What is most important to me in the book is Patten's vision of an integral activism on behalf of both nature and culture. Western culture has, for some time, treated the natural world with the destructive inconsideration that has resulted in deadly "climate change". But instead of shrinking in front of some dystopian account, Patten insists something quite different: "In these times, if we have the opportunity to live extraordinarily meaningful lives, I feel we have an obligation to do so. If the measure of a human life is its chance to have significance that extends beyond itself, then we've hit the jackpot. We are alive at game time on the planet, when everything that we value is genuinely threatened, when it’s time for all hands on deck" (page 60).
As for me, I think this is must-reading for all those who care about ourselves, our neighbors and our world.
______________________
I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review here.