The Intersectional Environmentalist by Leah Thomas

5/5 stars

This is very long overdue and I sincerely apologize for the delay.

I have been following Leah Thomas since her 2020 Vogue article, Why Every Environmentalist Should Be Anti-Racist, and was a member of the Intersectional Environmentalist Patreon while they were on the platform. As a result, I was very excited to learn of this title-- I am grateful to have been accepted for an ARC! While I did begin reading it through the Kindle ARC, I ended up finishing it while listening to Thomas's audiobook. It was so valuable to hear her read her own words and the words she cites throughout the book.

It is certainly an introduction to the topic and an accessible resource to those who are seeking to do the work and relearn. The Intersectional Environmentalist explores colonialism, imperialism, capitalism, whiteness, and other various oppressive systems that are intrinsically linked with various global issues including poverty, climate change, lack of agency, racism, and more. It also discusses the importance of amplifying POVs of BIPOC people, particularly Black and Indigenous voices.

This book is a well-rounded, thoughtfully crafted and organized, and researched account. At a high-level, it highlights need-to-know information about each topic. Thomas amplifies voices and information that is often overlooked, undervalued or muted altogether in important conversations.

The discussion questions provide great opportunities for discussion and introspection followed by various calls to action.

Thank you Leah, for writing this book, and for all of the work, emotional, mental, and physical required to create this resource. I will certainly be recommending it to folks. I look forward to what she creates in the future.

Thank you Little, Brown and Company and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

What a great primer on intersectional feminism and environmentalism. I love the book is divided and loved the quotes that begin each section. I even love how the book looks like a vintage textbook in size and texture! I do think this book is definitely introductory in nature and more for a beginner but that's ok!

This is a great primer and resource for those who want to dive into environmentalism or intersectional action. This is for you whether you are interested or already active in the community. A great primer for someone who is new and wants to learn, this book would be a perfect addition to any syllabus or bookshelf.

A great resource that reminds readers that environmentalism is, and should be, an intersectional and inclusive endeavor. Thomas combines anecdotes with facts and advice, introducing BIPOC and Queer activists in a field largely gatekept by white men. Environmentalism is social justice, and Thomas highlights the way we need to be talking about it in our conversations about anti-racism, feminism, Queerness, and disability.

If you’ve ever heard the term “intersectional environmentalism,” you have Thomas to thank. The writer-activist focuses on the relationship between social justice and the environment, and she has a lot to say and learn from in this vital new book.

The set up of this book makes it super easy to read, even though it’s a heavy subject. The fact that it includes discussion questions and real work to be done just elevates it even more and makes it an important book that needs to be read.

This book is an incredible conversation-starter about the environment, social justice, and all other human rights issues. The focus throughout these pages is that one cannot be an activist for the environment if other human rights issues are neglected.
True advocacy looks like the fight for justice for all.
This is a quick read and it introduces a lot of new terms and a lot of new thought-provoking insights into our current climate--both environmentally and socio-politically.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I really love the concept of intersectional environmentalism to address issues facing marginalized groups with climate change. I think it is a necessary focus and I also was introduced to the author's social media material prior to reading this book, and liked it.

However, I did have higher and very different expectations of this book. This book's intended audience I think was meant to be people who have absolutely zero knowledge of any social justice terminology, as by far most of the book is spent explaining what terms like "privilege" and "intersectional" mean. Don't get me wrong, they are great explanations, but again only really useful if you are very new to this topic. I am not sure how easily readers who ARE new to this topic would seek out this book, however.

I expected a lot more information on environmental issues specifically, but the few given were quickly summarized. I did like that the author included a lot of reference material for further reading, and listed many individuals who are doing work in this space as well.

Overall, the format and content of this book are meant for a very specific audience that is not myself, and so I did not gain much from reading it, though it would be a good introduction for a complete beginner to this topic.

This was such a great read. Informative, inspirational, and educational, I recommend this to anyone interested in the intersections of race/gender/class and environmentalism.

Important content, poor execution. Every once in a while, I read a NetGalley that makes me wonder if the corrected book will be an improvement over the ARC. Intersectional Environmentalist is one of those for me—the insets, discussion guides, and content didn’t come together in a fluid way, which may be improved upon final print. The content in this book is SO important, but I disliked the writing. I felt like I was reading a middle school primer on intersectional environmentalism, aimed at a young, naive reader, rather than a smart, informed adult. When I rate a book like this poorly, I feel a sense of guilt because I’m not rating the content or topic poorly (and don’t want to be judged as doing so), but the writing and the book itself.

If you’re new to the idea that race, class, and other demographics are a factor in environmental justice, this may be a great first read. It didn’t work for me, but others have found it useful in exploring this topic. Lastly, be prepared to be reminded that racism is alive and well in the United States.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher of this book for the ARC! I loved this book a lot. Firstly, it provided a lot of concrete examples so that people who were unclear of meanings or who might not get concepts as they are defined could still understand them with the help of the examples. I loved the IE pledges, the questions within (centering voices from the IE movement) and at the end of each chapter for deeper connection and consideration of what was learned while reading. Overall, I think this book is a fantastic read and should be something that everyone picks up to better understand why and how to be an Intersectional Environmentalist.

The Intersectional Environmentalist is a primer for those new to activism as well as for those who want to learn more about the topics covered within.
One of the things I loved about this book is how she organized it: She would share about a topic and give the definitions within the chapter, rather than have a glossary at the end. It made it really convenient to make sure I understood what she was saying without having to search elsewhere for the definitions.
Another helpful aspect was the questions at the end of each chapter that were answered by an authority on that subject. Included in the answers were ways to get involved in the work, or how to be an ally.
And finally, the length of the book was on the short side, which is a good move when trying to educate folks. If it had been an intimidating 500 page tome, it would overwhelm and turn many people away. Instead the length is doable and each chapter is short, to the point, practical and useful.
In the back is a long list of resources that will be a companion to refer to again and again.
This book is highly recommended! Give it to your parents, friends, and neighbors. And refer to it often!
Thanks to NetGalley for a free e-galley in exchange for my honest review.

This book was a well written introduction into the theory of intersectional environmentalism, and the ways in which environmental issues are linked with social justice issues. It was well organized and introduced several examples of the ways people and industries fall under the lens of intersectional environmentalism. This was an interesting read that had me eager to read more comprehensive works on this subject.

This book is an ideal introduction to the notion of intersectional environmentalism and the inextricable interconnectedness of environmental work and social justice. It includes expansive back matter, discussion questions and reflection cues bookending each chapter, and compelling data explained understandably.

This book is an excellent introduction to the concept of intersectional environmentalism and the inextricable interconnectedness of environmental work and social justice. It includes extensive back matter, discussion questions and thought prompts bookending each chapter, and compelling data presented in a comprehensible manner. I would highly recommend it for book clubs and perhaps even for our anti-racist booklists.

Leah Thomas not only includes her own perspective and thoughts as a Black women studying intersectional environmentalism, but also the work and experiences of Latinx, Indigenous, AAPI, and more voices in the movement. She begins with the definitions of intersectionality, a history of oppression and division in past movements, and how many environmental movements have (deliberately or otherwise) excluded or sidelined the voices of people of color, nonbinary, trans and queer folk.

Using data, metrics, and medical patterns from reliable sources, she presents a history that is not in the forefront of the environmental movement. One where discriminatory practices and policies have disproportionately placed communities of color in the path of environmental waste and unhealthy living conditions, where low income Black, Indigenous, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Latinx communities were left out of the Clean Water Act or and The Resource Conservation and Recovery Act in the 70s. These are the communities that suffer most, but whose voices and experiences are so often pushed out of the environmental movement.

Each chapter ends with discussion questions and an Intersectional Environmentalism pledge, urging readers to think critically about the information presented and how they may use it going forward.

"One day I hope that when people think of an environmentalist, they'll automatically envision a person who cares very deeply about both people and planet"

Thank you Netgalley for the advance eArc copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is an incredible, thought-provoking read that I will be recommending to all my environmentalist friends. It brings to the fore many important and often ignored problems with the environmental movement.

There is a person in my life with whom I share many values, but he consistently dismisses race and gender as things about which he ought to be concerned. Because he doesn’t consider himself to hold racist beliefs, he doesn’t understand why we’ve all been talking about race when we really ought to be focused on climate change. Since I am a known radical, he has largely dismissed my insistence that climate change can’t be solved without also dismantling patriarchy and white supremacy. While my constant use of phrases like “dismantle systems that uphold white supremacy” and “gender is a social construct” elicited anything from rolled eyes to indulgent chuckles, I had created a tiny crack in his assurance that there is no vast white male conspiracy to control the world. The turning point came in the aftermath of January 6th when he started to see for himself the relationship between racism and the erosion of voting rights. Without the right to vote, there is no way to pressure elected officials into caring about the health of the planet. He began to consider that I might not just be an over educated nutter.

During this period of open mindedness, I have been reading Leah Thomas’ The Intersectional Environmentalist: How to Dismantle Systems of Oppression to Protect People + Planet and sharing information and thoughts with him. I’ve been able to introduce both of us to BIPOC environmental activists. While he will probably never understand what I mean when I say gender isn’t real, we’ve had some very good conversations about the intersections of racism and environmental policy. Reading Leah Thomas’ book has helped me articulate more clearly my belief that saving the planet cannot be separated from dismantling systems of oppression.

The Intersectional Environmentalist gave me a much better understanding of the scope of intersectional environmentalism, and how I can be more intersectional in my advocacy and work. Thomas brings in her own experience and perspective, and reaches out to bring in the voices of activists from other BIPOC and queer communities. In addition to bringing in multiple voices and viewpoints, Thomas also provides an expansive tool kit with resources to learn more about specific issues and communities.

I received this as an advance reader copy from Little, Brown and Company via NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

This book is a great primer into what Environmental Intersectionality is and how it impacts everything in the world. If you already have a good grasp on the subject this book may not teach you a lot, but it has a great intro into the many facets of class, race, gender, and much more that impacts the Environment, how we deal with it and who is being affected by it.

This book is great for a call to action, steps to take on calling governments, pressuring companies, and individual actions to take to work towards an Intersectional Environmentalist mindset. The book gives many resources to explore for further information and research for whatever topic you want to learn more about.

I really enjoyed this book and I think it is a great start into learning more about Intersectional Environmentalism.

Powerful. Challenging. Eye-opening. The Intersectional Environmentalist is required reading.

This book covers a lot of ground -- representation, environmental justice, anti-racism, feminism, privilege, ableism, veganism, green energy, and a whole lot more. It's dense. Super dense. But that's the point -- there's no more room for delicacy right now. Thomas gets straight to the heart of the issues, fully intent on making a lasting difference. To call this work important is an understatement.

For some looking for an all-in-one kind of resource, The Intersectional Environmentalist won't feel like enough. With so many intertwined issues being presented at once, it can feel overwhelming. But for people looking for a launchpad to develop their most impactful work, this is it.

Everything is well-cited and sprinkled with lots of quality quotations to give perspective. A list of further reading, listening, watching, and supporting acts as a great supplement for people who feel inspired after reading. This Tool Kit portion takes up about a third of the book and is not to be missed.

The author describes The Intersectional Environmentalist as "simultaneously a call to action, a guide to instigating change for all, and a pledge to work towards the empowerment of all people and the betterment of the planet." Nobody could've said it better.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author, and the publisher for providing a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

A powerful introduction to a movement that influences the lives of everyone. Leah Thomas has created an informative and digestible manual that should be assigned reading, especially for those in the counseling and environmental fields. Though I was previously aware of the general concepts being presented, this book opened my eyes to the breadth and depth of what is happening in our world in terms of intersectional environmentalism.
What I would have liked to have seen in this book were more real-world stories and case studies from people who are actively involved with this movement. There are sections that run parallel to this concept, but they are short and tend to reflect the general concept of the chapter or section.