Generation Dread: Finding Purpose in an Age of Climate Anxiety

Wray (Rise of the Necrofauna) is the director of Stanford Medicine’s Special Initiative on Climate Change and Mental Health. She utilizes her background and expertise to take readers through the complicated theories of both environmental and psychological sciences and translates them into digestible concepts. Her approach is to define the emotional side of climate change and eco-anxiety through multiple perspectives, which address doubters, aspiring parents, current activists, and those who are distressed about the earth’s future but at a loss about what to do about it. Industry jargon is clearly defined within each section, and chapter summaries make understanding concepts easy. A deeply personal area of the book focuses on the debate over bringing children into the world, as Wray wrestles with the question herself. She also examines economics and white privilege, climate trauma, and Indigenous viewpoints, particularly showcasing stories of success from those who have found a balance point in this complicated conversation. The discussion questions at the end will allow activists, nonprofits, and book clubs to feature this title in their organization’s activities.