Abby Shin

It is a climate scientist’s case for hope and healing in a divided world.

This was a mandatory reading for a class I took about the ecological consequences of climate change. I loved it so much that I re-read it as soon as I moved home for the summer. If I had to recommend one non-fiction book to anyone, it would be this. No matter your knowledge- or concern-level regarding climate change, this is a must read.

Saving Us is 250 pages encompassing the social, economic, and ecological causes, impacts, and potential solutions related to global climate change. It somehow leaves you feeling hopeful without sugarcoating facts or avoiding the hard truth. Most importantly though, in my opinion, Dr. Hayhoe teaches the reader how talk about climate change with people who are indifferent to or doubtful of it. She examines how people with political or social differences can connect by discussing how climate change impacts things that they all value. In doing so, Dr. Hayhoe solidifies that the climate crisis can facilitate togetherness, rather than polarization.

There are so many specific concepts and topics discussed in this book that are so interesting and enlightening. I could literally go on for hours. Instead, I am going to use them to inspire future blog posts, so I will finish this one by saying this:

With everything going on in the world today, it is so easy to become apathetic about issues as intimidating as climate change. The swath of information out there is so overwhelming and depressing that turning a blind eye can seem like the only option. If anyone reading relates to this, I implore you to read Saving Us. It is a safe, trustworthy, comprehensive introduction to climate change that will leave you motivated to learn more. Please, read it!!!

Katharine Hayhoe

Born in Canada and residing in Texas, Katharine Hayhoe is an influential climate and atmospheric scientist. She procured a B.Sc. in Physics and Astronomy from the University of Toronto, as well as a M.S. and Ph.D. in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Illinois. Dr. Hayhoe is currently the Chief Scientist at The Nature Conservancy as well as a Paul Whitfield Distinguished Professor and the Political Science Endowed Chair in Public Policy and Public Law at Texas Tech University. She is also an associate in the Public Health program of Texas Tech’s Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences and a principal investigator for both the Department of Interior’s South-Central Climate Adaptation Science Center and the National Science Foundation’s Global Infrastructure Climate Network. Her resume is long and extremely impressive, having received numerous international recognitions and her work having resulted in over 125 publications (peer-reviewed papers, abstracts, etc.) and numerous key reports.

As a scientist who is a woman, Christian, Canadian native, and U.S. resident, Dr. Hayhoe brings an invaluable perspective to climate change. She is truly an inspiration.

Works Cited

Hayhoe, K. (2021). Saving Us: A Climate Scientist’s Case for Hope and Healing in a Divided World. Simon and Schuster Inc. New York.

Hayhoe, K. (n.d.). Bio. Katharine Hayhoe. https://www.katharinehayhoe.com/