The Uninhabitable Earth (book)

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The Uninhabitable Earth
The Uninhabitable Earth.jpg
First edition
AuthorDavid Wallace-Wells
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Genrenon-fiction
PublisherTim Duggan Books
Publication date
16 April 2019
Pages320
ISBN978-0-525-57670-9

The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming is a 2019 book by David Wallace-Wells about the consequences of global warming. It was inspired by his New York magazine article "The Uninhabitable Earth" (2017).[1][2][3][4][5]

Synopsis[]

The book fleshes out Wallace-Wells' original magazine piece in more detail, dovetailing into discussions surrounding various possibilities for Earth's future across a spectrum of predicted future temperature ranges. It argues that even with active intervention, the effects of climate change will have catastrophic impacts across multiple spheres: rising sea levels, extreme heat events, extinctions, disease outbreaks, fires, droughts, and increased geopolitical conflict, among others.

While the book is not focused on solutions, it recognizes solutions exist to prevent the worse of the damages: "a carbon tax and the political apparatus to aggressively phase out dirty energy; a new approach to agricultural practices and a shift away from beef and dairy in the global diet; and public investment in green energy and carbon capture".[6]

Reception[]

It has been both praised and criticized for its dramatic depictions of future life on Earth.[7][4] [8][6] As The Economist stated, "Some readers will find Mr. Wallace-Wells’s outline of possible futures alarmist. He is indeed alarmed. You should be, too."[7] It was also reviewed in The Guardian,[6] The New York Times[4] and Slate.[8] A review in The Irish Times by John Gibbons was critical of the book's primary focus on effects of climate change on humans rather than also covering impacts on other species.[9]

Television adaptation[]

In January 2020, it was reported that The Uninhabitable Earth would be adapted into an anthology series on HBO Max. Each episode will be about the dangers of climate change. Adam McKay will serve as the executive producer.[10]

Publications[]

  • Wallace-Wells, David (19 February 2019). The Uninhabitable Earth: Life after Warming. New York, USA: Tim Duggan Books. ISBN 978-0-525-57670-9. Hardcover edition.
  • Wallace-Wells, David (17 March 2020). The Uninhabitable Earth: Life after Warming. New York, USA: Tim Duggan Books. ISBN 978-0-525-57671-6. Paperback edition.

References[]

  1. ^ Lanchester, John (12 April 2019). "Two New Books Dramatically Capture the Climate Change Crisis". The New York Times Book Review. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  2. ^ "The Uninhabitable Earth". Kirkus Reviews. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  3. ^ Frank, Adam (25 March 2019). "New Climate Books Stress We Are Already Far Down The Road To A Different Earth". NPR. National Public Radio. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  4. ^ a b c Szalai, Jennifer (6 March 2019). "In 'The Uninhabitable Earth,' Apocalypse Is Now". The New York Times. Retrieved 24 April 2019.
  5. ^ Wallace-Wells, David (2 February 2019). "'The devastation of human life is in view': what a burning world tells us about climate change". The Guardian. London, United Kingdom. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b c Mark O'Connell (27 February 2019). "The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells review – our terrifying future". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 April 2021.
  7. ^ a b "A terrifying look at the consequences of climate change". The Economist. 21 February 2019. Retrieved 25 December 2019.
  8. ^ a b Matthews, Susan (15 February 2019). "Can David Wallace-Wells Scare Us Into Addressing Climate Change?". Slate Magazine. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  9. ^ "The Uninhabitable Earth review: Astonishingly reductive view of impending disaster". The Irish Times. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
  10. ^ Denise Petski (15 January 2020). "HBO Max Greenlights Adam McKay's 'The Uninhabitable Earth' Climate Change Anthology Series". Deadline. Retrieved 2 March 2020.


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