{"product_id":"the-living-green-myth-the-promise-and-limits-of-lifestyle-environmentalism-paperback-softback-9781509527472","title":"The Living-Green Myth; The Promise and Limits of Lifestyle Environmentalism (Paperback \/ softback) 9781509527472","description":"\u003cfont face=\"Georgia\"\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"6\"\u003eThe Living-Green Myth\u003c\/font\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\r\n\u003cfont size=\"5\"\u003eThe Promise and Limits of Lifestyle Environmentalism\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"4\"\u003eMichael Maniates (Author)\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e9781509527472, Polity Press\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003ePaperback \/ softback, published 26 September 2025\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e168 pages\u003cbr\u003e21.3 x 13.7 x 1.3 cm, 0.204 kg\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cem\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\"Before you recycle that can, reject meat, commute by bike, or simply reduce your consumption, read this book. It brilliantly distinguishes feel-good efforts from effective political strategy. This is a critical corrective to the politics of the personal.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePaul Wapner, Professor Emeritus, American University\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"We earnest planet-lovers take shorter showers and refuse plastic straws, but deep down we wonder if it makes an impact. In \u003ci\u003eThe Living-Green Myth\u003c\/i\u003e, Michael Maniates explains how change is really made and where our power lies to achieve it. If you want to make a difference, there is one simple act you can take: read this book!\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAnnie Leonard, creator of \u003ci\u003eThe Story of Stuff\u003c\/i\u003e and former Executive Director of Greenpeace US\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"As Michael Maniates explains in this brilliant and totally accessible book, even herculean attempts at green living are woefully inadequate to address climate and other threats. Worse, they can and do distract from what should be done. \u003ci\u003eThe Living-Green Myth\u003c\/i\u003e is a book for our time. Highly recommended.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eGus Speth, former Dean of Yale School of the Environment and author of \u003ci\u003eAmerica the Possible: Manifesto for a New Economy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"As Professor Maniates says, it's the maze, not the mouse. We live in a system that caused the climate crisis, and it's only a systems change that will address it. This book promises to make you uncomfortable enough to do what needs to be done: organize, advocate and create community action that causes long-term system change. It's not fun, or easy, but it matters. And doing something that matters is the best way to complain.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSeth Godin, founding editor of \u003ci\u003eThe Carbon Almanac\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Live green and save the Earth. Who could possibly disagree? Yet, as Michael Maniates' spirited, inspiring book exposes, this is a dangerous myth propagated by nefarious interests. With flair and verve, \u003ci\u003eThe Living-Green Myth\u003c\/i\u003e reveals what's truly necessary to save our beleaguered planet.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePeter Dauvergne, University of British Columbia\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Michael Maniates invites us to shed individual guilt around environmental responsibility and transform negative emotions into joy. This book is a must-read for all those who are seeking an exit strategy from what he calls 'the trinity of despair' of ineffective environmental action, towards collective and meaningful social change.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarlyne Sahakian, University of Geneva\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"Essential reading for activists, policymakers and concerned citizens alike, \u003ci\u003eThe Living-Green Myth\u003c\/i\u003e challenges us to reimagine environmental engagement as a democratic struggle for systemic change rather than a solo race to the recycling bin.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eKoh Lian Pin, National University of Singapore\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eThe Living-Green Myth\u003c\/i\u003e offers a compelling re-evaluation of modern environmentalism, challenging the widespread belief that individual lifestyle choices alone can solve our ecological crisis. This insightful work is a must-read for anyone seeking to move beyond despair and engage in truly effective environmental change.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eJessica Cheam, founder and CEO, Eco-Business\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"You think just making more sustainable consumption choices one small step at a time is enough to save the world? Tough luck: this truly inspiring book explains why that simply will not get us to environmentally friendly and just societies. But it also shows us how we can better invest our energy, time and creativity to help bring about effective change.\"\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eDoris Fuchs, University of Münster\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp align=\"justify\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eMajor environmental problems threaten our planet and evoke within us a need to act – a need to do something, no matter how small, to slow the damage.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eBut what kind of action? Businesses, governments and some environmental groups tell us that buying environmentally friendly products while living more lightly on the planet is a winning strategy. Do the little things for the earth, the story goes, and others will follow, creating an environmental tsunami of change in norms, values and behaviors. The planet will thrive.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichael Maniates isn't buying it. He believes the mantra of 'buy green, live lean, save the planet' is a con of recent and unseemly origin. It fosters pernicious assumptions about social change, separates individuals from their real power in the world, and fuels damaging consumption. It thrives because it meets the short-term priorities of governments and business, not the long-term needs of the planet's human and non-human inhabitants.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eEnvironmentally concerned individuals can make a meaningful difference in the world, and living green is a start. But alone, it can do more harm than good. We must embrace more rewarding and effective practices for saving the planet. This book shows us how.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eAcknowledgments\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e1. Five Guys in a Room\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e2. Making a Difference Differently\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e3. Why Environmentalists Don't Get Invited to Parties\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e4. Living Green to Make a Difference\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003ePostscript: Two Metaphors\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eFurther Reading\u003c\/i\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eNotes\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cfont size=\"3\"\u003eSubject Areas: The environment [\u003ca title=\"See our other books on The environment\" href=\"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/search?q=%22The%20environment%20%5BRN%5D%22\"\u003eRN\u003c\/a\u003e]\u003c\/font\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\r\n\r\n\r\n\u003c\/font\u003e","brand":"Polity","offers":[{"title":"Brand New","offer_id":52460691292440,"sku":"9781509527472","price":14.28,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0730\/2037\/5320\/files\/9781509527472.jpg?v=1785458428","url":"https:\/\/freshlyprintedbooks.co.uk\/products\/the-living-green-myth-the-promise-and-limits-of-lifestyle-environmentalism-paperback-softback-9781509527472","provider":"Freshly Printed Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}