Description

‘Urgent, profound and compassionate’ ROBERT MACFARLANE
‘Truly original … Reading it is a balm’ AFUA HIRSCH
‘Fascinating and thought provoking’ CAL FLYN

A lyrical, deeply researched and original work of narrative non-fiction by University of Cambridge environmental justice, AI and bioacoustics researcher and educator Joycelyn Longdon.

Natural Connection illuminates the wondrous awe of the natural world and reveals how marginalised communities and ancient wisdom help us create a sustainable mindset and future for generations to come.

When considering environmental action, many of us view ourselves through the binary of activist or observer. Here, Longdon shows there are many paths to drive positive change, and embracing rage, imagination, innovation, theory, healing and care as outlooks can fuel the wider movement. Rooted in Longdon’s cutting-edge research and featuring contributions from key voices such as Robert Macfarlane, Miranda Lowe, Katherine May and Rebecca Solnit, this is an invitation to approach environmental action as a shared goal rather than an individual burden.

This book celebrate the histories and extraordinary acts of ordinary people who have paved the way for today’s environmental change, such as the Chipko women of India – the original ‘tree huggers’, who pioneered direct action in their communities to combat deforestation – and Nigeria’s Ogoni 9, who fought the threat of fossil fuel extraction in the Delta region. Bringing together inspiring stories from marginalised people from the US to the UK, Brazil to Iran, Ghana to Ethiopia, this book roots us in our intrinsic connection with nature and celebrates the power of community.

‘A wonderful book’ KATHERINE MAY
‘Rigorously researched, justice-centred and transformative’ MIKAELA LOACH

Publisher Review

A truly original journey to the root of our collective problems that offers new hope for how to solve them. Reading it is a balm. — Afua Hirsch Joycelyn Longdon’s work is always rigorously researched, justice-centred and transformative. * Mikaela Loach * Joycelyn Longdon’s Natural Connection asks us to rededicate ourselves to the fight against climate change, and to understand environmental action in its proper, global context. Her fascinating case studies and thought-provoking interviews challenge us to look at climate change anew, and come back to the fight reenergised. * Cal Flyn * Urgent, profound and compassionate… Natural Connection brings us to imagine our relations with nature otherwise. Wisely, patiently, it opens and holds space in which radically rooted change might flourish. — Robert Macfarlane Joycelyn Longdon is an urgent and desperately needed new voice. This is a wonderful book. — Katherine May