A Language Older Than Words

Derrick Jensen

“Singular, compelling and courageously honest, this book is more than just a poignant memoir of a harrowingly abusive childhood. It relates the extraordinary journey of one man striving to save his own spirit and our planet’s . . . His visceral, biting observations always manage to lead back to his mantra: “Things don’t have to be the way they are.”

Publishers Weekly

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At once a beautifully poetic memoir and an exploration of the various ways we live in the world, A Language Older Than Words explains violence as a pathology that touches every aspect of our lives and indeed affects all aspects of life on Earth. This chronicle of a young man’s drive to transcend domestic abuse offers a challenging look at our worldwide sense of community and how we can make things better.

About the Author

Derrick Jensen is the author of Strangely Like War; Walking on Water; The Culture of Make Believe; Listening to the Land: Conversations about Nature, Culture, and Eros; and co-author of Railroads & Clearcuts. The Culture of Make Believe was one of two finalists for the 2003 J. Anthony Lukas Book Prize. He writes for The New York Times Magazine, Audubon, and The Sun among many others. Visit Derrick Jensen's web site.