I listened to the audiobook version of this book loaned using Borrowbox through my local library #supportyourlocallibrary
Dates read: 21/10/21 to 21/10/21
Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Word to describe: Passionate
Genre: Non-fiction
Greta Thunberg rose to fame in 2019, and quickly became a household name, following her protests to the lack of effort being made by politicians across the globe. Her main goal was to prevent further carbon emissions and protect the planet. Her speeches meant she was quickly idolized by many and hated by few, the latter viewing her as too-young, too-entitled, and too-preachy to have a seat at these events. The day she rose to fame, the 15-year-old (at the time) skipped school to stand outside parliament in Sweden and preach to her fellow humans about the necessity of fighting for our planet.
Following her many protests and travels around Europe, Greta Thunberg published this little handbook filled with her speeches. A small book that aims to inform the public, No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference shows readers the many shocking statistics surrounding global warming. Her speeches attack the conspiracy theorists, debunk rumours, and set the records straight that as a planet by the year 2025 the effects of global warming will be irreversible. Greta throws at the public a harsh truth and this collection of speeches does not hold back.
The speeches are dated and placed at the location they were first said. Through the audiobook, narrated by Greta Thunberg herself, you are almost able to hear the suspense that would have been held in those places at the time. The desperation in her voice adds to her plea to save the earth. Jarring statistics, such as up to 200 animals going extinct each and every day, add to the shock-value of this handbook. Less of a guide to environmental activism and more of a lecture, No One Is Too Small To Make A Difference captures that sense of urgency and brilliantly displays it for all readers to see.
The downside of this book, which is less to do with the topic it covers and very much to do with the writing style, the speeches are extremely repetitive. Each so-called new speech feels like a recycled version of that first awe-worthy presentation Greta gave in her very initial move into activism. The same statistics are used, the same phrases, the same tone to the words spoken, and the same metaphor that "our house is on fire, only decreased the shock value each time. Towards the end, the speeches moved away from being inspirational and venture into a lecture to the public. Personally, I felt like the speeches, whilst at first were incredible to hear first-hand from Greta's narration, eventually became boring.
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