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77th out of 91 books
—
9 voters
Requiem For A Species: Why We Resist The Truth About Climate Change
This book does not set out once more to raise the alarm to encourage us to take radical measures to head off climate chaos. There have been any number of books and reports in recent years explaining just how dire the future looks and how little time we have left to act. This book is about why we have ignored those warnings, and why it is now too late. It is a book about th...more
Hardcover, 286 pages
Published
April 7th 2010
by Earthscan Publications
(first published January 1st 2010)
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A year or so ago I was participating in an online chat with former New York Times reporter and self-described socialist Chris Hedges, and I asked him what one book he'd most like to see read as widely as possible. This was the book he recommended. It's not your typical global warming book, as Hamilton (an Australian professor of public ethics)understands well enough that climate change is real, and he assumes (probably correctly) that most people who read his book do as well. He spends only one...more
Crushing. Searing. Necessary. I'm naturally a cynical and pessimistic person, so it's been hard trying to avoid saying (if I can't avoid thinking) that yes, it really is too late to avoid catastrophic climate change. The science is stark and it all points to that devastating conclusion. Each month that goes by, the surer that becomes.
Hamilton doesn't shy away from that. He forces us to confront it. To finally say it clearly and loudly. Yes, we could -- just maybe -- avoid large-scale climate dis...more
Hamilton doesn't shy away from that. He forces us to confront it. To finally say it clearly and loudly. Yes, we could -- just maybe -- avoid large-scale climate dis...more
Hopefully it’s fairly clear to any observer that this non-fiction work is ‘pro’ climate change (by which I mean believes its existence) – rather than debate the science this book is devoted to explaining why people so vehemently deny climate change and oppose steps taken to prevent it.
The author’s strategy is to avoid running through the arguments themselves and instead rely on his references to carry the science. Initially rather than dulling us with debates, Hamilton depresses us with the blea...more
The author’s strategy is to avoid running through the arguments themselves and instead rely on his references to carry the science. Initially rather than dulling us with debates, Hamilton depresses us with the blea...more
I'm in two minds about this book....I agree with Hamilton's view on the desperate situation we are in regarding climate change, but I disagree with his skimming over of nuclear power. From all the reading I have done I don't think we have a better option than nuclear to reduce greenhouse gases due to power generation, and similarly I found his belief that renewables such as solar and wind can do a better job than nuclear to be wishful thinking (including his figures on the percentage of power De...more
A stunningly honest and refreshing take on the situation at hand.
Clive Hamilton has taken all of the swirling thoughts that have been aimlessly swooshing about in my head and combined them with many things I had not even considered, and finely woven them together into a cohesive and satisfying meditation on the future of our species. He has taken the fine lens of a scientific mind and turned it sharply on those who deny the validity of climate science yet support geoengineering, or those who kn...more
Clive Hamilton has taken all of the swirling thoughts that have been aimlessly swooshing about in my head and combined them with many things I had not even considered, and finely woven them together into a cohesive and satisfying meditation on the future of our species. He has taken the fine lens of a scientific mind and turned it sharply on those who deny the validity of climate science yet support geoengineering, or those who kn...more
I already knew we (the human race, the planet and every other living thing on it) are pretty screwed, but this book lays out just how screwed we really are. While the author doesn't promise some wind, solar, carbon capture or geo-engineering solution nicely packaged and ready for us, he does end a slightly positive note - even though we're screwed, we are human beings and we don't give up easily and after we despair for and then accept our lost future, we will act and in the process discover ano...more
This book is essential reading for anyone who is ready to face the future climate change reality. It is not depressing but it is enlightening in how we humans think, why we act the way we do and what we must now do to survive the future. READ IT!
Clearly articulated account of the details behind climate change and the fetishism of growth that keeps people from seeing it.
An interesting but rather pessimistic account of climate change and why we are in denial and will basically do nothing!
Agree utterly with his message and for that alone recommend to it any and everyone.
But I did find the delivery a bit rambling (what is it with these lefty anti-corporate types --- Naomi Klein's "No Logo" was another one that should have had me cheering and punching the air, but ended up a longwinded snooze-fest).
But I did find the delivery a bit rambling (what is it with these lefty anti-corporate types --- Naomi Klein's "No Logo" was another one that should have had me cheering and punching the air, but ended up a longwinded snooze-fest).
This book changed my life. Seriously. Thank you Clive Hamilton for turning the lights on.
a must read for anyone teaching bio/chem at senior school
Sobering, scary book: essential reading.
I felt this was a one sided look a climate change and the debate surrounding the topic. However, anything that draws people's attention to this issue is a step forward.
Check out my full review at
OurBookClub
Check out my full review at
OurBookClub
Sure, he's a bit annoying now and again, but there are so many great ideas in here, particularly about our unshakeable faith in the 'goodness' of economic growth, and the doom we're heading for if we can't let go of it.
Well-explained, accessible to the lay reader, but a truly, deeply frightening book.
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This book has a new approach to presenting the climate change problem: condolences for the loss of your planet. It really helped me accept the inevitable doom and put me in a better emotional state over it.
May 22, 2013
Ashley Nichols
marked it as to-read
May 20, 2013
Hcp Books
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May 20, 2013
Maggie
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May 15, 2013
Kasane Teto
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May 03, 2013
Laurel
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Apr 28, 2013
Natasha
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Apr 28, 2013
Kat
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Apr 26, 2013
Catherine
marked it as to-read
Apr 26, 2013
Tim Hollo
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