A Wild Love for the World: Joanna Macy and the Work of Our Time

Spiritual teachers, deep ecologists, and diverse writers and activists celebrate the life and global impact of pioneering Buddhist philosopher and environmental advocate Joanna Macy.

A leading figure in Buddhist-informed social and ecological activism since the 1980s, Joanna Macy’s life work is rooted in a profound study of the parallels between Buddhist and scientific worldviews. Her innovative efforts at the intersection of systems theory, Buddhist practice, and social and environmental justice have produced important developments in areas ranging from anti-nuclear activism and climate change to grief work and indigenous rights.

In this unprecedented collection, some 40 prominent artists, writers, activists, scientists, and religious leaders offer reflections on Macy’s contributions to their personal development and to the growth of their fields. Interspersed with these essays are ten stories from Macy herself, narrating pivotal moments that changed the course of her life. Taken together, these offerings illuminate Macy’s fierce, hopeful vision of an alternative way forward for ourselves, our society, and our future.