This collection of previously published articles gives an overview of some of the things George Monbiot tries to fight: undemocratic power, corruption, deception of the public, environmental destruction, injustice, inequality and the misallocation of resources, waste, denial, the libertarianism which grants freedom to the powerful at the expense of the powerless, undisclosed interests, complacency. Monbiot is one of the most vocal, and eloquent, critics of the current consensus. In How Did We Get into This Mess?, he brilliantly anatomises the state we are in: the devastation of our environment, the crisis of inequality, the corporate take over of Nature, our obsessions with growth and profit and the decline of the political debate over what to do. While his diagnosis of the problems in front of us is clear-sighted and reasonable, he also develops solutions to challenge this politics of fear.
George Monbiot writes a weekly column for The Guardian, and is the author of a number of books, including Heat: How to Stop the Planet Burning, The Age of Consent: A Manifesto for a New World Order, Captive State: The Corporate Takeover of Britain and Feral: Searching for Enchantment on the Frontiers of Rewilding. He is the founder of The Land is Ours, a peaceful campaign for the right of access to the countryside and its resources in the United Kingdom. He was presented with a United Nations Global 500 Award for outstanding environmental achievement by Nelson Mandela.
"A dazzling command of science and relentless faith in people [...] I never miss reading him."
– Naomi Klein
"George Monbiot is always original – both in the intelligence of his opinions and the depth and rigour of his research."
– Brian Eno
"His passion for social and ecological justice is undimmed by twenty-first-century cynicism. His desire for knowledge across the widest gamut of subjects (scientific, historical, political and cultural) enables him to reach places which are foreign territory to many of us."
– Herald (Glasgow)
"What most impresses in Monbiot's clever, elegant writing is the way he strives to think beyond protest towards realistic, representative solutions to the problems of world politics and trade."
– The Times
"A writer of eloquence and passion."
– Observer
"An excellent critique of much that is wrong with modern society."
– Tablet