What We Think About When We Try Not To Think About Global Warming

Per Espen Stoknes examines the psychological barriers that prevent people from engaging with climate change, despite overwhelming scientific evidence. The book analyzes why increased scientific data has failed to generate proportional public concern and action. Drawing from psychology, economics, and climate science, Stoknes presents strategies for more effective climate communication and behavioral change. His framework outlines five psychological barriers to climate action and provides concrete methods to overcome them. The author combines research findings with practical solutions that can be implemented by individuals, organizations, and policymakers. The book includes specific techniques for reframing climate messages and building social support for environmental initiatives. At its core, this work explores the intersection of human psychology and environmental crisis, suggesting that the key to climate action lies not in more data, but in understanding how people process and respond to information about global threats.

Readers note the book provides psychological insights and practical solutions for communicating about climate change, rather than just presenting more scientific data. Liked: - Clear breakdown of psychological barriers to climate action - Concrete communication strategies and examples - Balance of research and accessible writing - Focus on hope and solutions rather than doom - Section on storytelling techniques Disliked: - Some repetition of concepts - Academic tone in certain chapters - Limited discussion of policy solutions - Focus primarily on Western/European perspectives - Could be more concise Ratings: Goodreads: 4.2/5 (161 ratings) Amazon: 4.5/5 (45 ratings) Reader quote: "Finally a book that explains why facts alone don't change minds on climate change and what to do about it." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers mentioned applying the communication strategies in their work as educators and activists, with positive results in engaging skeptical audiences.

Don't Even Think About It: Why Our Brains Are Wired to Ignore Climate Change by George Marshall Examines psychological barriers and social mechanisms that prevent people from responding to climate change through interviews with scientists, activists, and climate change deniers.

The Great Derangement: Climate Change and the Unthinkable by Amitav Ghosh Explores how culture, politics, and literature intersect with climate change denial and the failure of human imagination to grasp the scale of environmental crisis.

The Burning Question: We Can't Burn Half the World's Oil, Coal, and Gas. So How Do We Quit? by Mike Berners-Lee, Duncan Clark Presents the technical, economic, and psychological challenges of transitioning away from fossil fuels while addressing common misconceptions about climate solutions.

Understanding Climate Change: Science, Policy, and Practice by Sarah L. Burch and Sara E. Harris Maps the connections between climate science, human psychology, and policy-making through case studies and evidence-based analysis.

The Psychology of Climate Change Communication by Center for Research on Environmental Decisions Details research-based strategies for communicating climate change to different audiences while accounting for cognitive biases and cultural worldviews.

🌍 Per Espen Stoknes is both a psychologist and an economist, bringing a unique dual perspective to climate communication through his understanding of human behavior and market dynamics. 🧠 The book introduces the concept of "psychological barriers" to climate change understanding, identifying five key defense mechanisms: distance, doom, dissonance, denial, and identity. 🔄 Stoknes proposes the "Five D's" strategy to counter climate communication failures, transforming how we frame and discuss environmental challenges through social, supportive, and simple approaches. 📊 The author's research shows that more scientific data and dire warnings often backfire, causing people to become more resistant to climate change information rather than more concerned and active. 🌿 The book's solutions draw inspiration from behavioral economics, psychology, and ancient Norse mythology, creating a distinctive blend of scientific evidence and cultural storytelling to address climate change communication.