An Unreasonable Woman

Diane Wilson; Foreword by Kenny Ausubel

Praise

“...An Unreasonable Woman will stand as one of this nation’s greatest works of nonfiction. I have never read a book quite like this one, and worry already that I might not yet again. This is one of the most powerful works of nonfiction I can remember reading in many years. In a cynical age, amidst such rampant loss and destruction, it’s easy to regard Diane Wilson’s book as simply a masterpiece, and to let it go at that. But we owe it more. This book inspires in us the courage to believe—to remember—we can still change the world.”

—Rick Bass, award-winning author of The Hermit’s Story and Colter: The True Story of the Best Dog I Ever Had

“What a terrific book. I don’t often gush, but this book had me fascinated from the first page and whomper-jawed half the time. A voice like Diane Wilson’s—working class woman with five kids—is so rare. For one thing, if you have five kids and a job, not to mention a battle with an international chemical company on your hands, it’s hard to get around to writing. And to write this well is a stunning achievement.”

—MOLLY IVINS, Nationally syndicated political columnist and author, most recently, of “Who Let the Dogs In?”

“Imagine if Faulkner were the Mad Hatter on a mission to save the planet and you get some idea of Diane Wilson’s astonishing story and her rawboned but powerful prose style. This is an important book because it proves that eternal vigilance and magnificent obsession are often the price that must be paid to save our fragile ecosystems from those bent on despoiling them for profit.”

—Ken Wells, author of Meely LaBauve

"Texas is famous for its tall tales, but they pale in comparison to the true tale of Diane Wilson. Hers is a mind-bending story of corporate intrigue, government shenanigans and all-around political dirty tricks. This is a book about one of our greatest local heroes that could just give Texas a good name for a change."

—Jim Hightower, author, Let's Stop Beating Around the Bush

"This is a book with arms so strong it reaches out, grabs you, and won't let go until its last dying words. Even then it haunts. An Unreasonable Woman is the first book in years that has caused me to lose sleep. This is the extraordinary story of a woman who gambled everything for her place. It is like nothing I have ever read. This book is a crucible and no one will finish it unchanged."

—Janisse Ray, author, Ecology of a Cracker Childhood and Pinhook: Finding Wholeness in a Fragmented Land

“A literary voice like Diane’s surfaces only a few precious times in a generation.”

—From the Foreword, Kenny Ausubel, founder of Bioneers

“Read and delight in the story how one fierce and feisty fisher-woman wrestled the corporate polluters and won. Diane Wilson’s pit-bull tenacity when it comes to defending Mother Nature is the stuff of legends. Hip to the fact that well-behaved women rarely make history, Diane has already inspired a new movement of totally uncontrollable, irresistible and unreasonable women!”

—Medea Benjamin, cofounder of CODEPINK and coauthor of Stop the Next War Now

“Nothing can really prepare you for the nervy, scary, riotous, enraging tale of Diane Wilson’s education as an environmental activist—or its ultimately inspiring resolution. Essential reading.”

—Joan Dye Gussow, author of This Organic Life

"Don’t pick this book up if you want to stay in your comfort zone. Diane’s journey is a riveting tale of “Nothing Is As It Appears.” The environmental agencies we’re so proud of simply give out permits to polluters, tweaking a detail here and there. With spunk, verve, and humor, Diane faces down her fears. This story will break your heart wide open."

—Ellen Augustine Schwartz, author of Taking Back Our Lives in the Age of Corporate Dominance

“In these dire days when governments wage war on all life on earth, we await heroes. Now, a powerful voice has emerged from the Texas coast. Diane Wilson's passion is sufficient to drive her to civil disobedience and her physical courage sets her apart from our tame modern environmental mainstream. This remarkable woman has written a durable and empowering book. May we all draw strength from her victory.”

—Doug Peacock, author of Walking It Off