
October 17, 2022
A Conservation Notebook: Ego, Greed and Oh-So-Cute Orangutans — Tales from a Half-Century on the Environmental Front Lines by Paul Spencer Sochaczewski is a well-written and interesting look at environmental issues with a personal slant. As someone who previously worked at the WWF, Paul offers great insight into the green and natural world. With a wealth of photos, illustrations, and personal tales, this is truly a one-of-a-kind book. With an overarching theme that nature is "too important to ignore", the author takes on corporate greed as well, interspersing the text with commentary and relevant observations. Certainly, an interesting read and one with a compelling message, that we must take care of the Earth if we are to survive and honor the planet.
October 4, 2022
Just as the prologue says this book is full of adventures, encounters, outlying ideas, commentaries and observations about the five decades of work in the nature conservation wonderland. This book is absolutely about the conservation of nature and how important is protecting the world we live in.
I love the fact that this book is a compilation of travels, but not the places itself, it’s about the locals that are trying to make a difference, among other topics this was my favorite. Another very important topic are the not so easy solutions and funds we really need to make a difference as soon as possible. A very different kind of read but very important one.
I love the fact that this book is a compilation of travels, but not the places itself, it’s about the locals that are trying to make a difference, among other topics this was my favorite. Another very important topic are the not so easy solutions and funds we really need to make a difference as soon as possible. A very different kind of read but very important one.
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May 17, 2023found from Goodreads recommendations
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