Our planet, the only one we have, has been around for 4.54 billion years (4,540,000,000,000 years). The very first proto-humans emerged around 2,000,0Our planet, the only one we have, has been around for 4.54 billion years (4,540,000,000,000 years). The very first proto-humans emerged around 2,000,000 years ago, and human civilisation (such as it is) has been around for under 6,000 years. Only for 0.0001% of the history of the Earth have modern humans been around. And look what we’ve achieved in that tiny, infinitesimal moment of our existence. Nature, modified by extra-planetary events including the varying power of the Sun, collisions with asteroids both large and small, has managed to create a sustainable world on which we have thrived. Until now. Humans are the only known life form that has managed to negatively alter the environment in which we, and all other life, currently exist. This book examines, in forensic detail, the history of our world. The author explains what changes have occurred during the formation and gradual settlement of our home to bring it to its current state of relative equilibrium. We, however, during the very short period since we began to industrialize our planet, have introduced such a state of instability that we now occupy a space that may very soon become impossible to live in for some plants and animals, and where large portions of our world may soon be uninhabitable for the human race. Michael Mann explains how we have come to this, how our influence has created what is elsewhere described as our climate emergency. But, as a scientist, he avoids the emotional aspects of predictions designed to cause panic and even a sense of defeatism by some people. He describes how it is neither too late to make the necessary changes nor inevitable that we destroy ourselves along with many thousands of other life forms. It is not an easy read, but it is fascinating and illuminating. I suggest you arm yourself with a small pad and a pen to list the many acronyms in full form. Michael Mann explains the full terms when initially introduced, but I confess I lost track of some of the full terms whilst reading. This is a book based entirely in science. It avoids opinion, both pessimistic and optimistic, instead delivering a neutral picture devoid of nightmare or complacency. There is no doubt some readers will find aspects of this extraordinary book difficult. Some will be tempted to skip certain passages. But if all readers fully read the final chapter, which provides an excellent summary, both comprehensive and relatively brief, well presented and giving an overall assessment of what is needed to prevent the worst of the excesses we face if we do nothing, there is a chance we may manage to more than merely survive this threatened emergency and actually continue to thrive here on the only planet we have.
‘The impacts of climate change, no doubt, constitute an existential threat if we fail to act. But we can act. Our fragile moment can still be preserved.’ Michael Mann ...more
Here is the statement from the back cover of this amazing book: ‘We still have a chance to live better than ever on Planet Earth. But, as humans becomHere is the statement from the back cover of this amazing book: ‘We still have a chance to live better than ever on Planet Earth. But, as humans become ever more powerful, how can we avoid blundering into disaster?’ And this book does its level best to answer that question with positive ideas, suggestions, and examples. Anyone who’s been alive for the past forty years and has avoided burying their head in the sand must know by now that we are in trouble, serious trouble. Greed, selfishness, division, vested interest, and inexcusable ignorance (given the amount of information available) have allowed the destroyers to overwhelm the creators and carers. But this hopeful, constructive, sensible, and brilliantly researched book has re-ignited the optimist in me. There is a chance, small and only briefly available, for us to change things in such a way that we might not only survive but actually render the world a better place in which all of us can live. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? Given the current state of the world as it now operates, under rules well past their sell-by dates, ruled as it is by charlatans, narcissists, dictators, and greedy, self-serving opportunists with more money than sense, it is easy to become deeply pessimistic. But we can change things. It is possible. What those people don’t understand is that they will be every bit as susceptible to the irresistible destructive power of the climate emergency that lurks just around the corner as the rest of us. Wealth and power will make absolutely no difference to their chances of survival when the disaster occurs. But we can do something to prevent that disaster. And that is what this book is all about. The suggestions are written in a style that’s accessible, intelligent, and informed, but lacking in the arrogance so often associated with books that give advice. The references and the glossary of research sources give credence to everything the author mentions here. The book is believable simply because it is obviously true. There is a brief introduction to the first edition (I read the updated version). The book then tackles the growing threats and their possible solutions under the following headings: Food, Climate and Environment, Energy, Travel and Transport, Growth Money and Metrics, People and Work, Business and Technology, Values Truth and Trust, Thinking Skills for Today’s World, Protest, Big-Picture Summary, and What Can I Do? Each section gives examples of the causes of our current problems, possible solutions, and sources of information for further reading. The language makes often complex systems and situations readily understood without in any way being patronising. There follows a comprehensive section dealing with Climate Emergency Basics, and another headed Alphabetical Quick Tour. ‘Endnotes’ details the sources for the numbered items in each chapter, and these are extensive. Finally, there is a useful Index. If you are growing increasingly concerned for the future of the planet, please give this book a read. If you are still in the mindset of the denier, please give this book a read. And then see what parts of it you can adopt in your own life, what you can actually do to make a difference and help create a much better future than the one we are currently running full pelt toward. That cliff we will all otherwise plummet down is too steep and high to survive. But, if we can adopt the ideas and suggestions so wisely presented in this book, there’s a real chance we may at least endure and maybe even thrive in a world we can make so much better than that we currently occupy. Mike Berners-Lee is the son of mathematicians and computer scientists and brother of Tim Berners-Lee, the father of the internet....more
Subtitled ‘The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life), and providing 57 pages of bibliography indicating the sources of Subtitled ‘The Secret History of Neoliberalism (& How It Came to Control Your Life), and providing 57 pages of bibliography indicating the sources of research, this small book may be counted as one of the most important pieces of work to arise in the current situation. It’s clear most people remain unaware of the threat posed by the doctrine once known as ‘Neoliberalism’ but now existing without any specific name in order to disguise its continued presence. This philosophy, embraced by many secretly-funded academic organisations and seemingly neutral financial advisers, is, in fact bankrolled by a group of billionaires and millionaires desperate to hang onto their greedily acquired wealth. The authors explain, in detail, how this idea came about and the disasters it has caused along the way, from the initial establishment of Capitalism on the then uninhabited island of Madeira (Portuguese for ‘wood’) in the 1420s, through to the modern extreme version begun in 1938 when the term ‘neoliberalism’ was coined. Having established the history, they go on to explain how this doctrine has become accepted by very many ill-advised governments worldwide and by universities, supported by the right-wing press under the ownership of oligarchs and press barons. That the end point of the doctrine must result in the destruction of life on Earth as we know it is not considered a problem by those who fund and promote the ideas. They are the truly wealthy, the parasites who prey on everyone else to feed their greed and insatiable desire for more wealth than they can possibly use in a lifetime. You will need to read the book to understand exactly how this appalling situation has been able to develop into a system that currently effectively runs the entire world but benefits only the very few at the cost of all others, including you. Most reasonable people are aware of how extreme right-wing politics is destroying what was just beginning to develop into a unified and generally democratic world, much needed in our troubled times. You will no doubt be unsurprised to know the following names are heavily involved in the system: Donald Trump, Boris Johnson, Jair Bolsonaro, Narendra Modi, Scott Morrison, Benjamin Netanyahu, Rodrigo Duterte, Recep Erdogan, Viktor Orban and many more such deeply flawed people. We all know their true natures. Allowed to rise to dominate politics, supported by billionaires and millionaires, neoliberalism is a true friend of those politicians desiring domination through dictatorship. In a review of this sort it is impossible to deal adequately with the reality of the threat to life that self-serving, largely corrupt, and often incompetent individuals pose to the whole of humanity. You do need to read the book. I find myself still reeling from the information received. ...more
Ray Bradbury was one of my earliest writer heroes. I read a lot of his work when I was a teenager and young man. Along with Asimov, Clarke, Aldiss, HeRay Bradbury was one of my earliest writer heroes. I read a lot of his work when I was a teenager and young man. Along with Asimov, Clarke, Aldiss, Heinlein and Wyndham he was one of the authors who created my love of science fiction. This is my second reading of this book. It has been revised a little since my first reading, way back in 2016, but the essentials remain unaltered. It consists of a series of dated essays that recount his experiences, influences, motivations and encounters as a writer. You’ll find no advice on technique or marketing, language or grammar, story structure or characterisation in these pages, although some of these topics are tangentially referred to along the way. This is a book about what it is to be a writer, what drives that urge to put words on paper, what matters to the author. I’ve been writing fiction in various forms for more years than I care to consider. Without knowing it in the early days, I’ve approached my writing in the same way Ray Bradbury approached his, except I lacked the luck to be writing in America at the time he started. It was the golden age of science fiction, when the reading public suddenly began to understand that, far from being a genre for kids who liked comic books, science fiction was and remains a field full of ideas, questions and possible solutions. Interesting to note Ray advises his readers of this book to acquire a copy of another of my favourite writing books; ‘Becoming a Writer’ by Dorothea Brande. Along with the more recent work by Stephen King, ‘On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft’, these are the only books I urge would-be authors to read before they attempt their first work. Re-reading this book has re-ignited my early enthusiasm for writing. Not that I ever lost it, but over the years, motivation can dim a little. Ray’s words of wisdom, written in his effortlessly poetic style, empower authors with his idea that the prime emotion you should feel when writing is excitement. If you feel this, the reader will be infected with the same exhilaration. And it’s true. No matter what the scene describes, the emotional state of the writer seeps onto the page, it’s about how the character feels. The writer’s state of mind creeps into the mind of the reader. That’s why honesty is fundamental to good fiction. Any attempt to dupe the reader with an author’s false feelings will seep onto the page and undo that effort. I’m so pleased I came across this newer edition. Reading it again has inspired me to renew my approach to the work of the author, to ensure I enjoy the work and pass on my enthusiasm to my readers. Thank you, Ray Bradbury. I’ll now revisit your back catalogue and seek out those works of yours I didn’t read as a young man and see how many I can read now I’m older. ...more
At a little over 600 pages of fascinating text, this book by Bill Bryson kept me turning those leaves. That there are, in addition, 32 pages of biblioAt a little over 600 pages of fascinating text, this book by Bill Bryson kept me turning those leaves. That there are, in addition, 32 pages of bibliography, suggests the author has done his research, and done it thoroughly. The Book is subtitled ‘A Short History of Private Life’ and takes the form of an inspiring tour through his home, explaining along the way how certain rooms, and their contents, came into being. We take much of modern life for granted, uncaring it seems about origins. But this wonderful tome opens the readers eyes, and mind, to many unexpected, quirky, often interrelated, amusing, and intriguing facts about everyday objects and how they came to be called what they are. During the excursion the reader is presented with contradictions of previously preciously-held beliefs. There are revelations about historical figures of renown that will, if not unseat them, at least diminish them in the eyes of the open-minded reader. Some of those myths and legends that we heard in childhood and adolescence are exposed as the lies or exaggerations they truly are. I’ve read and enjoyed a number of this author’s books and have yet to be disappointed. This one has, so far, proved to be his best for my tastes. Thoroughly entertaining, enormously informative, and gently educational, this book is one I can recommend to all without hesitation. Enjoy! I certainly did. ...more
This lovely little book is all about celebrating a life that has passed, celebrating the person rather than burying them under dogma and superstition.This lovely little book is all about celebrating a life that has passed, celebrating the person rather than burying them under dogma and superstition. For the many people for whom religion has been revealed as illogical and unhelpful, the words of practical advice, care, empathy, and comfort form a wonderful substitute to the usual services performed at the end of a loved one’s life. The book consists of just a couple of sections: ‘Death and Life’ deals with ‘Being Dead’, ‘Facing Death’, ‘Life After Death’, ‘Back to Nature’, ‘Living with Grief’, and ‘Your Own Funeral’, with short passages and poems on each of these topics; ‘Humanist Funerals’ deals with ‘Unique Circumstances’, Different Relationships’, ‘Making it Personal’, ‘Practices: old and new’, and ‘Saying Goodbye’. And the end of the book gives a link to find a Humanist Celebrant should you need one. There is a good deal of real common sense, humour, emotional support, and practical information here. It is essentially a handbook for those of us seeking a way to celebrate the lives of those we have loved after they have left us. But it is a sensitive and gentle treatment of a subject so difficult for many to deal with. If you’re looking for a fulfilling and personally tailored way to take a deceased friend, relative, or partner through that final ceremony without reference to a non-existent afterlife, this little book will give you real help and guidance. ...more
Subtitled ‘1001 Things Everyone Should Know About RELIGION’, this is a piece of work, as the subtitle says, everyone should read. That it is a scholarlSubtitled ‘1001 Things Everyone Should Know About RELIGION’, this is a piece of work, as the subtitle says, everyone should read. That it is a scholarly work is indicated by the comprehensive bibliography, index and accompanying notes, which take up around 28% of the publication. The author lightens a heavy subject by being occasionally a little playful in his descriptions of the way past Biblical scholars have attempted to justify some of the worst excesses revealed in this otherwise serious book. That lightness of touch is a welcome factor in a work dealing with material that is both divisive and deeply disturbing. As an author in search of truth, I have actually read the Bible (and its brother religious tome, the Qur’an) from cover to cover. Doing so set me on the path to becoming an atheist after having been raised a Christian. The author points out, with many samples and quotes, the sheer nonsense, the hypocrisy, the multiple internal contradictions, the morally indefensible commands to followers, and the utter fantasy of the whole idea behind them. The simple fact is that the Jesus described in the Bible is totally absent from contemporary historians’ accounts of the times. Michael Polkovich is concerned about the way our children continue to be subjected to the contents of these religious texts at school, regardless of the true nature of dreadful messages that perpetuate misogyny, encourage slavery, murder, rape, and the mass killing of any who fail to accept them as truth. And his book, introduced as part of the educational curriculum in every school, could quickly remove the curse of the superstition and false claims currently fed to the accepting minds of developing children condemned to receive the same set of irrational fears forced upon their parents during their own childhood. It is a well-written, comprehensive, and honest exposure of the lies and hypocrisy underlying the teaching of religion over the past two millennia. It could help bring an end to systems of belief that have encouraged and caused mass-murder, enslavement, injustice, misogyny, rape, child abuse, and war. Concern for truth may persuade many to take what they will perceive as a risk as they work through this book, but could turn into a force for real good and a saviour of generations to come. ...more
Sub-titled ‘from Crewe to Malibu’, this funny, complex, fascinating memoir of experience in the scriptwriting community lays bare the realities of theSub-titled ‘from Crewe to Malibu’, this funny, complex, fascinating memoir of experience in the scriptwriting community lays bare the realities of the film world in ways that will surprise readers. Mark is bold, honest, candid, and unbiased in his history of the frustrating, demanding, and exhausting process of trying to get a film produced in today’s world. In the process of exposing the workings of the industry, he’s as self-critical and he is self-deprecating. Along the winding route to production, or not, he drops the names of many well-known film personalities, actors, producers, directors, and ‘celebrities’ he either meets or attempts to contact. The frank explanations of these interactions are both amusing and moving. As a reader I felt I was living through the convoluted journey toward a desired outcome with him. I felt the hope, and I felt the disappointment. I felt the uplift of the offers and the frustration of the unforeseen barriers. I felt the promise of reward for hard work, dedication, and sheer determination, and I felt the utter distress when those promises were broken, even when that was done with a hint of regret or even concern. The picture Mark paints of the film industry is one of superficiality, exploitation, broken promises, unrealistic expectations, costly experimentation, and hope, always hope of a rewarding outcome. The book is a (cliché alert) real rollercoaster ride with all the slowly building expectations of the climb uphill and all the thrills of the rapid descents. The general reader will enjoy the tale for its honesty, depth, and detail. The aspiring filmmaker may view it as a warning of what to expect! I especially enjoyed the voyage into a history of childhood that echoed my own in so many respects. It’s always good to know those things that delighted and frustrated us as kids are shared with others. ...more
Subtitled ‘This guide is for all road users’ this 2022 edition is the 8th revision. I read the 1969 version after learning to drive and taking my testSubtitled ‘This guide is for all road users’ this 2022 edition is the 8th revision. I read the 1969 version after learning to drive and taking my test when I was 19. I’m sure there must have been an earlier edition as I recall reading one before that test. Subsequently, I read the 1978 edition, but not the 1987, 1993, 1999, 2007, or 2015 versions. And I suspect I’m by no means alone in that neglect. We learn to drive, pass our driving test, and hopefully gain experience of what does and does not constitute good driving as we journey through life. However, with changes in technology, increases in the speed of vehicles, adjustments to road design, and many other alterations over the years, we really should keep up to date with the rules of the road. Any motor vehicle, whether two-wheeled or more, is an effective killing machine in the hands of the irresponsible, uncaring, inconsistent, daydreaming, speeding, selfish or inexperienced operator. Yet many treat such machines with little of the respect they require. The Highway Code is drawn up by the government’s Department for Transport and is full of advice, commands, and information relating to everyone who uses the roads in the UK. It details those aspects of road usage that MUST be followed, those that will result in prosecution if they’re not followed, those that are only advisory but recommended, and those that are downright dangerous to other road users. There have been several changes to the advice and regulation contained in this book and everyone should be aware of these. In fact, returning to that subtitle, ‘This guide is for all road users’, I feel I must ask a pretty basic question: Why is it not distributed freely? We pay our taxes and, as citizens, are required to follow the advice provided by our leaders. The book is promoted as an essential guide to ensure the safety of all citizens as they use the roads. That must include almost everyone. Doesn’t it make simple sense to make this book freely available to all by giving it to every household, rather than leaving it to the individual whether or not to bother with it? ...more
Subtitled ‘A Love Affair with Rome’, this short guide to the eternal city is a very personal view of a place very popular with tourists. Having visiteSubtitled ‘A Love Affair with Rome’, this short guide to the eternal city is a very personal view of a place very popular with tourists. Having visited as part of a short tour of Italy in September 2018, I was willing to read the book, which was sent to me by the author. I’m sure this intimate view of the city will find favour with many readers. However, for me, the concentration on the Vatican, the churches, and associated aspects was of little interest, as I’m an atheist and find religion largely distasteful. Most of the places referred to in the book were actively avoided on our short stay in the city. But we did enjoy the accounts relating to the street performers, of whom we saw few. Their personal accounts brought life to the book. Our secular visit took us to the overcrowded Coliseum, the Palatine Hill, Forum, Circo Massimo, Arco Di Constantino, and several walks along the banks of the Tiber, with crossings of the many bridges, as well as a day trip to Pompeii, which was a place we could have spent many days studying. I agree with the author’s description of the dirt and general untidiness in the city. We encountered graffiti in many places, and litter from overflowing rubbish bins. The evenings, however, held a certain magic after reasonably-priced food at a local trattoria close to our hotel that was too pricy for evening meals. The visual displays on some of the ruins, accompanied by appropriate music, lent those evening walks a romantic and magical air. We ate most times at an open-air trattoria where, one evening when a storm erupted overhead, we all helped close-up the tables under the awnings to protect those at the edge of the place from the downpour. That made for a very friendly atmosphere, and we met and chatted with a number of visitors and locals. The food was excellent, and the wine very good. We dislike cities generally, but it was history that took us to Rome, and we’re glad we visited, but are unlikely to return. The visits to the Trevi Fountain and the Coliseum in particular demonstrated the fact that, in common with many other locations, popularity has rendered the place no longer viable as a destination for those who wish to ‘stand and stare’. So, for me, this book was an interesting read, but certainly not one to encourage my return. But I recognise many visitors make their visits as pilgrimages to the overblown and hypocritical Vatican, and they would be much more likely to find real value in this book....more
Subtitled ‘Create a Haven for Birds, Bees and Butterflies’, this lovely little book gives practical guidance on how to do just that. Written to informSubtitled ‘Create a Haven for Birds, Bees and Butterflies’, this lovely little book gives practical guidance on how to do just that. Written to inform simply and comprehensively, the book also gives reasons for making changes to what are often gardens artificially regimented by tradition, ideas of taste, a desire to ‘tame’ nature, or simple lack of time and/or the means to cultivate our individual plots of land. The good news is, once you take steps to allow nature a role in your garden, the amount of work needed to keep it an attractive and useful patch is easily dealt with. Frances Tophill, from the BBC’s ‘Gardener’s World’, provides examples of the types of wildlife your garden can attract and help protect from the growing threat of species extinction. Having such creatures in your garden will enhance its beauty while giving vital support to wildlife that is often in decline. She also gives lists of the plants that will help in this process and those that should be avoided, especially the invasive species of both native and non-native plants. The book starts with a series of informative and fascinating chapters on the garden ecosystem. It continues with a section about introducing wildlife, explaining how such creatures can be beneficial to the garden or to the environment in general terms. The final part is a small section on seasonal maintenance of a rewilded garden, with a few pages of useful resources to follow. I read this book after starting to convert my garden to a low-maintenance space because of advancing years and problematic arthritis. I’m glad I found it before I’d completed this programme, as it’s given me ideas, and practical advice, which will make that process both easier and more productive of environmental benefits. A word of warning; be careful if you choose to read this book. If you have any sense, any sort of social or environmental responsibility, or suffer from concern about wildlife and the planet, you may find this book will completely transform your neat, cultivated, planned, and regimented garden into a meadow full of wildflowers, a small copse supporting a multitude of wild creatures, or a wildlife reserve! Such results will, of course, be rewarding and beneficial to wildlife, the environment, and you....more
Whether a reader can empathise with the writer of a book essentially driven by personal ambition, hopes, or dreams, depends on how that reader feels aWhether a reader can empathise with the writer of a book essentially driven by personal ambition, hopes, or dreams, depends on how that reader feels about those aims. I confess I’m definitely with the author here. Given the chance of a return flight to Mars, I’d jump at it! After all, having written a sci-fi trilogy set there, I’d love to experience the world in person. Prof. Smith, an engineer by profession, has a deep understanding of the science and mechanics involved in getting transport off Earth and across millions of miles of hostile space to another planet. He also understands the need for such an enterprise (forgive the pun, but he’s also an avid fan of Star Trek!) The book is divided into four parts, each subdivided into sections, and starts by examining current science and technology. Part 2 looks at potential and definite threats to his aims, and at possible responses. Part 3 deals with future developments in science and technology. And part 4 contains his concluding remarks. Remarkable is an apposite description of this sometimes very personal assessment of why science and technology have so far taken humanity only as far as our own moon. There are a couple of areas only, among a multitude, where I found mild reason to disagree. One was his concern with what he considers ‘the current obsession with political correctness’, which he feels forms an unnecessary barrier to administrative progress in some areas. While understanding his frustrations, I also feel his stance appears to be exactly in line with that expected of a white, male, heterosexual from the West. It’s noticeable that women form a tiny percentage of his scientific and technical world, in spite of their remarkable contributions. My second area of minor disagreement involves his attitude to modern literature, especially sci-fi. As the author of several stories engaging with future worlds, I found his dismissal on grounds of ‘Romance and Dystopia’ a little off the mark. Many writers of such fiction understand the need to include romance in sci-fi as a way of helping readers relate to otherwise male-centric action. Also, there’s an element of social science, an area he rather easily dismisses, that actively helps readers empathise with the players in such stories. With regard to dystopian outcomes, I say many sci-fi writers are so concerned with avoidable catastrophe in the modern world, we see it as our responsibility to let people know the possible consequences of our failure to address our social responsibilities to the planet we inhabit. However, these are minor concerns given the wide-ranging and in-depth coverage of the major issues tackled by the book. Political dithering caused by ill-educated and improperly advised would-be leaders, concentration on the fast buck by industry supremos at the expense of rare minerals, childish games designed to set people at odds over inconsequential issues rather than unite them in action to save the natural world, and a ham-strung, inefficient, self-serving and ultra-cautious academic system that fails to encourage and fund real and needed new research are all guilty of damage to our future prospects. Prof. Smith has studied history, science, technology and mechanics on his route through life. His well-presented arguments relating to what the scientific world believes and/or fails to consider are worthy subjects for discussion. This book mixes humour with erudition, knowledge with informed speculation, and reaches conclusions with which I fully agree. It’s a fascinating, engaging, and illuminating piece of work. ...more
Subtitled ‘Ten Species the Changed Our World’, this book is a tremendous work of scholarship, intelligence, insight, and sheer common sense. ProfessorSubtitled ‘Ten Species the Changed Our World’, this book is a tremendous work of scholarship, intelligence, insight, and sheer common sense. Professor Roberts, the history and science buff often seen leading BBC TV documentaries, has pressed into service all her wide knowledge into describing how ten of the crops and animals we rely on came into our service. She examines this process for Dogs, Wheat, Cattle, Maize, Potatoes, Chickens, Rice, Horses, Apples, and Humans. With her usual facility for presenting complex issues in simple terms, she explains the relationships of humanity with these important, life-sustaining ingredients. She examines our joint history, the relationships between wild and domesticated versions, the way in which such items became so vital to us in our quest to survive, and the way in which modern genetics studies are modifying and increasing our knowledge and understanding of these vital resources and our interaction with them. More importantly in this crisis-threatened world we have created for ourselves and other species, she also sets out some ideas and guidelines about how best we might try to resolve some of the major issues now facing us. She writes in a way accessible to most, using imaginative scenarios to posit possible ways in which we first came to change our natural world and why. At the end of the book we find the references and an index that comprise around 11% of the digital version, such has been the depth and breadth of her research. This book is an important contribution to the broadening discussion now growing in intensity as more people, politicians, and even industries finally recognise the potential consequences of our overwhelming responsibility for the fast-approaching climate and species emergencies. I urge everyone who wants to fully understand the real situation now facing the world and especially our species to read this astounding piece of crucial work. ...more
Subtitled ‘The Life (or Death?) of Planet Earth’, this extensively researched book was written by a man who has worked for 35 years at the BBC NaturalSubtitled ‘The Life (or Death?) of Planet Earth’, this extensively researched book was written by a man who has worked for 35 years at the BBC Natural History Unit, often working with David Attenborough. So, someone who has personally witnessed the decline of nature all over the world. The nineteen chapters are illustrated, mostly with his own pictures, and captions, some humorous to lighten the very serious message contained within the pages. This is an important contribution to the continuing debate about both climate change and the coming mass extinction. Both topics that should be at the top of every school curriculum and every Parliamentary debate. There is a simple message here, among the many facts, details, and accounts he presents; if we fail to address these two issues seriously, nothing else will matter from the point of view of humanity, as we will almost certainly render the planet uninhabitable for our species (and many others). Yes, it is as stark as that. We have run out of time for discussion about ‘if and suppose’. We have already reached some of the first tipping points predicted by those who first started investigating these matters way back in the middle of the last century. It is now known that the fossil fuel industry has long known of the detrimental effects their activities have upon both climate and the natural world. But, just like the Tobacco Industry did with their injurious product, the oil, coal, and gas industries have buried their evidence for decades. This is a book everyone should read. Certainly, every politician, business tycoon, millionaire, and billionaire should read it. They, after all, are a prime cause of the problems. There are other organisations to blame, too: religions that demand their followers reproduce heavily to increase their sect numbers, ignoring the fact that human overpopulation is a prime mover in climate change and the decline of the natural world; various national states with similar policies of population increase; and the many frightened, ill-informed, selfish, deluded deniers, including those with a vested interest in maintaining the status quo regardless of the cost to humanity and many, many other species. The book is well set out, and divided into sections dealing with the many different aspects of the coming emergencies. It is written in an accessible ‘chatty’ style, but the research that has gone into it is anything but casual. Having performed similar research for my own novel, I’m fully aware of the very real dangers humanity faces if we fail to make serious, considered, essential changes to our lifestyles, and to do so now. We have run out of time to speculate, argue, debate, or to simply ignore the situation and hope it will ‘go away’. I’ll present you with just one simple prediction made by the United Nations General Assembly: By 2030 (8 years from now) 40% of the world’s population will have insufficient fresh water for drinking or to grow food. That’s around 3,172,000,000 people. Does anyone imagine these people are going to simply lie back and die without a fight? The obvious result of such a shortage is war, probably on a global scale. It really is that simple. This book is not on general sale, but you can obtain a copy free if you live in the UK, or at a cost of £5 P&P for Europe, and £10 P&P for the Rest of the World, from https://brockinitiative.org. ...more
I’m not the most gifted of cooks, but I do enjoy the occasional dabble, especially if the ingredients appeal. This lovely little book, written with huI’m not the most gifted of cooks, but I do enjoy the occasional dabble, especially if the ingredients appeal. This lovely little book, written with humour and sprinkled with great little tips about how to make the best of the offered recipes, is a definite encouragement to try something new in the culinary department. You’ll find Classic, Posh, Chunkie, Sweet, and Show Stoppers here. A real mix of tastes for a variety of gravies to go with so many different meals. Easy to follow, and delicious, if the one I tried today is anything to go by. They range from the simple as two minutes to the more ambitious requiring time and patience. Now, I need to search for an easy way to grow my own fresh herbs and, maybe, invest in a food blender. Neither is necessary for all the recipes, but both would definitely be of help with some of them. I know, what am I doing at my time of life without a blender? Call me underprivileged (or, just a lazy cook!). This little book is as entertaining as its creations are delicious. Definitely worth a try. ...more
This is a primer intended for students studying photography at university, but it has something useful to say to anyone interested in what photographyThis is a primer intended for students studying photography at university, but it has something useful to say to anyone interested in what photography truly is and how it can affect our view of the world. It sports numerous photographs to illustrate the textual points made, and explains how photography, as a medium, can be seen as art. Divided into five sections, The Nature of Photographs, The Physical Level, The Depictive Level, The Mental Level, and Mental Modelling, the book places photographic image-making into the world of more than merely record-making and into a method of altering how we see the world. The author, a talented photographer, points out how making pictures with photography differs from the processes involved in creating pictures with paint. The latter begins with a blank canvas and applies paints to build a picture either from the view before the artist or from the artist’s imagination. A photographer, however, uses the frame to select content already in place, a viewpoint to determine the relationships between the elements contained, the moment that best captures the scene before the camera, and the depth or point of focus that can include or exclude various elements of the finished work. Photography is essentially an analytical discipline. The photographer, faced with a subject already existing, employs the features of the medium to determine the outcome of the finished depiction of that subject. The text, expanding on the four basic aspects of the medium, is written in an easily accessed style, making it easy for the non-technical minded to understand what can limit and what can enhance the outcome of that moment the shutter is pressed. It’s a useful book for anyone involved in photography at any level. I’ve been a photographer for 60 years and I took a number of positives from this text, so I recommend it to all who are interested in this amazing and versatile medium. ...more
This book, a physical reminder of the excellent BBC TV series of the same name, was written by the Series Producer. Subtitled ‘Our One in a Billion WoThis book, a physical reminder of the excellent BBC TV series of the same name, was written by the Series Producer. Subtitled ‘Our One in a Billion World Revealed’, it is an account of the journeys made by the team of camera operators, production staff and other essential crew during the making of the programmes. More importantly, it is also a wonderful introduction to life on our unique planet, and a gentle but insistent wake-up call to all who have yet to understand how delicate and vulnerable that small blue marble spinning crazily through the vastness of space actually is. The many colour photographs are stunning, and the tales of how they were made are full of humour about the often dangerous situations involved. The dedication and tenacity of the skilled technicians and associated crew cannot be doubted. The dedication these specialists applied to their task is a source of genuine admiration. They deserve proper recognition for their sacrifices made in order to bring the realities to viewers all over the world. The book is divided into five sections; The Sun, Weather, Oceans, Volcanoes, and Humans, and examines the effects each of these influences have had on the evolution and development of our amazing world. The balanced view of these influences puts into perspective the relative ‘good’ and ‘bad’ effects each has imposed on the Earth. Sadly, it’s becoming ever clearer that humanity’s influence is increasingly destructive of both the climate and the general environment. We, as a single species, have displaced, damaged, and destroyed, very many species that would have managed perfectly well without our malign impact. That there are too many of us, that our success as a species, continues to work toward the destruction of the place we all call home can no longer be disputed. We need, as a whole, a community, to unite in our greatest challenge to date: the challenge to face up to the reality of our overbearing species numbers and our wasteful, careless way of life that is the root caused of both the rapidly approaching climate emergency and the growing likelihood of a mass extinction. The book celebrates the huge variety of life, the sublime coincidences of nature and the development of the universe, that created the world we inhabit against all the odds. There’s a reason the subtitle refers to the Earth as a ‘One in a Billion World’; because it is. Unique coincidences occurring during the evolution of the universe, our solar system, and our companion satellite, the Moon, are responsible for life on Earth. But for these accidents of fate, no life would have emerged here. It took billions of years for us to develop into what we so flippantly describe as the superior, dominant life form. And yet, brilliant, creative, adaptable as we are as a species, we’re in imminent danger of destroying all that history in a matter of a couple of centuries that started with our industrialisation and will shortly end with our self-designed obliteration within a few decades. This beautifully presented volume explains the dangers we face and gives the reasons for these threats in plain language everyone can understand. The gorgeous illustrations that accompany the text are inspirational and often spectacular. I urge everyone, everywhere, who is still unconvinced or uncertain about the dangers posed by climate change to read this book. It may well prove to be the route to our salvation. ...more
This is an examination of photography employed as a contemporary art medium as things stood approaching 2009 (there’s now an updated version from Aug This is an examination of photography employed as a contemporary art medium as things stood approaching 2009 (there’s now an updated version from Aug 2020). There has been an ongoing discussion about the validity of photography as a means of such self-expression. Hopefully, that argument has long been won. There can be no doubt many photographs are considered works of art as opposed to the ‘record’ shots the medium was previously restricted to by the art world. Of course, in the days of the instant camera and, more recently, with advances in digital cameras and software, the whole world of photography, along with writing, and to some degree, music, has become infected with the ‘I can easy do that’ attitude held by many amateurs. That’s not to say many non-professionals lack talent, but it’s undeniable that many people believe ownership of a camera makes them a photographer or even a photographic artist, in the same way possession of a computer with keyboard apparently gifts many barely literate individuals with the title of ‘writer’, the ownership of a guitar makes them a musician. It’s wonderful that people try their hand at new skills, but I’d hope they would serve some form of unofficial apprenticeship and learn the necessary skills before imposing their efforts on the public. Rant over. The book contains the esoteric language beloved of the contemporary art world. It’s almost as if the sector wishes to exclude ordinary humans from their conversations. I accept some specialist terminology as essential, but overuse of such language can be obstructive to many readers. The photographic content ranges from the frankly banal through to the beautiful and inspiring. There are 248 pages of text and, I guess, well over that number of photographs, some of which are rather too small to be of value. Most, however, illustrate the various points made by the author. The book is divided into eight chapters as follows: If This Is Art, Once Upon a Time, Deadpan, Something and Nothing, Intimate Life, Moments in History, Revived and Remade, and Physical and Material. Each section deals with the type of pictures that can be placed under such headings. Over 200 photographers are displayed here, most of whom I’d never heard of. Many of them also work in art with other media as well, using photography as only one means of self-expression. Talking with a young woman who’d recently finished a degree course in photography and been required to read this book as part of that course, I asked for her opinion and received the dismissive reply ‘It’s bollocks!’, which I can understand. However, I did find the book instructive in various ways regarding the motivation for certain photographers, and the influences and ambitions that lay behind some of the photographs contained in the book. It is what it says on the cover; a comprehensive review of the photograph as contemporary art, and I’m glad I’ve read it and been introduced to a wide group of photographic artists I might otherwise never have encountered. For those interested, I’ve added a comprehensive list of the featured artists on my personal post of this review, as there are too many to include in a normal review. ...more
Subtitled ‘Transcending the False Left, Right Narrative’ this book is basically a plea for rational discussion to replace the current fashion for poleSubtitled ‘Transcending the False Left, Right Narrative’ this book is basically a plea for rational discussion to replace the current fashion for polemic and knee-jerk reactions to so many disagreements. It is also much more than this. The world seems to have descended into extreme factions, if the language of exchanges on social media is any guide. There is an unhealthy tribalism, driven mostly by major media giants as a means of gaining bigger platforms and therefore higher advertising revenue. Looking around the globe, it is obvious that while many countries are ruled by extreme governments, the people of those lands are actually more inclined toward unity. And, let’s face it, the world has never been in a situation as dangerous as now due to the approaching climate emergency and species extinction, never been in more need of a united stance. A central path. The author makes it clear his book is written from an American point of view. He approaches this aspect with a mix of pride and humility and without the arrogance so often characteristic of American writers. It is the political divide, characterised by the ascendency of a politically astute but ill-educated and narcissistic gameshow host to the position of leader of what the author calls the free world, that drives the narrative. Not an expert in USA politics, and not much interested in their system of government that is as much in denial of democracy as is my own UK, I nevertheless found a great deal of real sense and compassion in the thrust of the book. The author urges readers to step back from what he terms the Problem Paradigm and embrace instead the Solution Paradigm. There is much to be said for this approach. In fact, unless such a change occurs, it is likely the world will descend into global disfunction leading to outright war as the many challenges facing humanity grow in complexity and importance. We live in a time of extremes and extremists. The Left and the Right continually yell abuse and worse at each other, never allowing themselves to see their common ground, which is far greater than their differences. But extremists shout loudest and are therefore more attractive to a media in both print and digital form that remains focussed entirely on the conflict it can create by encouraging the fight. This, after all, increases the number of their active users, readers and commentators, and therefore increases the profit such organisations can make from advertising. The sacred Dollar, a representative of a tool initially invented to make transactions easier, now rules the world. We, the tool users, are now ruled by a tool we invented. I found some lesser aspects of his appeal to common action less easy to accept; the vague mysticism, the ambiguous approach to religion and God, the references to The Order of the Quest, among others. But the bulk of the message, the kernel, was something that instantly found my agreement. The Solution Paradigm works toward unity, discourages conflict and encourages consensus, a vital ingredient of public and political life if we are to progress or even survive in the next few decades. Systems of government, the world of business, the whole of the global economic set-up have all failed to keep up with technological advances that have entirely altered the way in which we interact and conduct our lives. We have powerful media outlets run by individuals and companies with little or no concern for the welfare of their users and an obsessive concern to maintain and grow their power base and their profit margin. The author cites a small but powerful elite as the responsible parties for what looks alarmingly like imminent societal breakdown. And, whilst this may attract accusations of conspiracy theory, there is plenty of evidence to support such a view. When a mere one percent of the population owns 43 percent of the world’s wealth, one is forced to question a system that permits such brutal and obscene inequality, and suspect that this small elite is doing everything possible to maintain it. The author suggests we all learn the Socratic Method, a system of debate pursued by many private educational organisations because of its ability to create debate without rancour; a thoughtful and improving method of discussion that must be preferable to the current abuse and destructive mindless argument between the two main parties. This book is not an easy read: any serious work is bound to require work from the reader. But it contains some vital ideas and promotes a different approach to public and political life that just may turn out to be the saving of humankind, provided enough people can be encouraged to get on board. ...more
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