Disclosure: I received a complimentary ARC of the book from the publisher. Opinions expressed are my own.

I'm giving this five stars in spite of some content concerns because I think this book's argument is very important.

Scripture Connection
“This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live…”
Deut. 30:19

Spiritual Themes
In addition to the expected theme of stewardship, the book has a huge emphasis on reality vs. Reality, with the first term referring to a greed-based, exploitative approach—and the latter referring to true Reality. In the first system of thought, Creation only “exists” insofar as we can use it. In the second, we recognize our responsibility for the beautiful world we have been given to care for. I really appreciate books that invite me to hearken back to truth (C.S. Lewis’ The Silver Chair comes to mind).

Social justice is also a significant theme, as the authors expose the wickedness of colonialization and actively advocate for decolonization.

What to Expect
The book consists of ten chapters, divided into three parts. Chapters build off of each other to shape the book’s arguments.

In addition to the typical research and commentary, the book is also shaped by several visions Augustine received, along with Hostetler’s poetic responses to these visions.

Experience Reading
The Land is Not Empty, also by Sarah Augustine, was one of the first ARCs I read as a book reviewer. So We and Our Children May Live combines two things that are important to me, as a Christian: environmental justice and social justice. The book’s blurb caught my attention, as the book is about how we can learn from Indigenous peoples, when it comes to our relationship with the earth. In addition to being Indigenous myself, my heart breaks for the genocide that ripped land away from people groups. Both this title and The Land is Not Empty demonstrate how the colonial mindset continues to dehumanize and oppress Indigenous peoples, today.

This was a hard book to read. In addition to the fact that the subject matter is hard (the authors do not shy away from the harsh reality of the ways that people have– and continue to– destroy the planet), one of the authors’ central arguments is that even popular attempts to mitigate climate change are ultimately not going to solve the problem. Instead, the authors argue, we need a systematic change with a complete reversal of capitalism and the “growth mindset.” (The growth mindset is the idea that a country’s wellbeing can be measured in terms of money and production, and “growth” requires depleting the earth of its natural resources).

And, unpopular as this may be, I agree with that way of thinking.

But, one of the more challenging things about the book is that the author does not offer tangible solutions. This is clearly by design and not an accident– the authors’ humility is beautiful as they discuss why it is necessary to achieve communal answers, rather than expecting a single person to lay out a plan. Even so, this made for a less “cushy” reading experience, as there are not simple answers. Additionally, I have to admit that I felt discouraged at points, because all of the emphasis on systematic change. The whole point is that it’s not something an individual can achieve– which certainly goes against the grain of ingrained Western tradition.

With all that said, I feel that the book does exactly what it sets out to do– and does it well. It just wasn’t an “easy” read.

What I Liked
There are so many succinct and powerful-passages that succinctly and unflinchingly expose the truth—even when that truth is inconvenient.

Both authors are Mennonite, and Hostetler, in describing her heritage, states, “I didn’t know that my pacifist ancestors were the foot soldiers of the settler colonial project that is the United States.” I really like the military language here, not as a critique of Mennonite settlers in particular, but because of the unabashed acknowledgement of the reality of colonialism in North America.

Here’s another one:

"While the dominant culture views “progress” as the accumulation of power, wealth and security over time in a single direction, nature reveals a constant process of birth and death that spans far beyond a single lifetime."
Sarah Augustine, So We and Our Children May Live

"A posture of selfishness is a core assumption in our society and is regarded as not only justifiable but morally good (and legally good, in the instance of corporations)."
Augustine and Hostetler, So We and Our Children May Live

For this reason, it makes sense that:

"People who live in harmony within the limits of the earth are under attack."
Augustine and Hostetler, So We and Our Children May Live

Argumentation
I observed that the author’s create a hierarchical flow within their arguments, with ensuing chapters clearly building on the ones before. The authors also do a fantastic job of unpacking challenging concepts– clearly defining unclear terminology and hearkening back to preceding chapters to trace the flow of the argument. This is especially important because of the complexity of the arguments. The authors assume that the readers are being introduced to new information, which was generally true in my case– and explanations contextualize information for the layman.

Humility
I referenced this above, but the authors’ humility is beautiful and refreshing. I especially appreciated their comments about failure and success, which were included in discussions about “succeeding” in systemic change:

"We cannot be afraid to act for fear of failure. We are already failing — and doing nothing ensures failure. There is freedom in acknowledging that we haven’t succeeded yet."
-Augustine and Hostetler, So We and Our Children May Live

This is an excellent reminder, both in and out of context.

Content Notes
There’s a reference to the “Agricultural Revolution, which started roughly twelve thousand years ago…” (emphasis mine).

There were a few references to God that were a bit different, for me… a use of a plural pronoun in reference to the act of Creation. This does make sense biblically, though, as “the Word was with God and the Word was God” (John 1). There’s a single reference to “Spirit,” referring to the Holy Spirit, which is outside of my personal comfort zone. Additionally, I wasn’t sure what to make of lines referencing God “evolving,” and a quote saying that, “Without the land, God ceases to work.”

As a significant aside, one of the authors is heavily involved in the LGBTQ movement. This is one of those moments of frustration for me, because I so heartily agree with so much of what the book is saying (and it, thankfully, does NOT bring up the LGBTQ movement), but I 100% do not support “advocating” for a sinful lifestyle.

Recommendation Status
In spite of how hard it was for me to read, and ideological differences I have with the author, I do feel that this is a very important book. Recommended as a prayerful read for people who recognize the need for better stewardship of the planet.