Some books inform you. Others shake you. Organize or Burn does both. Fabian Holt takes us into the heart of New York City’s socialist climate movement, where the fight for climate survival collides with the everyday realities of grassroots politics, working-class struggle, and the need for real, lasting change. This isn’t a dry political theory book. It’s urgent. It’s grounded. And somehow it’s hopeful.
Holt doesn’t write from a distant, academic tower. He listens. He immerses. He observes the people who are showing up every day to face an overwhelming question: How do you change the world when it already feels like it's burning down around you?

The title, Organize or Burn, isn’t just a catchy phrase; it’s a truth bomb. Holt argues that without strong, sustained political organization, protest alone won’t save us. The climate crisis demands more than resistance, it demands strategy. And most of all, it demands solidarity that lasts longer than a news cycle.
What makes this book stand out is its honesty. He acknowledges the messiness, the contradictions, the burnout. But that’s exactly why his vision of “hybrid organizations”—part social movement, part political structure—is so compelling. It’s not a utopian dream; it’s a real-world blueprint for action.

Holt writes with clarity and grace. Whether you're a seasoned activist or just starting to question how to make a difference, the book is both accessible and deeply thought-provoking. It’s the kind of read that stays with you—not just because of what it teaches, but because of what it asks you to do.
Organize or Burn is not just a book—it’s a wake-up call. If you care about the future of the planet and believe that hope should be paired with action, this is essential reading. It doesn’t offer easy answers, but it offers something more powerful: direction.

This book informed and inspired me. I learned so much, and was so inspired and hopeful after reading this book. As Holt argues, protest alone won't save us. We have to also have sustained action on a community and larger political level to make a change overall. I loved how Holt wrote this book, it wasn't dry, it wasn't apathetic or overly analytical, this book was clear, informative, and engaging.

This book is ideal for those who might be struggling to see what action looks like today, struggling with hope and who need inspiration and a wake-up call for today.

Book Review: Organize or Burn: How New York Socialists Fight for Climate Survival by Fabian Holt

Fabian Holt’s Organize or Burn is a timely and incisive examination of grassroots socialist organizing in the face of escalating climate crisis, with a focus on New York-based movements. Combining rigorous political analysis with ethnographic depth, Holt documents how socialist activists navigate the tensions between revolutionary ideals and pragmatic policy reform, offering a nuanced portrait of contemporary climate activism in urban America. The book stands out for its balanced critique of both the limitations and radical potential of socialist climate organizing, making it essential reading for scholars of political ecology, social movements, and urban studies.

Key Strengths and Contributions
-Empirical Depth: Holt’s fieldwork provides rare insider access to socialist climate groups, capturing the day-to-day struggles of organizers—from tenant-led decarbonization campaigns to labor-climate solidarity efforts. His interviews and participant observations reveal the tactical creativity of activists while also exposing organizational fissures.
-Theoretical Rigor: The book bridges academic Marxism and movement praxis, interrogating key debates—e.g., reform vs. revolution, intersectional class politics, and the role of the state in climate mitigation—without reducing complexity to dogma.
-Narrative Engagement: Despite its scholarly foundation, the writing remains accessible, with vivid case studies (e.g., the fight for the NY Green New Deal) that illustrate broader theoretical arguments.

Critiques and Limitations
-Geographic Specificity: While the New York focus provides depth, readers may question the generalizability of findings to other regions with differing political economies.
-Temporal Constraints: Given the rapid evolution of climate politics post-2020, some analyses risk feeling dated, particularly regarding electoral strategies post-AOC’s rise.
-Movement-Optimism Bias: Though Holt acknowledges setbacks, the book occasionally underplays the structural barriers (e.g., capitalist state repression) that stymie socialist climate action.

Thematic and Analytical Insights
Holt’s central argument—that survival demands dual power strategies (building working-class counter-institutions while contesting state power)—is compelling but leaves open questions about scalability. His critique of NGO-ized environmentalism is sharp, though his vision for a “red-green” hegemony could benefit from deeper engagement with Indigenous and Global South climate justice frameworks.

Overall Rating: 4.3/5

Section Scoring Breakdown
-Research Methodology: 4.5/5 — Exceptional fieldwork, though broader comparative cases could strengthen analysis.
-Theoretical Contribution: 4.4/5 — Sophisticated synthesis of socialist and climate politics, with minor gaps in decolonial perspectives.
-Narrative Clarity: 4.2/5 — Engrossing case studies, but some jargon may alienate non-academic readers.
-Political Relevance: 4.5/5 — Urgent and actionable insights for activists and scholars alike.
-Structural Balance: 4.0/5 — Occasionally uneven pacing between theory and ethnography.

Thank you to NetGalley and author Fabian Holt for providing an advance copy of this vital contribution to climate movement literature in exchange for an honest review.