Please Buy This Book
Even if it means shopping at Amazon.
A recent conversation with a local independent bookstore owner both saddened and enraged me. I asked if they carried the new book of Greta Thunberg’s speeches. The bookstore owner thought that Greta’s book must be suddenly popular because the president teased her online, nonetheless, she had no plans to order any. This person is clearly not plugged into Greta’s message or the crisis we are in. Due to the hypnotic and polarizing media, so many believe that climate change is some sort of GOP problem. Fix the top, impeach the narcissist and all will be well, problem solved.
Sadly, when Greta made the cover of Time magazine, the attention starved President grabbed all the headlines with his childish comments. As a result Greta’s words were drowned out once again.
While I find myself feeling both angry and terrified that my county is sleepwalking into catastrophe, I must remember that the books they read and media they watch does not include information on the climate and ecological emergency. To find that, one must step outside the bubble. Readers won’t find the climate crisis on the front page of the New York Times and NPR isn’t talking about it either. And the little Greta book is not for sale in my local bookstore.
I do recommend this tiny book of speeches. And I recommend that you find this book however you can, even if it means shopping on Amazon or Barnes and Noble. It is short and sweet. Read it. Highlight the phrases that resonate deeply.
And then, when you’re done marking it up, re-gift it. To a town board member, to someone running for a congressional seat in your district or to a school teacher who has not yet found the time to read Greta’s words.
Re-gifting this book is one way to share the message and to undo the damage created by buying it from Amazon or B&N. The message needs to get out. Because this is an emergency. No one is too small to make a difference, please buy this book. Read it, and insist others do too.
