Destroy All Cars

James Hoff thinks there needs to be big change in the world. Not just using reusable shopping bags or building bike paths. To save the environment, he thinks that cars just need to go. All of them. Preferably now. Of course, life isn’t that simple for James or for anyone. Sometimes you just can’t avoid using cars or being part of the consumer culture. Just like you can’t avoid your ex forever. Sadie wants to work within the system to change the world (getting petitions signed and such), and James just can’t deal with that. Destroy All Cars by Blake Nelson takes James through 6 months of expressing his opinions on the environment, consumerism, and girls.

James mostly expresses his opinions through essays he turns in as English assignments, often getting them returned with the feedback that he needs to focus, stop ranting, and back up his points. He also tries to get over Sadie. While he hangs out at the library, James scopes out other girls (who will never compare to Sadie), and reads classic political and environmental writings by the likes of Black Elk. Over time, James refines his writing and learns that there are many ways to work to change things both within and outside of the system. He learns that obsessing over someone and getting over them are not the same thing. He learns to deal with his dad, who wants him to go to college -he knows James so little that he offers him a car if he goes! But James has other ideas about how he wants to live his life and try to make a difference. Join James as he spends some time figuring things out, writing about it, and (maybe) finally getting over Sadie. Check out Blake Nelson's web site, too. Cross posted at Dwelling in Possibility.