The environmentalists dilemma was an interesting, at times humourous and educational book.
I am someone who thinks alot about the environment and tries to do the best I can with caring for it. As I was reading this book I felt my thoughts were aligned with the author.
This book takes us through the dilemmas many of us face: should we have children? If so is more than one too much?; Should we limit how much we travel? But is limiting it making any difference? ; Should we protest climate change? Or are some of these protests causing more damage than good?
As the author is Canadian there were a lot of topics that were specific to his country which I didn't understand or know about. However, as a reader this is more educational than anything else. I think if you are Canadian/ familiar with Canadian politics you'll enjoy it even more.

The narrator did a brilliant job with this audiobook that I hadn't even realised it wasn't the author.

Engaging, humorous and knowledgeable discussion of the history and difficulties we continue to face in addressing climate change and other interconnected big issues affecting the world as a whole. Informative, enlightening and brought to life with a personal touch from a Canadian perspective.

I was initially a little sceptical of the narration not being by the author but the narrator did a great job.

An interesting foray into social and political commentary, climate change and ecological collapse, as well as the unequal impacts of the pandemic on various strata of society and countries of the world highlighting the resounding echoes of colonial legacy. Interviews with activists from various environmental activist groups helps the author connect to listeners through conversations that spiral out and connect to all other sorts of topics (the cover really does capture the randomness of this at times rambling reading). The Canadian writer focuses mainly on issues directly connected to Canada and the United States. A worthwhile listen for any North American audiobook bibliophile who is looking for some good discussion points on climate change and human impacts on the environment before and during the Anthropocene.

(4.5 stars)
'The Environmentalist's Dilemma' is a sensitively and passionately written collection of essays, reminiscent of writers I'm more familiar with such as Naomi Klein and Jonathan Safran Froer. Kopecky has a flair for words, and the great knack of really hitting the bullseye without his arguments ever becoming trite or anodyne (except perhaps for the section on population - he talks about women in developed countries voluntarily deciding to have fewer or no children, without any acknowledgement of the very real economic drivers playing a role in this). Now, I usually prefer audiobooks narrated by the author, but I think the narrator in this case did a great job - it felt truly authentic.

Like Klein, Kopecky is British Columbia-based, and many of his reference points and settings are found in Canada. From Vancouver's branch of Extinction Rebellion, to oil politics in Alberta. Nonetheless, as a British listener, I learned and gained much.

The personal element of the book enriched it too. The first essay begins with the author describing the experience of taking his young daughter to Disneyland, and the environmentalist's dilemma involved in this. Later on, he explores his immigrant parents' histories, the impact of Nazi Germany on his life, and what can be learned from this in the fight for humanity as climate breakdown looms.

In summary, the best audiobook I've listened to in a long time.

(With thanks to ECW Press Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook in exchange for an honest review)