Fire and Flood
A People's History of Climate Change, from 1979 to the Present
Format:Paperback
Publisher:Penguin Books Ltd
Published:6th Apr '23
Should be back in stock very soon
This paperback is available in another edition too:
- Hardback£20.00(9780241565551)
The definitive history of the modern climate change era, from an award-winning writer who has been at the centre of the fight for more than thirty years
In 1979, President Jimmy Carter was presented with the findings of scientists who had been investigating whether human activities might change the climate in harmful ways. "A wait-and-see policy may mean waiting until it is too late," their report said. They were right -- but no one was listening. Four decades later, we are haunted by the consequences of this inattention, and the years of complacency, obfuscation and denialism that followed. Today, the staggering scale and scope of what we have done to the planet is impossible to ignore: the seasons of fire and flood have crossed into plain view.
Fire and Flood is a comprehensive, compulsively readable history of climate change from veteran environmental journalist Eugene Linden. Linden retells the story of the modern climate change era decade by decade, tracking the progress of four ticking clocks: first, the reality of climate change itself; second, advances in scientific understanding; third, the spread of public awareness; and fourth, the business and finance response. Like no previous writer, Linden has drawn together the elements of the biggest story in the world, in a book that it is gripping as history, as economic investigation, and as scientific thriller.
Fascinating ... This will be a telling story for a long time to come (assuming we're around to hear it) -- Bill McKibben
Urgent, meticulous ... Linden pulls no punches * Publishers Weekly *
Praise for The Winds of Change * - *
Beautifully written ... a very thought-provoking volume. Linden manages to weave history, science, and narrative together in a compelling way * Science *
Impressive ... Linden takes a penetrating historical view * The New York Times *
Fascinating * NPR *
Invaluable * Washington Post *
Linden expertly and succinctly describes the natural cycles that control climate and the many ways they interact * Nature *
Should be required reading for policy makers across the globe -- Doug Macdougall * Chronicle of Higher Education *
Fascinating-a tour de force. Linden has accumulated a greater comprehension of paleo-climatic and oceanographic issues than all but a very few scientists. I have nothing but admiration for this book -- George Woodwell, founder of the Woodwell Climate Center and former president of the Ecological Society of America
In-depth, expertly researched, eminently readable ... Linden combines analysis with solutions as to where humanity should and may go, and those solutions should surprise, enrage, and enlighten readers... Fire and Flood should be on every person's bookshelf -- Laure Hiatt * Library Journal *
A hard-hitting study of contemporary climate change, exploring how science, business and public perception have become dangerously misaligned ... Linden cuts through the thickets of information to deftly guide the reader towards knowledge that is urgently required in this troubling age * BBC History *
Refreshing... Eugene Linden tells a sorry story of good intentions backed by serious research * The Energy Mix *
Linden's aim is true and, even if he doesn't name names, his analysis of the financial industry's role in the climate crisis is fresh... Fire and Flood stays on the shelf * Literary Review *
ISBN: 9780141999968
Dimensions: 198mm x 129mm x 19mm
Weight: 247g
336 pages