Bill McKibben's widening world
You have to admire writer Bill McKibben's depth of feeling for the environment and local communities. But often I find his work a little bit much: a little TOO earnest, a little too eager to see the world's end in a day's worth of TV, and a little too desperate to see its salvation in a single butterfly or entrepreneurial peasant. The funniest example was when he wrote a 96-page pamphlet about how one should spend just $100 every Christmas -- and then marketed it for $11.99.
But I'm thoroughly impressed by his article "Small World" in December's Harper's Magazine. He provides not only inspirational stories, but also persuasive explanations as to why idealists seem to be flocking to alternative radio and food. I found his analyses of industry and popular culture level-headed, and his understanding of real-world tradeoffs justified. These solid foundations make his cautiously optimistic predictions feel right.
McKibben hopes that locally-programmed radio, and restaurants featuring locally-grown food, will be the standard-bearers for a wave of anti-globalization that enriches all of our lives. I'd love to see it happen too, though I don't know if I would have any more stomach for actually following through on those wishes than anyone else. The best part of the piece is that McKibben seems happy now to acknowledge that the process itself -- asking the questions, pursuing the dream -- may be enough. That sort of optimism is what we all need more of.
What do YOU think? Drop a line to info@johnclaytonbooks.com. To receive these posts via email, write to johnclaytonoutreach-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. (You need not put any text in the message.)
But I'm thoroughly impressed by his article "Small World" in December's Harper's Magazine. He provides not only inspirational stories, but also persuasive explanations as to why idealists seem to be flocking to alternative radio and food. I found his analyses of industry and popular culture level-headed, and his understanding of real-world tradeoffs justified. These solid foundations make his cautiously optimistic predictions feel right.
McKibben hopes that locally-programmed radio, and restaurants featuring locally-grown food, will be the standard-bearers for a wave of anti-globalization that enriches all of our lives. I'd love to see it happen too, though I don't know if I would have any more stomach for actually following through on those wishes than anyone else. The best part of the piece is that McKibben seems happy now to acknowledge that the process itself -- asking the questions, pursuing the dream -- may be enough. That sort of optimism is what we all need more of.
What do YOU think? Drop a line to info@johnclaytonbooks.com. To receive these posts via email, write to johnclaytonoutreach-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. (You need not put any text in the message.)
