Atmospheric Science Librarians International (ASLI) CHOICE award for a popular book related to atmospheric science honorable mention
Indie Book Award 3rd place
So far, humanity hasn鈥檛 done very well in addressing the ongoing climate catastrophe. Veteran science educator L. S. Gardiner believes we can learn to do better by understanding how we鈥檝e dealt with other types of environmental risks in the past and why we are dragging our feet in addressing this most urgent emergency. Weaving scientific facts and research together with humor and emotion, Gardiner explores human responses to erosion, earthquakes, fires, invasive species, marine degradation, volcanic eruptions, and floods in order to illuminate why we find it so challenging to deal with climate change. Insight emerges from unexpected places鈥攁 mermaid exhibit, a Magic 8 Ball, and midcentury cartoons about a future that never came to be.
Instead of focusing on the economics and geopolitics of the debate over climate change, this book brings large-scale disaster to a human scale, emphasizing the role of the individual. We humans do have the capacity to deal with disasters. When we face threatening changes, we don鈥檛 just stand there pretending it isn鈥檛 so, we do something. But because we鈥檙e human, our responses aren鈥檛 always the right ones the first time鈥攜et we can learn to do better. This book is essential reading for all who want to know how we can draw on our strengths to survive the climate catastrophe and forge a new relationship with nature.
鈥淕iven the advancing state of climatic disruption, humans are going to spend a lot of the foreseeable future dealing with disaster. This fascinating volume provides some memorable examples of how we鈥檝e done so in the past, and as such helps concentrate our thinking on the necessary task of limiting the damage that鈥檚 coming our way.鈥濃擝ill McKibben, author, Radio Free Vermont
鈥淕ardiner鈥檚 lively and fresh observations detail the actions necessary to head off the impending disaster of climate change, showing why forward movement has been so sluggish鈥 Fresh insights about scientific literacy and generational shifts from techno-optimism to dystopian views of the future also cover new ground. Gardiner is not an alarmist. While relaying concern that international, governmental, and corporate actors need to do more鈥攁nd quickly!鈥攖o prevent catastrophic climate change, she ends the book on an optimistic note, with concrete ideas for meaningful individual action.鈥濃Foreword Reviews
Winner of the Indie Book Awards, science/nature/environment
Finalist for a Colorado Book Award, nonfiction
