Kingsnorth finished his book with a chapter titled The Eight Principles of Uncivilisation, which he presents as his manifesto in how to re-evaluate myths of progress and human centrality.

[1] In his review for The Guardian, Ian Jack argues that, while Kingsnorth's depiction of environmentalism seems reductionist and unfair, the author "writes insightfully about England - presciently, too."

Describing the work overall, Jack says, "Hope finds very little room in this enjoyable, sometimes annoying and mystical collection of essays.

"[1] Writing for Minnesota's Star Tribune, Scott Parker describes the perspective in Confessions as "refreshing in both a literary respect and an environmental one.... so radical that, if put into practice, it could effect meaningful preservation."

However, when it comes to putting it into practice, Parker finds Kingsnorth's approach "somewhat disappointing... when Kingsnorth adopts the rhetorical cautiousness so common to contemporary environmental writing" when he upholds his ideas as an individual matter, not to be thrust upon readers or society at large.