Generation Dread

March 21, 2022
Journalist Wray (Rise of the Necrofauna) offers advice on balancing personal and planetary wellness in this compassionate guide. Her focus is on managing the “tidal waves of grief, anxiety, pessimism, and existential dread” that come as a result of acknowledging climate change, and on seeing activism as an “internal” process, too. The counsel comes in three parts: first is “feel it all,” in which Wray defines such terms as “ecological grief” (sadness tied to ecological losses), “Anthropocene horror” (terror about an ominous sense of threat), and “global dread” (the anticipation of an apocalyptic state). Part two, “connect inward to transform oneself,” teaches ways to reframe grief as a “natural consequence of love”; and the final section, “connect outward to transform the world,” advises on confronting the emotions—one’s own and others’—that come as a result of talking about the climate crisis. Along the way, Wray recalls struggles with her “own eco-emotions,” as when she and her husband thought about having a kid, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to raise a child among so much doom. Throughout, Wray proves to be consistently empathetic. Climate activists feeling near the end of their rope will find this full of wisdom. Agent: Martha Webb, CookeMcDermid.

October 13, 2023

Wray (Rise of the Necrofauna) is the director of Stanford Medicine's Special Initiative on Climate Change and Mental Health. She utilizes her background and expertise to take readers through the complicated theories of both environmental and psychological sciences and translates them into digestible concepts. Her approach is to define the emotional side of climate change and eco-anxiety through multiple perspectives, which address doubters, aspiring parents, current activists, and those who are distressed about the earth's future but at a loss about what to do about it. Industry jargon is clearly defined within each section, and chapter summaries make understanding concepts easy. A deeply personal area of the book focuses on the debate over bringing children into the world, as Wray wrestles with the question herself. She also examines economics and white privilege, climate trauma, and Indigenous viewpoints, particularly showcasing stories of success from those who have found a balance point in this complicated conversation. The discussion questions at the end will allow activists, nonprofits, and book clubs to feature this title in their organization's activities. VERDICT Exemplary, essential reading for every level of planetary activist.--Tina Panik

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