A Language Older Than Words [Paperback]

_A Language Older Than Words_ is written in a unique style which blends Derrick Jensen's personal experiences, conversations with other authors and activists, critical cultural analysis, as well as historical and contemporary events and facts to back up his analysis.

If you are concerned with domestic violence, ecological destruction, how civilization is responsible for both, and where we should look for answers, then this is a book for you.

No other author has contributed more to the way I view the natural world, civilization, and this culture in particular than Derrick Jensen. I recommend all his books, but I think _A Language Older Than Words_ is probably the best of his books to start with.

_A Language Older Than Words_ is written in a very non-linear conversational style. What at first appears like unrelated tangents are masterfully woven into a complex vision of how the silencing of the natural world is related to the silencing of the oppressed and abused. Intertwined with those concepts are gut wrenching first hand accounts of both, as well as other attrocities in the culture at large. But while there is much that is dark, the book on a whole shows a hopeful path to reconnection with ourselves and the natural world.

I first read _A Language Older Than Words_ a few years ago, and I have continually lent my copy to friends, and recommended it to everyone I know. If there is any hope for humanity, and any hope that the natural world won't be completely decimated, I think some of the wisdom in this book will help guide the way.

The reason that I love this book the most is because it is intensely personal in the way that it is written, in the subjects that are discussed, and what the author reveals about himself. Derrick Jensen's cultural criticism and analysis is not some abstract intellectualized theory, but rather put together and put forth in a very down to earth and easy to grasp way. He pulls no punches, and is willing to go against cultural convention when necessary to speak what the pepetrators of abuse (domestic, ecological, economic, social, and political) would have us all remain silent about.

What this book does not offer are solutions. Maybe that wasn't Jensen's purpose for this book. He basically says that there are no solutions and that we're all[in trouble]. It's possible that he was simply using a "double bind" or "reverse psychology" approach to get readers to take action. In looking at the big picture of getting things done, this book gets 2 stars and it is up to us to fulfill the other 3 stars. Earning 5 stars is a combined effort between Jensen and ourselves.

It would be impossible for a single author to offer a manual for action in solving the problems we recognize. There are so many disciplines to cover. What is needed is a combined effort from all sectors of civilization. I do believe that it can be done. In fact, it's currently taking place, even though it is difficult to tell because we do not see any drastic results in our everyday lives. Only time will tell. The important thing is that we get as many people to join in the effort as we can. It would be impossible to get everybody to do it, which is fine. The crucial part is getting THE RIGHT PEOPLE to join the effort in sustaining everything we've worked for.

I highly recommend this book. It does what it's suppose to do. I have faith that you will create possible solutions based on your own expertise and experiences.