The Best of Times, The Worst of Times: Future from the Frontiers of Climate Science (Paperback)
Paul Behrens (author)Published: 17/09/2020
The environmental emergency is the greatest threat we face. Preventing it will require an unprecedented political and social response. And yet, there is still hope.
Academic, physicist, environmental expert and award-winning science communicator Paul Behrens presents a radical dual analysis of a civilisation on the brink of catastrophe.
Setting out the pressing existential threats we face, he writes, in alternating chapters, of what the future could look like, at its most optimistic and pessimistic, and details the steps we can take to ensure our survival. In lucid and clear-sighted prose, Behrens argues that structural problems need structural solutions, and examines critical areas in which political will is necessary, including women’s education, food and energy security, biodiversity and economics.
Publisher: The Indigo Press
ISBN: 9781911648093
Number of pages: 352
Weight: 396 g
Dimensions: 216 x 138 x 260 mm
MEDIA REVIEWS
‘One of those books suffused with intriguing facts and stories, the narrative takes the reader through alternate outcomes on key issues such as population, energy and food: the pessimistic scenarios outline what will happen if we don’t take action; the hopeful scenario shows what is possible if we do.’ https://www.salisburyjournal.co.uk/news/18727627.opinion-the-change-required-now-greater-magnitude/ - Tom Bromley, The Sailsbury Journal
‘urgent, compulsively readable and thoroughly researched’ https://www.instagram.com/p/CFO76haHLJ_/ - Caoilinn Hughes, Instagram
‘It doesn't dumb down the science, it doesn't sugar-coat things, but it also offers possibilities that we can work towards, and, most importantly of all, inspires the reader to go and do something about it, which is what all those Hope chapters are kind of dependent on.’ https://awfullybigreviews.blogspot.com/2020/11/the-best-of-times-worst-of-times-by.html - Kelly McCaughrain, An Awfully Big Blog Adventure
‘@DrPaulBehrens wrote one of the most deep, wide ranging and thought-provoking books I read this year. It's a tour de force.’ - Professor Julia Steinberger, Instagram
Climate primer: How to debunk myths about climate change ‘Author and scientist Paul Behrens picks apart some of the most egregious and long-standing myths around global warming’ https://news.trust.org/item/20201116115403-oz28n/ - Thin Lei Win, Thomas Reuters Foundation
8 of the best books of 2020 recommended by LSE blog editors ‘The book will defamiliarise and radicalise you in the best way. It makes much media coverage of the environment look predictable and dated.’ https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/lsereviewofbooks/2020/12/17/8-of-the-best-books-of-2020-recommended-by-lse-blog-editors/ - Ros Taylor, Managing Editor, LSE COVID-19 blog, LSE Review of Books
‘Paul Behrens...explains in accessible language a complex multidisciplinary issue that affects all of us –climate change.’ https://twitter.com/Admelioran/status/1356254045837656066 - Anfisa Girusova, Twitter
Cheddar Climate: Global Warming Claims, Making Space for Renewables, and Sustainable Sparkles https://cheddar.com/media/cheddar-climate-global-warming-claims-making-space-for-renewables-and-sustainable-sparkles - Cheddar News
The Best- and Worst-Case Scenarios for the World as COP26 Ends: An environmental scientist assesses the outcomes and possibilities coming out of the climate conference in Glasgow. https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2021/11/11/cop-26-climate-future-520817 - Paul Behrens, Politico Magazine
Near term threats & societal risk as the Earth changes state | Dr Paul Behrens https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-TTvwJY9ssc - ClimateGenn
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“Easy to read, and very informative”
Somehow this book is stuffed full of info and is immensely readable at the same time. A joy to read and so simple to understand. It's also very well researched, with citations for everything. And for once, you... More
“A must read”
I took my time reading this book over a couple of weeks. Every chapter is thought provoking and takes a while to sink in. The book appears extremely well researched and is well written. But what a subject! I found it... More
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