Minding the Climate

A fascinating book. Dr. Duhaime reveals that the vexed nature of the human brain complicates our response to our greatest crisis. By linking neuroscience and environmental studies, this book offers key insight into how we might leverage our brains to fight climate change. -- Bill McKibben, author of <i>Falter</i> and <i>The End of Nature</i> A unique look at how to meaningfully address catastrophic climate change...Duhaime's original angle sets her work apart from the pack, and she easily translates complex neurology for nonspecialists. Climate-minded readers will find this full of insight. * Publishers Weekly * Duhaime covers many issues in a thoughtful way, including the gap between people's stated intentions to perform pro-environmental behaviors and whether they actually do so; the limits of survey-based research about attitudes, beliefs, and behavior versus seldom-done field studies; and all the ways in which reward is pertinent for behavioral change. She succeeds in suggesting that neuroscience is indirectly relevant to understanding our current climate predicament. -- Adam R. Aron * Science * Surprising...Using insights provided by research at the intersection of neuroscience, environmental sciences and a number of other fields, Minding the Climate invites us to think about what a 'sustainable brain' might look like and how to achieve it. * New Books Network * Original, thoughtful, and inspiring. Dr. Duhaime explains how our brains seek rewards, and if we take the time to understand how and why this affects our behavior, we will be able to live healthier lives-for ourselves and for our environment. -- Peter Sterling, author of <i>What Is Health?</i> Minding the Climate provides key insights on how the physiology of the human brain shapes our capacity to address the existential threat of climate change. This work is essential if we are to have any hope of surviving as a species and preserving a habitable planet for future generations. -- Brad Campbell, President, Conservation Law Foundation For decades climate science has been ignored, undermined, and denounced. Dr. Duhaime takes us deep into the brain to understand why we fail to do what is in our and the planet's best interest. This is an important book. -- Rachel Kyte, Dean, Fletcher School, Tufts University While our brains are motivated by short-term incentives and immediate satisfaction loops, we can change the ways we think about the threat of global warming and, consequently, spark our collective sense of urgency and action. Minding the Climate presents a groundbreaking look at how to do that. -- John Judge, President and CEO, Trustees of Reservations, and author of <i>The Outdoor Citizen</i> A beautifully written look into why changing behavior in response to the climate crisis is so challenging. Like the great neurosurgeon she is, Dr. Duhaime methodically and carefully unpacks the fascinating evolutionary roots of human decision-making, why that decision-making so often falters in the face of modern threats, and how to use that understanding to guide future action. Highly recommended! -- Howard Frumkin, Senior Vice President, Trust for Public Land