Climate of Contempt

William Boyd, author of The Slain Wood: Papermaking and Its Environmental Consequences in the American South:
David B. Spence’s urgent book comes at just the right time as we gear up for another contested election season and as we witness almost daily reminders of the accelerating climate crisis. Based on years of research and a deeply felt commitment to reasoned debate, Spence takes on the number one problem facing climate action: politics and polarization. In clear and compelling prose, backed up by detailed analysis, Spence shows us how we got to our current state and where we might look for resources to get beyond the tribalism and contempt that mark so much of contemporary climate politics. Although Spence has no illusions about the challenges we face in trying to build a more respectful politics, this is ultimately a hopeful book that recognizes the redemptive power of having authentic conversations across difference. It deserves to be widely read.