"Just because some of us can read and write and do a little math, that doesn't mean we deserve to conquer the universe."

— Kurt Vonnegut

Derrick Jensen is an American author, farmer, teacher, and radical environmentalist who, according to Democracy Now!, is "the poet-philosopher of the ecological movement." His books, including The Culture of Make Believe and Endgame, present a blistering critique of America's social system with its emphasis on progress, technological advancement, and economic growth. He stands up for a humane way of life that is balanced and harmonious in an ecological sense.

In this creative work, the author lambasts the myth of human supremacy in which the non-human world of animals, plants and all organisms are seen as resources for the domination and control of men and women. It is closely linked to human supremacism – the belief that humans are separate from and superior to everyone else on the planet. Here are some examples of what has resulted from this warped view of the real world:

"Right now, there are fewer than 500 Amani flatwing damselflies left in the world. They live along one stream in Tanzania. The Rest of their home has been destroyed by human agriculture.

"This year [2016] has seen the complete collapse of monarch butterfly populations in the United States and Canada. their homes have been destroyed by agriculture.

"Right now humans are plowing under and poisoning prairies. Right now humans are clearcutting forests. Right now humans are erecting mega-dams. Right now because of dams, 25 percent of all rivers no longer reach the ocean.

"And most humans couldn't care less."

Throughout this paperback, Jensen speaks in the first person and the writing lacks a linear and hierarchical structure. We grasp that the author is passionate about his subject. Whether musing on "The Great Chain of Being," pondering "Value-Free Science," or criticizing "Earth-Hating Madness," Jensen celebrates a diverse world where wonders and mysteries abound. He makes a good case for the radical transformation of our consciousness so that we can reverence the non-human universe of plants, animals, and objects in the universe.