Reading Schedule:
Wednesday, Oct. 6: Discussion of Ch. 1-2. Leaders:
Friday, Oct 8: Discussion of Ch. 3-4. Leaders:
Wednesday, Oct. 13: Discussion of Ch. 5-6. Leaders:
Wednesday, Oct. 20: Discussion of Ch. 7-8. Leaders:
Friday, Oct. 22: Discussion of Ch. 9 and epilogue. Leaders:
Thursday, Oct. 28: CLASS MEETING WITH COLIN BEAVAN
Blog Comments:
For 4 of the 5 reading assignments, I would like for you to respond to the reading in a blog comment. Please post under the appropriate chapter headline. In this comment, I mainly want you to react to the reading: record what you thought and felt as you were reading. Go in any direction you want--and by all means, please respond to and build on each other's comments--but just make sure that you are dealing with the specifics of the text. Let us know what you are really thinking!!
Discussion Leaders:
You will, along with several of your classmates, be responsible for leading class for twenty minutes on one of the sections. For this requirement, I mainly want you to do outside research about the topics Beavan initiates in your particular section and bring that additional information to class so we can see "the bigger picture" of what Beavan usually just touches on. Help put your section in a national, environmental, ethical, familial, or global context. Push us to think about the content in a deeper, more educated way.
Have fun with this!
The first thing I thought before I even started reading in No Impact Man was that this guy must be crazy. I could not possibly imaging living with absolutely no impact on the earth for one year. The idea just seemed unrealistic to me.
ReplyDeleteAs I started reading the book, I was able to connect with Beavan. In the first chapter, as he discussed his beliefs and how he wanted to impose them on other people but failed to impose them onhimself, I was able to identify with him because I know that I also do this. When he had his wife read the PETA brochure, he “had mobilized [his] intellectual and persuasive resources to get someone else to change her behavior, and remained, [he] saw, utterly complacent about [his] own” (6). In admitting this, he is able to connect to the reader because the reader often experiences this too; neither the author nor the reader is perfect. In this way, I was able to identify with Beavan despite the fact that he is doing something so radical.
The one question I had was: did Beavan commit to being No Impact Man out of fear? He says that “he was worried sick about something and doing nothing about it” (9-10). So was this why he became No Impact Man—to get rid of his fears?
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ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought I would get annoyed by reading this book because Beavan would have a do-gooder tone. However, his tone is self-condemning. He isn't just pointing a finger at me, he's pointing at himself. Therefore, instead of getting angry at him and wanting to throw the book, like with "A Small Place," I find myself saying "me too" when he calls himself out. Like Bronte says, he establishes a connection with the reader by pointing out his own hypocrisy with the PETA incident.
ReplyDeleteAlso, his tone is funny, which makes the book enjoyable. On page 12 he says "I'd have marched against myself," which is a great way to say “I was wrong.” He makes himself more human and less of the superhero No Impact Man (14) by talking about his marriage and the baby bouncing on his face.
Lastly, he has a great writing style. His hooks grab your attention just like Zinsser said they should. For example, "On what does one blow one's nose?" makes me want to continue reading because that is not the next sentence I expected. So far, I am impressed with "No Impact Man."
In the first chapter, when Beavan is discussing how he began thinking about this project and the terrible effects of global warming he writes,
ReplyDelete“What really filled me with despair, though, was that I didn’t believe that the way of life that was steadily wrecking the planet even made us happy. It would be one thing if we woke up the morning after a big blowout party, saw that we’d trashed our home, but could at least say we had a rip-roaring good time. But if I had to generalize, I would say that, on average, the 6.5 billion people who share this globe are nowhere near as happy as they could be (8).”
Of all the statements Beavan makes in the first two chapters, this was the one that resonated with me the most. I love the party metaphor he uses to get his point across. It is creative, humorous, and makes me look at the consumeristic way of life in a totally new way.
I definitely agree that most people or maybe just most Americans aren’t as happy as they could be, even with all that we have. However, I wonder if other American’s tried to live environmentally, would they really be more happy?
Last year for Lent, I gave up meat. Although this scarifies isn’t nearly as significant as living with no environmental impact for an entire year, it was a rather difficult one for me. All I thought about for forty days was how much I wanted bacon. My desperation for meat led me to forget about the important reasons of why I had made this scarifies. Since most Americans are already programed to think that happiness means living with certain comforts, would they actually be happier if they gave up these luxuries or would they become bitter and concentrate on the things they want and could have? I would like to think that living with no environmental impact would help us appreciate the things we have more and concentrate less on the things we don't really need, but I'm not sure that this is really the case because after all, we are only human.
When I first picked up this book, I expected it to be Beavan's attempt to conform his readers to the lifestyle he had chosen. I thought he would be trying to change my views and would want the rest of the world to change as he has. I was wrong. It surprised me that he didn't do this to inspire other people to change. He did this because he felt he needed to do it for himself. He even states his objective when he says "my intention with this book is not to advocate that, as a culture, we should all give up elevators, washing machines, and toilet paper. This is a book about a lifestyle experiment. (15)"
ReplyDeleteThe fact that he was not thrusting this lifestyle in my face and desperately begging for me to consider a change in my own life made me actually feel more open to change. Had he been telling me my lifestyle was wrong and could be improved, I would be more stubborn about his ideas. However, he even says "I wouldn't preach (or at least I'd try not to) (14)," which makes me more willing to reconsider all the things I do in my daily life that are harmful to the earth that I could easily change, such as the amount of garbage I throw away every day. His tone and actual purpose of the book are both respectful and inspiring.
I find it refreshing how completely honest Bevan is with his readers. To open the book, he tells us about his desire to make his wife a "better person" by not letting her buy furs. He may have been doing it for the sake of the animals, but he was also doing it partly to prove her wrong. The fact that he realizes this and shares it with us from the start is a good way to build trust with the reader and show them that he isn't some do-gooder that will make us feel bad about ourselves because he is in the same boat.
ReplyDeleteHe also starts out saying that he lacks the "credibility" to write a book about this topic, being more environmentally friendly to save the earth. But by sharing his struggles and processes with us, he is building credibility for himself.
Another trust-builder with the reader is the fact that he tells us that from the start of day 1, he failed and didn't want to do the project anymore. He lets us see the vulnerable, more human side of him, which is very hard to do with a mass audience. I really like how he is honest with us and puts himself on the same level.
I am enjoying this book more than I thoght that I would. I like Colin Beavan's writing style-- his hooks are quirky and effective, and I like the titles of his chapters. His grounding gives environmental facts without being condescending.
ReplyDeleteThe No Impact project started in November, and I am curious to how the Beavan family will do during the winter.
I want to hear more about Beavan's family. Not very much information is given about Michelle, and I am very curious to see how Isabella will grow up. Will she be an environmental Bindi Irwin?
After the first pages of No Impact Man, I didn’t think I would find a way to relate to this book. I’m not an environmentalist, I am not a liberal, and I definitely don’t believe in man-made global warming. But as Beavan started to elaborate on the origins of his plan, I realized I am actually writing a college essay on the basis of his project: backing up your words. I find it admirable that he went to such extremes to support what he stands for. I also like how much he is incorporating his wife, Michelle. I feel like she is important for all the skeptics of the story. She represents all the readers who aren’t sold on Beavan’s experiment. Though she supports her husband, she is used to (and enjoys) a different lifestyle with shopping and reality TV. It will be interesting to see how she handles the project when it becomes more severe. I feel like her message is, “If I can do this, you can too.”
ReplyDeleteI really like his syntax and the way that he narrates his story. Its almost like you're watching the movie of his experiences. The language is very conversational such as "and heres the part I look like a jerk" (5) and "Cut to 2006" (7) It seems a lot more like a fiction work which, for me at least, makes it easier to read and stay focused rather than a list of just the facts.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Morgan about that before I started reading I thought he would be pointing a finger at the reader because he already does his part so global warming must be our fault. I really liked that he took responsibility too. He also showed that he is no different than us. I figured he was probably born a tree hugger if he was going to take on this project. But he makes lessening your impact seem easier by proving that he was just an ordinary "media addicted take out slave"(26)American who knew very little about preventing environmental impact.
No impact man.. seems a little far fetched. I have my doubts, but after seeing the movie, Collin seems to take such an intense title that makes me thinks "hero", something i can never do, and brings it down to my level. Like everyone's said, we connect with this style. Where does he draw the line though, he screws up three times on the first morning, but he throws away the paper towel first thing and the diaper. I guess I should give him some leeway, because..like Olivia said "we are only human".
ReplyDeleteHappiness always makes me think back to the paper we wrote in 11th grade on "the american dream". What is it? Who defines it? What's the "average American dream?" And have they totally missed the mark? This book- is all about the American dream. Apart of which, we feel it necessary to be conscience of our surroundings, but it's okay to never act on that impulse. It's safer to sit from afar and observe. Wrong, i've always believed that with one follow many more, and education can be the start of a wonderful "domino effect". Collin is educating by example, cutting to the real stuff, how difficult it's going to be. But in the end, i'll be curious to see if he finds that happiness he thinks will come with less material, and more relational, searching for that deeper meaning. We have that beaten into us, from a young age, material doesn't mean self worth. But this is first hand- cutting down consumption, waste, meaningless tv time in return hoping for sustenance and a fulfilling life. I think he's gotten back to a greater issue, of where our world is heading. Kids don't play with their neighbors anymore, they play video games and listen to commercials that tell them "they're living a good life, and they ARE happy because...maybe they pleased their parents with an A on their paper. But until one explores their boundaries and learns to appreciate and take in their surroundings, maybe none of us can really approach happiness at it's finest.
"Be the change you want to see in the world"
ReplyDelete- Gandhi
This quote by Gandhi kept popping up in my head as I read this book. "It was as though I wanted to change other people but was unwilling or unable to look in the mirror" (12). Colin realized that he himself has to change before he can point a finger at anyone else. He wants to "lead by example" (14). I really like how Collin pulls us into this project. We are with him step by step through this year long adventure. We will get to see the ups and downs of the project. He is not just saying that he learned to give up this-and-this and we should give up those things too. He is telling us how hard it is going to be to do this project. He is just a normal human being like us who has trash, uses elevators, cars, etc. Because of his down-to-Earth, honest tone, I can really relate to this story.
I completely agree with Lauren that Collin's book may be about a greater issue concerning American's today....true happiness. While reading I kept thinking about how Collin's approach to his No Impact project had many Hindu and Buddhist characteristics. Having just studied Hinduism and Buddhism in World Religions I made a connection between Collin's thoughts on what makes Americans happy and Hindu/Buddhist ideas of what true happiness is.
ReplyDeleteCollin makes the statement "But while the consolation prizes temporariy divert us from our dissatisfaction, they never actually take it away." He is realizing that material pleasures will not lead to lasting happiness and he is willing to do something about it. I admire his realization and his want for a happier life and I think that his plan for getting there is impressive.
To add to what is said about Michelle and his family...can I just say, wow! I've already seen the movie, but everytime I think about Beavan's project I think about how awesome his wife was about the whole ordeal. Her willingness and eagerness to persue the project adds a breath of fresh air in the midst of Collin's worried tone in the first two chapters.
Basically, I've never thought so hard about the impact that my actions have on the earth. What I am blowing my nose on, brushing my teeth with, opening to eat, or how much water is used when I do a load of laundry. When I read this, I feel like he is trying to inspire his readers to change without telling them to change, which I like. He makes me feel convicted of the consequences of my actions, but really he isn't trying to. That aspect is enlightening because unlike "A Small Place", you don't seem like your getting yelled out. I almost felt Thoreau was coming through the pages...He shows how we need to have as little impact in our lives as possible, but at the same time, lots of impact in our political lives.
ReplyDeleteSimilar to what Olivia said about the party quote on page 8, I started to remember the missions trips that I have been on. When I went to Trinidad and Tobago, we had nothing except for a bed to sleep on. There were no lights and the toilets were in the ground. I kept remembering the families and kids that we met because they had been so happy with the kinds of lifestyles that they were living. (The exact same ones that we had been living at our compounds.) When I read this quote, I wished that all Americans could go to Trinidad for a week and try to live like that. Just experience it. I found that I was ready to get back to my old ways of life after that week (considering I hadn't showered in 14 days in desperate efforts to save water.)
Living this way can be such an eye opener. It is such a good experience. It's so hard because we're so accustumed to other ways of life. Reading these first 2 chapters just reminded me that it's possible. I felt like I was back in Trinidad, in a sense.
Please ignore the above post by me.
ReplyDeleteAt first, I thought I would get annoyed while reading this book because Beavan would have a do-gooder tone. However, his tone is self-condemning. He isn't just pointing a finger at me, he's pointing at himself. Therefore, instead of getting angry at him and wanting to throw the book, like with "A Small Place," I find myself saying "me too" when he calls himself out. Like Bronte says, he establishes a connection with the reader by pointing out his own hypocrisy with the PETA incident. Also, his tone is funny, which makes the book enjoyable. On page 12 he says "I'd have marched against myself," which is a great way to say “I was wrong.” He makes himself more human and less of the superhero, No Impact Man (14), by talking about his marriage and the baby bouncing on his face.
Lastly, he has a great writing style. His hooks grab my attention, just like Zinsser said they should. For example, "On what does one blow one's nose?" (19) makes me want to continue reading because that is not the next sentence I expected. So far, I am impressed with "No Impact Man."
I really like the way he talked about how he finally realized that he was trying to change everyone else and not thinking about changing himself. I think everyone, including myself, would like to change and help the environment but none of us think we could actually make a difference, so we choose to just do nothing.
ReplyDeleteSo far, the book seems open and honest. I really like the way he comes off as a normal person. I feel like I could really relate to him and like I could have an honest conversation with him. I agree with Natalie about the way Beavan presents his topic. He doesn’t force his opinions and beliefs on me, but he found a way to tell me what he believes in a way that makes me want to listen. By starting out telling what he was doing wrong, it makes me realize that I experience and feel the exact same things. He is very relatable, especially through his use of humor and a conversational tone.
I like the point that Olivia made about how Americans might not be happy with giving up their luxuries because they would just be concentrating on what they have given up. I think it would be difficult to not concentrate on what you have lost after giving something up, only because you’re concentrating on the negative. But, I also think that giving something up in order to make a difference might be hard and not enjoyable, but the end result would be worth it and most likely, you would look back on the experience with pride and be glad you did it. I guess we will see if this is true about Beavan after his project is completed.
My question so far is, at the end of this project, will it have been worth it to him? Will his family go back to the way things were before, or will they try to continue with certain parts of the project? And is he expecting this to make other people want to act?
After seeing the bit of the documentary during assembly a while ago, I wasn't sure what to expect of this book... It has so far gone above and beyond. He does what so few environmentalist writers do: he condemns himself.
ReplyDeleteHe admits that saving the environment by everyone going green is impossible because some people just don't care. He even says point blank that having no impact on the environment will be extremely difficult for him, much less a lot of people.
Beaven brings humor into a tough topic with statements like the one about his friend talking about his marriage to Michelle to his therapist. And the comments about Isabella and how a wet diaper bouncing on your head is a great motivator to get up and go change her diaper. Also the part about the fox piece, how in her mind it was already dead and free, so why not?
He talks about things that can be done to change, that we don't have to get rid of everything that harms the environment because it isn't realistic. He makes it seem possible to be just a little more earth-friendly in day to day life. To just take it a day at a time
I love how he feels guilty about the same things I do like using too many paper towels and using too much water. I love how human and personable he seems instead of the detached, clinical tone seen in a lot of environmental leaflets.
He is funny, and I can relate to what he says. He is not accusatory, quite the opposite, he is self conscious and very disparaging of himself. But most of all, he is very human--he makes mistakes and admits that he does. That is why this book works.
Like most of you guys said above, Colin's tone is probably the best part about this book so far. I have watched some of his movie, and both it and the book seem to point to the fact that he is not preaching to us that he is some perfect man, but that he understands how hard it is to do something like this.
ReplyDeleteAt the end of the movie, he says that he isn't suggesting that we all try to make zero impact on the world, but that we take lesson from everything he went through to try and see what we can change about our lives to help out the earth. If we feel like it is too big of a sacrifice to say, use cloth diapers, then we can simply try a different approach that is more fitting for our lifestyle like buying less plastic or something.
When Colin talks about in the 1st chapter how many of us don't like our jobs but they make money so we can spend it on expensive material objects to "make us happy", I really agreed with him. I also find it really relevant to my life right now since I am about to go to college and am thinking about what I want to major I and whether it is more important to do something I love that won't make much money, or to do something that is not my number one choice, but that I can support a family with and buy other things outside of my basic needs.
I think one of my favorite parts of both the chapters was when Beavan told the proverb of the stray cat in the monastery. To me it perfectly described why nothing had been done about the environment before- because people were not really concerned about it, but rather about taking the credit. I believe Beavan was so successful in his project because he did not do it for fame, but rather to satisfy himself. Like he said in the last chapter, he became an "accidental leader." Like everyone else, I love that he feels guilty over his usage over paper towels, water. etc,... This connects me with Beavan and feel like could possibly do this project too. In the book he seems to have a grip on what is possible and what isn't, knowing he will have to have some impact, but that he can then have a positive impact in return.
ReplyDelete