Overview

Ecology of Everyday Life examines the ecological impulse as a 'desire for nature', a desire that emerges as people within industrial capitalist contexts respond to the personal and aesthetic, rather than the physical and political implications of ecological breakdown. While exploring the historical causes of this romantic 'desire for nature', Heller also offers a way to reconstruct ideas of both `nature' and 'desire', drawing from feminist, anarchist, and social ecological theory. She provides an activist response to ecological questions, arguing that the ecology movement too often links ecological problems to personal, psychological, and spiritual concerns, rather than to concerns of social justice. Yet rather than dismiss such personal and qualitative concerns, Heller links the desire for a more meaningful and integral quality of life to the activist impulse itself. Questioning assumptions about 'nature', 'desire', and 'the ecological agenda', the author encourages readers to consider new ways of desiring nature that entail changes not only in personal life-style and outlook, but changes in social institutions as well. Chaia Heller holds a MA in psychology and has worked for many years as a clinical social worker counselling and advocating for women struggling with issues of domestic abuse and poverty. In addition, she has had a long career as a teacher and international lecturer in the fields of social ecology and ecofeminism and is currently on the faculty at the Institute for Social Ecology. She also teaches at the University of Massachusetts where she is pursuing a PhD.

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9781551641331

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Reviews

An incisive discussion on the ideas of desire and everyday life. This is an exciting, provocative, and truly insightful work. - Murray Bookchin, Professor Emeritus of the Institute for Social Ecology, and author of over twenty books. Heller brings back the joy and spontaneity to activism, reminding us that the struggle articulates our deepest desires as social creatures. - Greta Gaard, author of Ecological Politics: Ecofeminists and the Greens Anyone searching for ways to rethink and remake the world should read this book. - Carolyn Merchant, author of The Death of Nature and Earthcare: Women and the Environment An original and enlightening proposal that reaches towards the most current trends in political ecology, environmentalism and beyond. - Arturo Escobar, Professor of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst

"""An incisive discussion on the ideas of desire and everyday life. This is an exciting, provocative, and truly insightful work."" - Murray Bookchin, Professor Emeritus of the Institute for Social Ecology, and author of over twenty books. ""Heller brings back the joy and spontaneity to activism, reminding us that the struggle articulates our deepest desires as social creatures."" - Greta Gaard, author of Ecological Politics: Ecofeminists and the Greens ""Anyone searching for ways to rethink and remake the world should read this book."" - Carolyn Merchant, author of The Death of Nature and Earthcare: Women and the Environment ""An original and enlightening proposal that reaches towards the most current trends in political ecology, environmentalism and beyond."" - Arturo Escobar, Professor of Anthropology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst"

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