What do you think?
Moving to Higher Ground: Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward
Rising sea level will be tomorrow's global economic and humanitarian crisis--if we don't start adapting now. Around the world, rising sea level threatens coastal communities. It is unstoppable, requiring bold planning to avoid catastrophe. Though often seen as an environmental issue, it's more about our security and economy--and the impacts on our homes and communities. In his previous book, the bestselling High Tide on Main Street: Rising Sea Level and the Coming Coastal Crisis, renowned oceanographer John Englander clearly explained the science. In Moving to Higher Ground: Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward, he updates the latest scientific information and presents a visionary outlook for what we need to do--showing the world how to survive, and even thrive, for ourselves and future generations. Englander explains: -Why sea level will rise regardless of efforts to reduce CO2 emissions -How high the sea could rise in the coming decades and the effects on assets and infrastructure -What you need to know to prepare and adapt for long-term sea level rise and short term flooding events -Why rising sea level and the massive adaptation required could be the greatest economic engine of this century
222 pages, Hardcover
First published April 6, 2021
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
October 26, 2021
*I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley and the publishers.*
What an absolutely well-written, thoughtful, comprehensive and accessible book. One of my pet peeves with scientific writing is when it's written in a way that's hard to understand and doesn't show the relevance to the reader. This book is the exact opposite. From the very beginning, the author explicitly outlines the range of fields to which knowledge of sea level rise (SLR) is relevant - insurance, real estate, civil engineering, construction, shipping, the list goes on! These considerations are included throughout the book, with clear examples in a range of sections.
I also appreciated the use of anecdotes and easily understandable explanations, as well as accessible language. I have a background of studying and working with climate change, and after reading this book I had a much better understanding of some concepts I hadn't quite grasped before. These concepts are broken down in such a way that anyone is able to understand them - this will be a useful read for people entirely new to the topic of SLR as well as people who already have an environmental or climate background. I also appreciated that examples were drawn from all over the world, both of problems and solutions. Often such illustrations focus on the USA, but the diversity of examples emphasize how far-reaching this global problem is. Speaking of illustrations - the graphs and images included were well selected, and help to add a better understanding of the topic.
I also appreciated that the book took a realistic and yet optimistic look at the situation, showing not just the severity and urgency of SLR but also opportunities to get ahead of the problem. The climate crisis is depressing indeed and, justifiably, a lot of the reading around it leaves one feeling quite doom-and-gloom. This book manages to clearly express the depth of the problem (pun intended) on the reader, while also giving the impression that readers can be proactive and take action to mitigate the potential damage. It's an empowering book, and that's so valuable in this decisive decade. I've already added this book to my wish list at my favourite bookstores, and will be buying a physical copy for my own collection at some point.
What an absolutely well-written, thoughtful, comprehensive and accessible book. One of my pet peeves with scientific writing is when it's written in a way that's hard to understand and doesn't show the relevance to the reader. This book is the exact opposite. From the very beginning, the author explicitly outlines the range of fields to which knowledge of sea level rise (SLR) is relevant - insurance, real estate, civil engineering, construction, shipping, the list goes on! These considerations are included throughout the book, with clear examples in a range of sections.
I also appreciated the use of anecdotes and easily understandable explanations, as well as accessible language. I have a background of studying and working with climate change, and after reading this book I had a much better understanding of some concepts I hadn't quite grasped before. These concepts are broken down in such a way that anyone is able to understand them - this will be a useful read for people entirely new to the topic of SLR as well as people who already have an environmental or climate background. I also appreciated that examples were drawn from all over the world, both of problems and solutions. Often such illustrations focus on the USA, but the diversity of examples emphasize how far-reaching this global problem is. Speaking of illustrations - the graphs and images included were well selected, and help to add a better understanding of the topic.
I also appreciated that the book took a realistic and yet optimistic look at the situation, showing not just the severity and urgency of SLR but also opportunities to get ahead of the problem. The climate crisis is depressing indeed and, justifiably, a lot of the reading around it leaves one feeling quite doom-and-gloom. This book manages to clearly express the depth of the problem (pun intended) on the reader, while also giving the impression that readers can be proactive and take action to mitigate the potential damage. It's an empowering book, and that's so valuable in this decisive decade. I've already added this book to my wish list at my favourite bookstores, and will be buying a physical copy for my own collection at some point.
September 9, 2021
Rising sea level will likely be the “greatest agent of disruption and destruction this century,” and it differs from other climate impacts in that its permanent, inevitable, and that reducing emissions won’t stop it, Englander argues in this well-researched book on sea level rise. Up against this challenge, we must urgently adapt, something we’ve yet to do.
In the first section of the book, Englander patiently walks through the science of sea level rise, the thermal expansion of oceans, the ice cube analogy, and where most of the water will come from (Antarctica and Greenland, both of which are collapsing in real time). The complexity of climate and all its variables make it extremely difficult to calculate how much sea level rise to expect, but it also underscores the underestimation of the IPCC’s commonly cited prediction of three feet of sea level rise by 2100.
The recency bias of long-term stability, as well as the timeline of political terms, also complicates things, ignoring the new era of sea level rise we have entered, without the mobilization of resources required to meet the challenge. Meanwhile, simply investing in resilience, as Englander argues, isn’t enough — we must invest in efforts to adapt to the permanence of flooding or submergence.
Part two discusses possible solutions that involve rethinking, laws, finance, military, and the politics of addressing this challenge pf increased flooding — which Englander outlines as five flood factors: storms and storm surge, heavy rainfall, downhill runoff, high tides, and sea level rise — as well as four common solutions: forming high walls, elevating structures, using floats, and moving to higher ground.
When it comes to planning, we must plan with the end in mind (higher is better, and design so further adaptation can be accommodated), knowledge share (like with the dikes used by the Dutch and sponge cities in China), and engineer with time horizons and safety in mind, knowing that different places will require different solutions.
Englander also has a helpful chapter on flood insurance and its failures, notably the indirect incentive to keep building in places at risk, the bailout model that serves as a safety net for these developers and homeowners, and the long-term financial problem of increasing floods and risk: “We have unwittingly perverted the market forces that would normally have dissuaded people and companies from investing in high-risk zones.”
The final section of this book deals with leadership and looking forward, overcoming grief and denial, separating beliefs from facts, thinking of innovative and creative solutions (a type of green bonds is one, though I don’t think damming the Baltic Sea should be another), and using the crisis as an opportunity, including for economic stimulation.
As for communicators, Englander cites Jacques Cousteau to get something like sea level rise on the public agenda: it has to be presented simply, visually, and be emotionally compelling. We also must identify what people care about that sea level rise could threaten to motivate them into action.
Overall, the book’s thesis can probably be summarized in this passage, taken from the final chapter of the book: “We have passed a tipping point. Sea level is rising and accelerating very quickly… we must begin real adaptation in the face of the rising sea, without delay.” In Moving to Higher Ground, Englander outlines the problems and their scientific roots, uses relevant case studies to showcase success, and presents ways for us to being about solutions before it’s too late.
In the first section of the book, Englander patiently walks through the science of sea level rise, the thermal expansion of oceans, the ice cube analogy, and where most of the water will come from (Antarctica and Greenland, both of which are collapsing in real time). The complexity of climate and all its variables make it extremely difficult to calculate how much sea level rise to expect, but it also underscores the underestimation of the IPCC’s commonly cited prediction of three feet of sea level rise by 2100.
The recency bias of long-term stability, as well as the timeline of political terms, also complicates things, ignoring the new era of sea level rise we have entered, without the mobilization of resources required to meet the challenge. Meanwhile, simply investing in resilience, as Englander argues, isn’t enough — we must invest in efforts to adapt to the permanence of flooding or submergence.
Part two discusses possible solutions that involve rethinking, laws, finance, military, and the politics of addressing this challenge pf increased flooding — which Englander outlines as five flood factors: storms and storm surge, heavy rainfall, downhill runoff, high tides, and sea level rise — as well as four common solutions: forming high walls, elevating structures, using floats, and moving to higher ground.
When it comes to planning, we must plan with the end in mind (higher is better, and design so further adaptation can be accommodated), knowledge share (like with the dikes used by the Dutch and sponge cities in China), and engineer with time horizons and safety in mind, knowing that different places will require different solutions.
Englander also has a helpful chapter on flood insurance and its failures, notably the indirect incentive to keep building in places at risk, the bailout model that serves as a safety net for these developers and homeowners, and the long-term financial problem of increasing floods and risk: “We have unwittingly perverted the market forces that would normally have dissuaded people and companies from investing in high-risk zones.”
The final section of this book deals with leadership and looking forward, overcoming grief and denial, separating beliefs from facts, thinking of innovative and creative solutions (a type of green bonds is one, though I don’t think damming the Baltic Sea should be another), and using the crisis as an opportunity, including for economic stimulation.
As for communicators, Englander cites Jacques Cousteau to get something like sea level rise on the public agenda: it has to be presented simply, visually, and be emotionally compelling. We also must identify what people care about that sea level rise could threaten to motivate them into action.
Overall, the book’s thesis can probably be summarized in this passage, taken from the final chapter of the book: “We have passed a tipping point. Sea level is rising and accelerating very quickly… we must begin real adaptation in the face of the rising sea, without delay.” In Moving to Higher Ground, Englander outlines the problems and their scientific roots, uses relevant case studies to showcase success, and presents ways for us to being about solutions before it’s too late.
February 21, 2022
“Even if we could immediately stop all carbon dioxide emissions and the warming, the excess heat stored in the sea will continue to melt the ice sheets for centuries, raising global sea level to heights unknown for the past hundred thousand years.”
John is a renowned oceanographer and expert on climate change and sea level rise (SLR). He says SLR is unstoppable and we cannot precisely predict its rate of rise, which can be sudden and surprising. He explains environmental definitions: climate change; global warming; carbon versus carbon dioxide; plastics and recycling; and ice melt. He clears up the confusion of carbon, which affects air pollution, and carbon dioxide, which largely causes global warming.
Neither can recycling reduce global warming and SLR. “We could recycle everything possible and eliminate all present and future plastics in the sea without any noticeable effect on the planet’s average temperature, the rate of ice melting, and the sea level rising.”
We need a global concerted environmental effort to slow SLR.
John mentions the most vulnerable US cities and countries (Indonesia, Singapore, Venice, the Netherlands) and suggests adaptive structures that nations and communities can take to prepare for SLR and minimize its destruction. It takes a huge investment and requires the mobilization of everyone in all sectors. It starts with education so we can intelligently assess our risks.
“If the engineers, architects, lawyers, and financial community do not understand the issues of long-term SLR, we will not develop good adaptations. We simply cannot afford to waste money and time on misguided shortsighted efforts.”
But not everyone thinks SLR is a threat.
“It’s hard to grasp the facts of unstoppable rising sea level for several reasons: It is without precedent in the human experience; it will be unimaginably disruptive; and, perhaps most importantly, there is a yawning chasm between the slowness of the perceived change and the urgent need for bold and durable solutions.”
We need to act now before SLR happens: educate, advocate, legislate, regulate, elevate, isolate water, relocate to higher ground, and innovate.
“As with anticipating earthquakes or pandemics, we need to plan for rising sea level and flooding without knowing the specific timing or the magnitude. While that may seem overly cautious, we fully accept unpredictability when it comes to planning for other risks.”
This should be required reading for all societies because we will all be affected by SLR—not just lowlands and coasts.
“Hoping or pretending that sea level will not rise is irresponsible.”
@IvyDigest
John is a renowned oceanographer and expert on climate change and sea level rise (SLR). He says SLR is unstoppable and we cannot precisely predict its rate of rise, which can be sudden and surprising. He explains environmental definitions: climate change; global warming; carbon versus carbon dioxide; plastics and recycling; and ice melt. He clears up the confusion of carbon, which affects air pollution, and carbon dioxide, which largely causes global warming.
Neither can recycling reduce global warming and SLR. “We could recycle everything possible and eliminate all present and future plastics in the sea without any noticeable effect on the planet’s average temperature, the rate of ice melting, and the sea level rising.”
We need a global concerted environmental effort to slow SLR.
John mentions the most vulnerable US cities and countries (Indonesia, Singapore, Venice, the Netherlands) and suggests adaptive structures that nations and communities can take to prepare for SLR and minimize its destruction. It takes a huge investment and requires the mobilization of everyone in all sectors. It starts with education so we can intelligently assess our risks.
“If the engineers, architects, lawyers, and financial community do not understand the issues of long-term SLR, we will not develop good adaptations. We simply cannot afford to waste money and time on misguided shortsighted efforts.”
But not everyone thinks SLR is a threat.
“It’s hard to grasp the facts of unstoppable rising sea level for several reasons: It is without precedent in the human experience; it will be unimaginably disruptive; and, perhaps most importantly, there is a yawning chasm between the slowness of the perceived change and the urgent need for bold and durable solutions.”
We need to act now before SLR happens: educate, advocate, legislate, regulate, elevate, isolate water, relocate to higher ground, and innovate.
“As with anticipating earthquakes or pandemics, we need to plan for rising sea level and flooding without knowing the specific timing or the magnitude. While that may seem overly cautious, we fully accept unpredictability when it comes to planning for other risks.”
This should be required reading for all societies because we will all be affected by SLR—not just lowlands and coasts.
“Hoping or pretending that sea level will not rise is irresponsible.”
@IvyDigest
December 23, 2022
Moving to Higher Ground: Rising Sea Level and the Path Forward by John Englander
“Moving to Higher Ground” is an excellent book that examines the unique problems that higher sea level will present to the globe and what we should do about it. Oceanographer and climate change expert John Englander provides readers with clarity on the paramount issue of climate change. This educational 251-page book includes eleven chapters broken out by the following three parts: 1. The science is clear; sea level will be much higher, 2. Connecting the dots; planning for a new coastline, and 3. Rising to the challenge; leadership and vision.
Positives:
1. Accessible, practical and succinct book.
2. The fascinating topic of climate change, the reality of it and what we can do about it.
3. The preface provides the goals of the book and its intended audiences. “The environmental consequences of sea level rise will be enormous and worthy of serious study. However, this book’s primary focus is on the vast physical, practical, and economic impacts of unstoppable rising sea level, which will very likely be far worse than most can imagine.”
4. Great use of graphs and illustrations that complement the excellent narrative.
5. Makes it perfectly clear that we are beyond the tipping point. “According to the natural cycle, we should have now started the period of sea level falling. Instead, it’s rising again. We have broken out of the long period of natural ice age cycles that has been in effect for millions of years. The breakout from the natural climate cycles of the ice ages correlates very well with the dramatically higher level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which causes warming.”
6. Defines the bottom line. “SLR is a threat to our economic well-being, the present world order, and international security. Adapting to much higher sea level is not optional; it will be the signature challenge of this century.”
7. An excellent description of what is key to sea level rise (SLR) and what isn’t. “The primary contributor to higher sea level is the melting of ice on land, which essentially exists in two forms: ice sheets and glaciers. The two biggest ice sheets, Antarctica and Greenland, hold about ninety-eight percent of the global ice on land, representing over 200 feet of potential SLR.”
8. Interesting facts. “If all the ice on Greenland and Antarctica melts, global sea level would be more than 200 feet (60 meters) higher than present. Those two areas contain about ninety-eight percent of the total ice on land and are the dominant factors influencing future sea level rise.”
9. Provides the compelling case for adaptation. “My core case for bold, visionary adaptation to accelerating SLR rests on three key concepts that are often misunderstood or ignored: Sea level rise this century is unstoppable. Science cannot precisely predict the rate of rise. The rate of rise can accelerate quickly, possibly abruptly, greatly surprising us.”
10. The reality of why sea level rise is unstoppable. “Even if we could immediately stop all carbon dioxide emissions and the warming, the excess heat already stored in the sea will continue to melt the ice sheets for centuries, raising global sea level to heights unknown for the past hundred thousand years.”
11. Defines what adaption plans should be based off of. “My present view is that responsible cautious planning for SLR this century should now assume 10 feet (3 meters).”
12. Describes the key concept of the 19-Year Lunar Cycle and its effect. “Sea Level Will Surge Upward in 2025. In 432 BC, the astronomer Meton of Athens identified an 18.6-year “lunar nodal cycle,” often rounded up and described as a nineteen-year cycle. That pattern, the Metonic cycle, is due to orbital patterns and the gravitational forces of our Moon and Sun.”
13. Explains why reducing CO2 is not enough. “I think it is possible that during this century we will find the technology to produce sufficient energy while reducing the level of atmospheric CO2. That can eventually slow the warming, which would slow the rate of melting ice and rising seas somewhat.”
14. Why rising se level is so deceptive. “Rising sea level will be different from any other global transformation we have experienced to date. For one thing, it is happening slowly, which allows us to perpetuate the illusion that it’s not urgent. Second, it is so disruptive that we cannot even wrap our minds around it. And third, it does not trigger either of our main two motivators: fear and gratification.”
15. Describes the need to plan and adapt with a margin of safety. “If you designed the foundation adequately and anticipated a future add-on, if needed, you could start with the lower height and modify it later at far less cost than having to start from scratch with a new foundation.”
16. How insurance and public policy increase risks. “In fact, our training, instinct, and products like insurance are largely misleading, since their assumptions about the future are based on the past.”
17. The impact of sea level rise to property values. ““Disaster on the Horizon: The Price Effect of Sea Level Rise,” published in May 2018 in the Journal of Financial Economics. The peer-reviewed study concluded that vulnerable homes sold for 6.6 percent less than unexposed homes. The most vulnerable properties, which stand to be flooded after seas rise by just a foot, were selling at a 14.7 percent discount.”
18. The 5 points to an intelligent adaptation. “Act with a long-term perspective. Plan ahead so that investments have adequate scale and are more durable.”
19. Describes the path forward and a quote that resonates with me. “Resistance to reality can be surprisingly strong when reality goes against an emotional belief.”
20. Plenty of useful supplementary material: deep dive notes, links to resources, and notes.
Negatives:
1. Very little on those who purposely misinform the public on climate change and why.
In summary, an excellent book that does a great job of conveying key facts to understanding climate change and what we can do about it. Englander educates the reader while providing practical guidance. He provides many examples of current efforts to address climate change and helps clarify what is most likely to succeed. He makes clear that we have passed the tipping point and our focus as a planet is to adapt to increasing sea levels. I highly recommend it!
Further recommendations: “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need” by Bill Gates, “An Inconvenient Sequel” by Al Gore, “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate” by Naomi Klein, “Changing Planet, Changing Health” by Paul R. Epstein, MD, and Dan Feber, “The Crash Course” by Chris Marteson, “Storms of My Grandchildren” by James Hansen, “Warnings” by Mike Smith, “The Weather of the New Future” by Heidi Cullen, “The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars” by Michael E. Mann, “Clean Break” by Osha Gray Davidson, “Fool Me Twice” by Lawrence Otto, “Lies, Damned Lies, and Science” by Sherry Seethaler, “Reality Check” by Donald R. Prothero, and “Merchants od Doubt” by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway.
“Moving to Higher Ground” is an excellent book that examines the unique problems that higher sea level will present to the globe and what we should do about it. Oceanographer and climate change expert John Englander provides readers with clarity on the paramount issue of climate change. This educational 251-page book includes eleven chapters broken out by the following three parts: 1. The science is clear; sea level will be much higher, 2. Connecting the dots; planning for a new coastline, and 3. Rising to the challenge; leadership and vision.
Positives:
1. Accessible, practical and succinct book.
2. The fascinating topic of climate change, the reality of it and what we can do about it.
3. The preface provides the goals of the book and its intended audiences. “The environmental consequences of sea level rise will be enormous and worthy of serious study. However, this book’s primary focus is on the vast physical, practical, and economic impacts of unstoppable rising sea level, which will very likely be far worse than most can imagine.”
4. Great use of graphs and illustrations that complement the excellent narrative.
5. Makes it perfectly clear that we are beyond the tipping point. “According to the natural cycle, we should have now started the period of sea level falling. Instead, it’s rising again. We have broken out of the long period of natural ice age cycles that has been in effect for millions of years. The breakout from the natural climate cycles of the ice ages correlates very well with the dramatically higher level of carbon dioxide in our atmosphere, which causes warming.”
6. Defines the bottom line. “SLR is a threat to our economic well-being, the present world order, and international security. Adapting to much higher sea level is not optional; it will be the signature challenge of this century.”
7. An excellent description of what is key to sea level rise (SLR) and what isn’t. “The primary contributor to higher sea level is the melting of ice on land, which essentially exists in two forms: ice sheets and glaciers. The two biggest ice sheets, Antarctica and Greenland, hold about ninety-eight percent of the global ice on land, representing over 200 feet of potential SLR.”
8. Interesting facts. “If all the ice on Greenland and Antarctica melts, global sea level would be more than 200 feet (60 meters) higher than present. Those two areas contain about ninety-eight percent of the total ice on land and are the dominant factors influencing future sea level rise.”
9. Provides the compelling case for adaptation. “My core case for bold, visionary adaptation to accelerating SLR rests on three key concepts that are often misunderstood or ignored: Sea level rise this century is unstoppable. Science cannot precisely predict the rate of rise. The rate of rise can accelerate quickly, possibly abruptly, greatly surprising us.”
10. The reality of why sea level rise is unstoppable. “Even if we could immediately stop all carbon dioxide emissions and the warming, the excess heat already stored in the sea will continue to melt the ice sheets for centuries, raising global sea level to heights unknown for the past hundred thousand years.”
11. Defines what adaption plans should be based off of. “My present view is that responsible cautious planning for SLR this century should now assume 10 feet (3 meters).”
12. Describes the key concept of the 19-Year Lunar Cycle and its effect. “Sea Level Will Surge Upward in 2025. In 432 BC, the astronomer Meton of Athens identified an 18.6-year “lunar nodal cycle,” often rounded up and described as a nineteen-year cycle. That pattern, the Metonic cycle, is due to orbital patterns and the gravitational forces of our Moon and Sun.”
13. Explains why reducing CO2 is not enough. “I think it is possible that during this century we will find the technology to produce sufficient energy while reducing the level of atmospheric CO2. That can eventually slow the warming, which would slow the rate of melting ice and rising seas somewhat.”
14. Why rising se level is so deceptive. “Rising sea level will be different from any other global transformation we have experienced to date. For one thing, it is happening slowly, which allows us to perpetuate the illusion that it’s not urgent. Second, it is so disruptive that we cannot even wrap our minds around it. And third, it does not trigger either of our main two motivators: fear and gratification.”
15. Describes the need to plan and adapt with a margin of safety. “If you designed the foundation adequately and anticipated a future add-on, if needed, you could start with the lower height and modify it later at far less cost than having to start from scratch with a new foundation.”
16. How insurance and public policy increase risks. “In fact, our training, instinct, and products like insurance are largely misleading, since their assumptions about the future are based on the past.”
17. The impact of sea level rise to property values. ““Disaster on the Horizon: The Price Effect of Sea Level Rise,” published in May 2018 in the Journal of Financial Economics. The peer-reviewed study concluded that vulnerable homes sold for 6.6 percent less than unexposed homes. The most vulnerable properties, which stand to be flooded after seas rise by just a foot, were selling at a 14.7 percent discount.”
18. The 5 points to an intelligent adaptation. “Act with a long-term perspective. Plan ahead so that investments have adequate scale and are more durable.”
19. Describes the path forward and a quote that resonates with me. “Resistance to reality can be surprisingly strong when reality goes against an emotional belief.”
20. Plenty of useful supplementary material: deep dive notes, links to resources, and notes.
Negatives:
1. Very little on those who purposely misinform the public on climate change and why.
In summary, an excellent book that does a great job of conveying key facts to understanding climate change and what we can do about it. Englander educates the reader while providing practical guidance. He provides many examples of current efforts to address climate change and helps clarify what is most likely to succeed. He makes clear that we have passed the tipping point and our focus as a planet is to adapt to increasing sea levels. I highly recommend it!
Further recommendations: “How to Avoid a Climate Disaster: The Solutions We Have and the Breakthroughs We Need” by Bill Gates, “An Inconvenient Sequel” by Al Gore, “This Changes Everything: Capitalism vs. The Climate” by Naomi Klein, “Changing Planet, Changing Health” by Paul R. Epstein, MD, and Dan Feber, “The Crash Course” by Chris Marteson, “Storms of My Grandchildren” by James Hansen, “Warnings” by Mike Smith, “The Weather of the New Future” by Heidi Cullen, “The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars” by Michael E. Mann, “Clean Break” by Osha Gray Davidson, “Fool Me Twice” by Lawrence Otto, “Lies, Damned Lies, and Science” by Sherry Seethaler, “Reality Check” by Donald R. Prothero, and “Merchants od Doubt” by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway.
June 17, 2026
Rarely have I read a science book so utterly absorbing. I finished 50 pages while in the waiting room of a doctors office (ok, which does say something about my wait time but still…). Englander writes with clarity and collectedness about a topic he is very passionate about, and that takes more restraint and direction than people realize.
I appreciated that he took a very dark topic - the change of human civilization as we know - and broke it into bite sized (fascinating) chunks. If one reads the book start to finish, it’s almost like walking through a museum diagram that explains a concept top to bottom. His background is interwoven but he is so humble about it.
The only quibble I have is that he quotes and references many many male scientists and professionals and few females. However, since his work is predominantly in very male dominated fields (including working with the military on sea level rise security issues, utterly fascinating pieces of the book), I can’t completely fault him for this. But I do feel like it shows there’s some growth to be had here, perhaps for Englander and more generally for representation in our STEM fields.
All in all, a must read for anyone interested in adaptation and mitigation to the effects of climate chaos, particularly and especially sea level rise. Excellent book.
I appreciated that he took a very dark topic - the change of human civilization as we know - and broke it into bite sized (fascinating) chunks. If one reads the book start to finish, it’s almost like walking through a museum diagram that explains a concept top to bottom. His background is interwoven but he is so humble about it.
The only quibble I have is that he quotes and references many many male scientists and professionals and few females. However, since his work is predominantly in very male dominated fields (including working with the military on sea level rise security issues, utterly fascinating pieces of the book), I can’t completely fault him for this. But I do feel like it shows there’s some growth to be had here, perhaps for Englander and more generally for representation in our STEM fields.
All in all, a must read for anyone interested in adaptation and mitigation to the effects of climate chaos, particularly and especially sea level rise. Excellent book.
June 1, 2021
Great book about an important topic. Living in Florida with family on the Louisiana Gulf Coast, it was very timely. It was a very interesting read and I appreciate the other resources included.
The author, who is a geologist, addresses both the scientific and practical aspects of sea level rise without any political/partisan overlay. The science is explained in detail and yet understandable for the non-scientific.
All can benefit from reading the book and it may of special interest to - municipal/county planners, legislators, builders, architects, insurance and real estate industry as well as those living in coastal areas.
Highly recommend.
The author, who is a geologist, addresses both the scientific and practical aspects of sea level rise without any political/partisan overlay. The science is explained in detail and yet understandable for the non-scientific.
All can benefit from reading the book and it may of special interest to - municipal/county planners, legislators, builders, architects, insurance and real estate industry as well as those living in coastal areas.
Highly recommend.
April 14, 2021
(full disclosure: John Englander was kind enough to speak as part of a webinar series I organized as part of the American Society of Adaptation Professionals' Climate Migration and Managed Retreat group back before the pandemic - what seems like a century or two ago some days).
Great primer on sea level rise and, more importantly, its societal impacts. It's written in an accessible way that hopefully will appeal to audiences beyond those who usually read these kinds of books.
Great primer on sea level rise and, more importantly, its societal impacts. It's written in an accessible way that hopefully will appeal to audiences beyond those who usually read these kinds of books.
October 3, 2021
This is a must read - everyone should be aware of how sea level rise will impact our lives in the not too distant future.
Englander knows how to stress the urgency and importance of this topic, provides various examples and highlights the role each of us can play in raising awareness. It's an uneasy truth he's presenting, but one we should face rather sooner than later as this understanding will play a key role in the future of humankind.
Englander knows how to stress the urgency and importance of this topic, provides various examples and highlights the role each of us can play in raising awareness. It's an uneasy truth he's presenting, but one we should face rather sooner than later as this understanding will play a key role in the future of humankind.
June 15, 2022
If one is interested in sea level rise, SLR, this book is a must read.
The main hypothesis is that SLR is already booked, at this point it cannot be stopped.
We can work to reduce carbon emissions and therefore future climate change, but the Genie is
already out of the bottle.
The book contains many good thoughts about preparing for the inevitable.
If you live on the coast in some vulnerable area maybe you should start thinking about moving.
The main hypothesis is that SLR is already booked, at this point it cannot be stopped.
We can work to reduce carbon emissions and therefore future climate change, but the Genie is
already out of the bottle.
The book contains many good thoughts about preparing for the inevitable.
If you live on the coast in some vulnerable area maybe you should start thinking about moving.
September 6, 2021
I read this for a book club - I'm leading a discussion of it.
This is a very nice, simple primer on future sea level rise (SLR), must reading for anyone living near the coast. The author goes through much of the evidence for SLR, the rate at which it is occurring, the speed at which it is accelerating, and the huge uncertainties in the ultimate reach. There is a large amount of uncertainty in SLR, mainly because we do not know how much of the ice in Greenland and especially Antarctica will eventually melt. The official projections for SLR for the year 2100 are eon page 44, and range between a few centimeters and 2.5 meters. As the author notes over and over throughout the book, there is the potential for much more SLR than that, again because of unknowns surrounding thee major ice sheets. The Antarctic ice sheet contains enough water so that, if all melted, it would cause 186 feet (~60 m) of SLR. However, the IPCC only projects about 15 cm due to Antarctic melt.
The latter half of the book goes into planning and adaptation. Thee author's main thesis is that SLR is happening, and will probably be much worse than anyone has thought. Thus, we need to start thinking about adaptation. We need to harden cities, move people inland when possible, build infrastructure higher, restructure the property insurance market, build dikes, and in general take SLR into account in our planning decisions. He goes into several examples of good planning, Belize, Hamburg, the Netherlands and Singapore most prominently, and bad planning, like Houston and Jakarta. A particularly interesting line on page 165 goes "Rising sea level will be the biggest economic driver this century". This might be a bit extreme, but it's hard to argue with the notion that it might be one of the most important.
My only quibble with this book is that it is somewhat on the self-promotional side. All the technical information in this book seemed accurate to me, and it was backed by many current sources. I'm a physical oceanographer, so I know much of the science pretty well, and saw no misstatements or exaggerations.
This is a very nice, simple primer on future sea level rise (SLR), must reading for anyone living near the coast. The author goes through much of the evidence for SLR, the rate at which it is occurring, the speed at which it is accelerating, and the huge uncertainties in the ultimate reach. There is a large amount of uncertainty in SLR, mainly because we do not know how much of the ice in Greenland and especially Antarctica will eventually melt. The official projections for SLR for the year 2100 are eon page 44, and range between a few centimeters and 2.5 meters. As the author notes over and over throughout the book, there is the potential for much more SLR than that, again because of unknowns surrounding thee major ice sheets. The Antarctic ice sheet contains enough water so that, if all melted, it would cause 186 feet (~60 m) of SLR. However, the IPCC only projects about 15 cm due to Antarctic melt.
The latter half of the book goes into planning and adaptation. Thee author's main thesis is that SLR is happening, and will probably be much worse than anyone has thought. Thus, we need to start thinking about adaptation. We need to harden cities, move people inland when possible, build infrastructure higher, restructure the property insurance market, build dikes, and in general take SLR into account in our planning decisions. He goes into several examples of good planning, Belize, Hamburg, the Netherlands and Singapore most prominently, and bad planning, like Houston and Jakarta. A particularly interesting line on page 165 goes "Rising sea level will be the biggest economic driver this century". This might be a bit extreme, but it's hard to argue with the notion that it might be one of the most important.
My only quibble with this book is that it is somewhat on the self-promotional side. All the technical information in this book seemed accurate to me, and it was backed by many current sources. I'm a physical oceanographer, so I know much of the science pretty well, and saw no misstatements or exaggerations.
September 23, 2021
Disappointing. It just didn't have that much to say and repeated it over and over for 200 pages. It could have been a pamphlet. The oceans are going to rise and nothing can stop it. It'll be unprecedented. Those 2 sentences cover most of the book.
January 1, 2024
Very much of a wale-up call for everyone resident of the planet. I do not understand how anyone can deny a changing, warming planet when the evidence is right under your nose and in front of your face.
Shocking, scary and depressing.
Very much recommended read.
Shocking, scary and depressing.
Very much recommended read.
November 23, 2024
This is the now unstoppable and overwhelming problem for the future. Potentially 10 feet of sea level rise by 2100. An accelerating rise thereafter. We hide from it, but this rise is underway already.
September 9, 2021
This book has a very compelling and well documented thesis. Englander talks in layman's terms about sea level rise and its implications. I will be using this book as a reference for future clases.
January 17, 2026
Really made me think about living near the coast.
Read
December 19, 2021I learned a lot from this book, with the main takeaway that sea level rise is a inevitable, and it cannot be stopped even if we cease to burn any fossil fuels from this moment on.
A second takeaway is that uncertainty around the amount and timeline of sea level rise makes it easier to ignore (and is in fact why it's not addressed in some of the most authoritative works on climate change such as the TK report), and harder to address. The uncertain is partially due to the fact that while some sea level rise is gradual, there will be some trigger events that will cause a sudden rise -- so slowly and then all at once -- but when exactly they'll happen is hard to predict. The author's suggestion is to assume the higher end of the risk estimate, aka 3 meters or 10 feet within this century.
Third, sea level rise is not only a coastal problem, which has two implications. First, even small amounts of sea level rise can cause infrastructure damage that can affect drinking water, supply chains, transportation and this effect people living far away from the coast. Second, factors such as an area's topography and geology, its risk of pluvial flooding (in addition to fluvial flooding) and others can affect its risk. It's attempting to point at Miami and think of this as their problem, but that's a fallacy.
Overall, this book is direct, convincing and sympathetic to the denial that its audience might be living with as a form of sanity. It reads like a personable textbook.
That said, this book made me despair for my attention span bc despite all the good about it, I had a very hard time getting through it.
A second takeaway is that uncertainty around the amount and timeline of sea level rise makes it easier to ignore (and is in fact why it's not addressed in some of the most authoritative works on climate change such as the TK report), and harder to address. The uncertain is partially due to the fact that while some sea level rise is gradual, there will be some trigger events that will cause a sudden rise -- so slowly and then all at once -- but when exactly they'll happen is hard to predict. The author's suggestion is to assume the higher end of the risk estimate, aka 3 meters or 10 feet within this century.
Third, sea level rise is not only a coastal problem, which has two implications. First, even small amounts of sea level rise can cause infrastructure damage that can affect drinking water, supply chains, transportation and this effect people living far away from the coast. Second, factors such as an area's topography and geology, its risk of pluvial flooding (in addition to fluvial flooding) and others can affect its risk. It's attempting to point at Miami and think of this as their problem, but that's a fallacy.
Overall, this book is direct, convincing and sympathetic to the denial that its audience might be living with as a form of sanity. It reads like a personable textbook.
That said, this book made me despair for my attention span bc despite all the good about it, I had a very hard time getting through it.
June 13, 2021
There is so much of this book that is important. It is important because it needs to be told and people need to listen. It is important because it shares some beautiful pieces of history that, without this book, I would have never known. And, most importantly, the truly critical and femoral importance of the topic: climate change and its affect on sea level.
However, this book said so, so much more than was needed. I felt as though this could have been communicated in a multi-essay article segment for a prominent news outlet. Frankly, I would very much like to experience this in a shortened form as a special on NPR or TEDTalk. I feel that it would be best experienced if told through verbal narration. Because, ultimately, this book is a necessary evil. I just feel that it was long and arduous when it could have shared all the same things in a much shorter length.
However, this book said so, so much more than was needed. I felt as though this could have been communicated in a multi-essay article segment for a prominent news outlet. Frankly, I would very much like to experience this in a shortened form as a special on NPR or TEDTalk. I feel that it would be best experienced if told through verbal narration. Because, ultimately, this book is a necessary evil. I just feel that it was long and arduous when it could have shared all the same things in a much shorter length.
July 29, 2023
Definitely an eye opener to the future.
Paints a grim but realistic picture of rising seas. The fact that we cannot stop it can be somewhat depressing. It’s unlikely we will succeed along our coasts or rivers. The real issue is adaptability to what is coming. It’s a fact we will have to accept before progress can be made. It’s likely this won’t happen until the next generation.
Paints a grim but realistic picture of rising seas. The fact that we cannot stop it can be somewhat depressing. It’s unlikely we will succeed along our coasts or rivers. The real issue is adaptability to what is coming. It’s a fact we will have to accept before progress can be made. It’s likely this won’t happen until the next generation.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews