2022 EDIT: Seriously overlooks capitalism and how THAT links to environmental issues - you cannot separate the two, and in fact pretty much EVERY problem in the world has a root cause in capitalism. But 'The Lorax' is such a wonderful, colourful and important children's book to read, that gets a lot of things right, way back in 1971. The Lorax is the darling, gruff, grumpy, furry and fuzzy conscience we all need. Not a thneed, or any materialistic product.
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”
Climate change - it is a matter of human survival. A matter of life and death, further and further into our bleak future. We now live in a world where capitalism has gotten so bad, so out of control, that the privileged 1% literally do not care that thousands and thousands of people are dying because of their - the 1%'s - choices and actions, in order for their - the 1%'s - rich lives to stay the same. I don't know how this is not a wakeup call to knowing just how evil these "business" and "political" people are; these sociopaths.
Industrialism, and the megacorporations that rule the one world we have, are the not the right answers. If you don't care about the economy, you don't care about life, you don't care about anything but the unsustainable status quo that factually cannot last, and money. Endless, endless money. Those who have money will never be satisfied, because the more they have, the more they want.
That's the truth.
Final Score: 4/5
Original Review:
“I am the Lorax. I speak for the trees. I speak for the trees for the trees have no tongues.”
“Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,
Nothing is going to get better. It's not.”
My first review of this year, of a book about our economy; the importance of conserving nature, and of keeping it green for as long as we practically can. And it's a 72 page-long picture book entirely in rhyme, and the review will be short because I'm busy and lazy at the same time. Wow I'm muddled up already.
Anyway, Dr. Seuss' 'The Lorax' is a cute, imaginative, colourful and deceptively simple story. It is about the opposition between an industrial businessman, the faceless Once-ler, and the Lorax, a furry creature who speaks for all the voiceless Truffula trees and animals. There are peaceful conversations, and both sides are shown to be sympathetic. Yet a bittersweet ending results from the consequences of careless actions. Disagreements and obstinately-fixed viewpoints can cause as much pollution to the human race as industrialism gone overkill. 'The Lorax' even gives a passing-the-torch-from-the-old-to-the-new-generation message. By learning from history's mistakes, people can make the future brighter for the one and only planet earth.
Talk about creating so much out of so little.
'The Lorax' is sweet, memorable, perfect for reading aloud to children, and is one of Dr. Seuss' best. That he wrote an environmental tale aimed at children in 1971 before such a thing was even an issue is remarkable to say the least.
UNLESS we care enough and go out and do something to try making a difference, nothing's going to change. This tiny picture book shows that anyone can achieve good change.
Final Score: 4/5
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