Hope Matters: Why Changing the Way We Think Is Critical to Solving the Environmental Crisis
CRITICAL BOOK REVIEW COMMENTARY Geog 3446a Fall 2022
Last name, First name
1. What is/was your attitude toward the climate change crisis just prior to commencing
this book, and why? For example, were you pessimistic? Fearful? Complacent? Cautiously
optimistic? Otherwise?
2. Having read the book in its entirety, has your attitude toward the environmental
‘climate’ crisis changed relative to your initial position above? If so, how so? And if not, why
not? Use examples from the book to support your position (including a page number(s) of
your example would be helpful here and, in your answers, below)
3. How, if at all, do you think this book has impacted the way you think, ‘the way you gaze’,
the human-environment relationship? Please provide specific examples from the book.
Linking your answer to our first lecture will help to contextualize our position.
4. How, if at all, might this book impact ‘the way you do’—your behaviours–toward climate
change? Be specific about the behaviour or behaviours you think have been impacted and
the action or actions, if any, you might or will take soon.
5. What feature(s) do like most about this book, be it the thesis, content, structure, writing
style, or some other feature? Defend your position with specific examples.
6. What feature(s) did you dislike the most about this book, be it the thesis, content,
structure, writing style, or some other feature? Defend your position with specific
examples.
7. Your like or dislike of all or parts of this book aside, identity two ideas, concepts or
knowledge presented in the book that you did not know about prior to reading it. Why do
these two stand out?
8. How, if at all, might each of these two ideas, concepts or knowledge identified above be
incorporated as changes into your everyday geographies? Given specific examples. If they
cannot be incorporated into your life, explain why.
9. How likely are you to practice the changes in behaviour you just noted above? Be honest
with yourself.
10. Given the course outline with its learning objectives and topic schedule, why to you
think the instructor asked you to read this book?
