Last weekend we gathered for the official launch of Shaking the Trees, the powerful new novel by Jeremy Tager. The evening was honest, raw, and thought-provoking- an invitation to step out of the everyday and ask bigger questions about the crises shaping our world and the opportunities we still have for change.

Jeremy shared that the book grew out of grief, anger, and a deep love for this astonishingly wondrous planet. At its heart, Shaking the Trees is about how humans grapple with the overwhelming forces of our time-the climate crisis, systemic injustice, and the legacies of war-and how we face feelings of powerlessness and loss.

Through his characters, Jeremy explores how personal lives are entangled with global forces: climate breakdown, corporate power, democratic shortcomings, and conflicts that echo across generations. These struggles are not abstract-they shape family bonds, test our values, and force us to reckon with denial, grief, and responsibility.

The conversation on the night was rich and challenging. Together we reflected on:

• How large corporations and entrenched systems undermine both grassroots and political action.
• The limits of democracy—short-term by design—in confronting long-term global crises like climate change.
• The intersections between environmental and social crises, and the importance of addressing root causes, not just single issues.
  
  

But the discussion also returned, again and again, to the personal. Jeremy posed the question: What are you willing to risk or lose for the greater good? With humility, he admitted: “I concluded that I am a coward-not willing to sacrifice myself, but I challenge myself to go further without losing what I value most, which is my family.”

We also spoke about the need to open boundaries, find common ground, and understand that even those drawn into conspiracy theories are often motivated by the same desire: to protect what they love.

At its core, Shaking the Trees is about connection- between people, across generations, and with the earth itself. It is a novel that does not turn away from the grief of our global crises but also asks us to reflect on our personal capacity for change, courage, and hope.

Thank you to everyone who came along, asked thoughtful questions, and shared in this important conversation.

Couldn’t make it? You can still order a copy of Shaking the Trees for $30 from Jeremy.