Ecopsychology

Having tried to scare and shame his listeners into concern for the environment (with little success), author/professor Theodore Roszak opted for a new approach: ecopsychology, or the recognition that our psychological well-being is connected--in ways we ourselves may not fully comprehend--to the health of the planet. According to Roszak, we are in a state of profound grief because we know (without being told) that the rainforest is disappearing and that species are dying daily. Although Roszak's comments are occasionally thought-provoking, his ideas seem to incorporate a form of mass precognition or ecological empathy that is neither documented nor even adequately explained. Clinical psychologist Dr. Sarah Conn's prescription for our modern malaise (spend 5 minutes each day in a natural setting) seems a little simplistic, and President of the Earth Island Institute Carl Anthony's commentary on Earth-human symbiosis is pretty standard stuff. Still, there's a skeleton of a decent Zen-like concept here--the premise that ecology and human psychology are intrinsically related (the old Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young notion of "we are stardust" taken one sentient step further)--but either due to time, knowledge or communication limitations, that "idea" is never fully developed here. Still, the low price and Roszak's commentary, in particular, make this a strong optional purchase as an ecological discussion starter. (R. Pitman)