Generation Dread probes the psychological, emotional, and spiritual impacts of climate change with recommendations for turning ecoanxiety into action.

With the planet appearing to be growing ever more hostile to life, ecoanxiety, defined by the American Psychological Association as "the chronic fear of environmental doom," leaves people feeling helpless and hopeless. Indeed, many people in their child-bearing years are questioning the wisdom of having children in this situation—and are deciding against.

Herein, Britt Wray acknowledges extant dangers—and the fact that people who are alive now will most likely have to deal with the effects of climate change for the rest of their lives. But she also asserts that the widespread belief in humanity's helplessness is a guilt-inducing, mind-numbing lie. Her book encourages action alongside ample evidence that every decision, act, and alliance in support of the health of the planet makes a difference. While there will be no going back to what was considered "normal," Wray recommends methods for reframing the situation as a challenge.

Calling the cultivation of joy, love, and connectedness more important than ever, the book suggests developing personal resilience through self-care, mindfulness, journaling, gratitude, building caring communities, and taking time to rest. To support these methods, it includes moving stories of individuals and communities working together for change. "We can't afford to be crushed by it all," writes Wray. "We have joys to experience in life and environmental justice to work for."

Incisive, impactful, and in the end, hopeful, Generation Dread holds loss and solutions in tension, asking people to work together in the face of climate change and bring forth better, fairer alternatives.

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. VERDICT Exemplary, essential reading for every level of planetary activist.—Tina Panik