Environmental protection · Applied ecology · Environnement
Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea, and Human Life by George Monbiot — Summary, Key Ideas & Quotes
2013344 pages✦ 3-min Big ideas★ 4.5 (2)
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What is Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea, and Human Life about?
"George Monbiot explores a new, positive environmentalism that shows how damaged ecosystems on land and at sea can be restored, and how this restoration can revitalize and enrich our lives. Challenging what he calls his "ecological boredom," Monbiot weaves together a beautiful and riveting tale of wild places, wildlife, and wild people. Roaming the hills of Britain and the forests of Europe, kayaking off the coast of Wales with dolphins and seabirds, he seeks out the places that still possess something of the untamed spirit he would like to resurrect. He meets people trying to restore lost forests and bring back missing species and explores astonishing evidence that certain species, not just humans, have the power to shape the physical landscape. This process of rewilding, Monbiot argues, offers an alternative to a silent spring: the chance of a raucous summer in which ecological processes resume and humans draw closer to the natural world"--Provided by publisher.
A glimpse inside
Rewilding as Restoration
Monbiot champions 'rewilding'—the process of allowing ecosystems to regenerate with minimal human interference—as a radical alternative to traditional conservation. Rather than managing nature into static reserves, he argues for the return of missing species and ecological processes, which can lead to richer, more dynamic landscapes. This approach moves beyond simply preserving what remains, aiming instead to revive lost abundance and complexity.
Ecological Boredom and Human Well-being
A central theme is the concept of 'ecological boredom'—the sense of loss and alienation people feel when surrounded by tamed, monotonous environments. Monbiot suggests that rewilding is not just about saving nature, but about rekindling the human spirit. Encounters with wildness, he argues, can restore a sense of wonder, adventure, and meaning that modern life often lacks.
Ratings at a glance
Open Library
★ 4.5 / 5
2 ratings
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Get smart in 3 min
6 key ideas, distilled
- 1Rewilding as Restoration
- 2Ecological Boredom and Human Well-being
- 3Challenging Conservation Orthodoxy
- 4Trophic Cascades and Keystone Species
- 5The Political and Cultural Barriers
Popular quotes from Feral: Rewilding the Land, the Sea, and Human Life
“We have become a nation of sheep, in both senses of the word.”
“The world that made us has gone, and with it the only kind of happiness we understand.”
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"George Monbiot explores a new, positive environmentalism that shows how damaged ecosystems on land and at sea can be restored, and how this restoration can revitalize and enrich our lives. Challenging what he calls his "ecological boredom," Monbiot weaves together a beautiful and riveting tale of wild places, wildlife, and wild people. Roaming the hills of Britain and the forests of Europe, kayak