The Uninhabitable Earth: A Story of the Future Paperback – 5 September 2019
by
David Wallace-Wells
(Author)
Arrives:
Friday, 29 Jan.
Fastest delivery:
Thursday, 28 Jan.
Order within 20 hrs and 28 mins Details
Order within 20 hrs and 28 mins Details
Frequently bought together
Customers who viewed this item also viewed
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
- A Promised LandBarack ObamaHardcover
- 12 Rules for Life: An Antidote to ChaosJordan B. PetersonPaperback
New Year, New You
Ideas to start the year
Shop now
Product details
- Language : English
- Paperback : 336 pages
- ISBN-10 : 0141988878
- ISBN-13 : 978-0141988870
-
Best Sellers Rank:
27,660 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- 35 in Civil Engineering
- 333 in Nature
- 800 in Government & Politics
- Customer reviews:
Product description
Review
A lucid and thorough description of our unprecedented crisis, and of the mechanisms of denial with which we seek to avoid its fullest recognition. Trigger warning: when scientists conclude that yesterday's worst-case scenario for global warming is probably unwarranted optimism, it's time to ask Scotty to beam you up. At least that was my reaction upon finishing Wallace-Wells' brilliant and unsparing analysis of a nightmare that is no longer a distant future but our chaotic, burning present. David Wallace-Wells argues that the impacts of climate change will much graver than most people realize, and he's right. The Uninhabitable Earth is a timely and provocative work. If we don't want our grandchildren to curse us, we had better read this book. If there are people around to write history books in the future, they will look back at the @ExtinctionR protestors and think they were the sanest people of our time. Read The Uninhabitable Earth by @dwallacewells if you don't know why. * Johann Hari, Twitter * On [Alexandra] Ocasio-Cortez's office bookshelf, near a picture of her late father and a photo of her with a local Girl Scout troop, two books nestle together in uneasy union. One is the Federalist papers. The other is The Uninhabitable Earth. * Time magazine profile on Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez * Yes, this book will scare you, but it will also prompt you to take action to ensure the damage we as humans have done to the planet is stopped. * Stylist, Your Guide to the Best Books of 2019 * Just finished The Uninhabitable Earth by @dwallacewells. Everyone, everywhere, should read it. Can't remember the last time a book had such an impact on me. * Twitter * The Uninhabitable Earth hits you like a comet, with an overflow of insanely lyrical prose about our pending armageddon. Harrowing. -- Jonathan Franzen * The New Yorker * Most of us known the gist, if not the details, of the climate change crisis. And yet it is almost impossible to sustain strong feelings about it. David Wallace-Wells has now provided the details, and with writing that is not only clear and forceful, but often imaginative and even funny, he has found a way to make the information deeply felt. This is a profound book, which simultaneously makes me terrified and hopeful about the future, full of regret and new will. Yes, this book will scare you, but it will also prompt you to take action to ensure the damage we as humans have done to the planet is stopped. * Stylist, 'Your guide to 2019's best non-fiction books' * Exceptionally well researched and written. . . . This short, concise book pulls no punches. If you read just one work of non-fiction this year, it should probably be [this] . . . What this book forces you to face is more important than any other subject you could be informing yourself about. * The Evening Standard * In his gripping new book ... Wallace-Wells shocks us out of complacency' * Prospect * Well-written, captivating, occasionally wry and utterly petrifying * i News * I think everyone should probably right now read David Wallace-Wells's The Uninhabitable Earth, which tells the grim story with as much optimism as possible, and which gives all the facts. -- Daniel Swift * The Spectator, Books of the Year * A very accessible and compelling read . . . a much more nuanced and a much more hopeful vision than you might expect. * The Irish Times * A book that's by turns alarming, terrifying and just downright bleak . . . a sustained piece of informed polemic. * The Evening Standard * Wake up! Get educated - The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace Wells is a great place to start. -- Paris Lees * Vogue * Everyone should stop what they're doing and read The Uninhabitable Earth by @dwallacewells. This is our future if we don't act now. -- Johann Hari * Twitter * Not since Bill McKibben's "The End of Nature" 30 years ago have we been told what climate change will mean in such vivid terms. -- Fred Pearce * The Washington Post * Brilliant ... At the heart of Wallace-Wells's book is a remorseless, near-unbearable account of what we are doing to our planet * The New York Times * There is much to learn from this book. From media and scientific reports of the past decade, Wallace-Wells sifts key predictions and conveys them in vivid prose. -- David George Haskell * The Observer * Enough to induce an honest-to-God panic attack ... The margins of my review copy of the book are scrawled with expressions of terror and despair, declining in articulacy as the pages proceed, until it's all just cartoon sad faces and swear words ... To read The Uninhabitable Earth is to understand the collapse of the distinction between alarmism and plain realism -- Mark O'Connell * The Guardian * Wallace-Wells is an extremely adept storyteller, simultaneously urgent and humane . . . [he] does a terrifyingly good job of moving between the specific and the abstract. * Slate * Skipping the scientific jargon and relaying the facts in urgent and elegant prose, the magazine editor crafts a stirring wake-up call to recognize how global warming will permanently alter every aspect of human life. -- Best Nonfiction Books of 2019 So Far * Time * Riveting . . . Some readers will find Mr Wallace-Wells's outline of possible futures alarmist. He is indeed alarmed. You should be, too. * The Economist * I've not stopped talking about The Uninhabitable Earth since I opened the first page. And I want every single person on this planet to read it. A must-read. It's not only the grandkids and the kids: it's you. And it's not only those in other countries: it's you. -- Margaret Atwood * Twitter * This is what I'm reading now: The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells. It focuses on the range of realistic possibilities with climate change. It does not sugarcoat, and can be quite scary -- that's without primarily focusing on the worstcase scenario. When people ask 'What can I do? - Read! What we need right now, in this country, is for all of us to be better, including ourselves. The most terrifying book I have ever read . . . a meticulously documented, white-knuckled tour through the cascading catastrophes that will soon engulf our warming planet. * The New York Times * Relentless, angry journalism of the highest order. Read it and, for the lack of any more useful response, weep. . . .The article was a sensation and the book will be, too. -- Bryan Appleyard * The Sunday Times * 'A masterly analysis' * Nature * 'Clear, engaging and often dazzling' * The Telegraph * In crystalline prose, Wallace-Wells provides a devastating overview of where we are in terms of climate crisis and ecological destruction, and what the future will hold if we keep on going down the same path. Urgently readable, this is an epoch-defining book. -- Matt Haig, 'The Book that Changed My Mind' * The Guardian *
About the Author
David Wallace-Wells is deputy editor of New York magazine, where he also writes frequently about climate change and the near future of science and technology. In July 2017 he published a cover story surveying the landscape of worst-case scenarios for global warming that became an immediate sensation, reaching millions of readers on its first day and, in less than a week, becoming the most-read story the magazine had ever published -and sparking an unprecedented debate, ongoing still today among scientists and journalists, about just how we should be thinking, and talking, about the planetary threat from climate change.
What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Customer reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
4.5 out of 5
2 customer ratings
How are ratings calculated?
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we do not use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyses reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Most helpful customer reviews on Amazon.com
Amazon.com:
4.2 out of 5 stars
484 reviews

Jack Nicholson
4.0 out of 5 stars
Reading now, have not finished, but want to comment on other reviewers
22 February 2019 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
The first reviewer (one star) took a lot of time to discredit the accuracy of this book. I don't think "Ladyhawk" is really speaking to David Wallace-Wells's argument fairly. The future is, to say the least, uncertain, but can be understood to evolve within the bounds of wide extremes, each with a different probability. For instance, an as-yet-unknown technology might appear tomorrow that will solve or diminish the problem (a point the author makes repeatedly within the first chapter). Almost impossible, but possible. I think his point is , given the overwhelming consensus that human-caused carbon emissions (and other emissions that feedback loops will produce) is massively life-threatening to our children and grandchildren, we can't afford to wait for certainty. And so he's assembled facts from many credible sources to bolster his argument that we're in trouble.
A couple of such facts that struck me were these: of the total quantity of intentional carbon burning that has occurred over the last 400 years, over half has happened since the premier of Seinfeld. 85% has occurred since the END of WWII. The compounding of global growth has resulted in enormous momentum for continued carbon burning.
I don't understand why there is so much heat in the arguments of Ladyhawk and like-minded critics of those who raise this issue. I won't speculate on its sources. But I'd simply invite potential readers of this book to consider that when the greatest human-caused loss of life in human history -- World War II -- began, no one accurately predicted how it would go; how much the lives of people who lived within its theaters of operations would be changed (or abbreviated). That is one of the points that David Wallace-Wells invites readers to consider: that this WILL be worse than we think, because many are oblivious, or have a self-interest in the status quo, or maintain an optimism that will probably prove to be misplaced.
Amazon lets you read the first few pages. Don't rely on my or any other reviews; go to the text and make up your own mind.
Amazon lets you look.
A couple of such facts that struck me were these: of the total quantity of intentional carbon burning that has occurred over the last 400 years, over half has happened since the premier of Seinfeld. 85% has occurred since the END of WWII. The compounding of global growth has resulted in enormous momentum for continued carbon burning.
I don't understand why there is so much heat in the arguments of Ladyhawk and like-minded critics of those who raise this issue. I won't speculate on its sources. But I'd simply invite potential readers of this book to consider that when the greatest human-caused loss of life in human history -- World War II -- began, no one accurately predicted how it would go; how much the lives of people who lived within its theaters of operations would be changed (or abbreviated). That is one of the points that David Wallace-Wells invites readers to consider: that this WILL be worse than we think, because many are oblivious, or have a self-interest in the status quo, or maintain an optimism that will probably prove to be misplaced.
Amazon lets you read the first few pages. Don't rely on my or any other reviews; go to the text and make up your own mind.
Amazon lets you look.
1,050 people found this helpful

BillowingSheets
5.0 out of 5 stars
A much-needed wake up call
23 February 2019 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
About half of The Uninhabitable Earth is dedicated to presenting the latest research findings on the expected effects of climate change over the 21st century, with chapters on a wide range of topics including wildfires, economic collapse, and climate conflict. It is extremely well-researched—the author consulted many top climate scientists, there are copious citations and the notes section comprises a large portion of the book—yet presented in an accessible style. As in the original New York magazine article of which this is a book-length treatment, the effects of temperature increases of more than 2 degrees are covered in-depth, going up to about 6 degrees.
The other half contains the author’s very literate and thought-provoking musings on the impact climate chaos is likely to have on fundamental structures such as capitalism, ethics, and our conception of history. I was impressed by the author’s restraint in not indulging in speculation. His points are well-informed and backed up with solid reasoning.
The information contained in this book is extremely important, because it sounds the alarm at a time when immediate action must be taken, because it forces one to question so many fundamental assumptions behind contemporary life in a developed country, because it is founded in rigorous research on a topic that is of overwhelming significance. It raises and grapples with very big and pressing questions that will be seared onto the minds of millions over the coming century and beyond.
The other half contains the author’s very literate and thought-provoking musings on the impact climate chaos is likely to have on fundamental structures such as capitalism, ethics, and our conception of history. I was impressed by the author’s restraint in not indulging in speculation. His points are well-informed and backed up with solid reasoning.
The information contained in this book is extremely important, because it sounds the alarm at a time when immediate action must be taken, because it forces one to question so many fundamental assumptions behind contemporary life in a developed country, because it is founded in rigorous research on a topic that is of overwhelming significance. It raises and grapples with very big and pressing questions that will be seared onto the minds of millions over the coming century and beyond.
428 people found this helpful

Jacques Laroque
2.0 out of 5 stars
Half the truth is worse than the whold truth
28 February 2019 -
Published on Amazon.comVerified Purchase
I'm sure this will meet with skepticism because my assessment of a very popular notion never gets quickly accepted. But hear me out.
I apparently am one of the few who has noticed something odd about the whole (politically motivated, created by a politician) "climate emergency movement". Sorry but that's the first thing that must be brought forth: few if any climatologists actually predict "climate catastrophe." The use greater caution and don't make that declaration, they say basically, "it might happen." And I see ordinary people unaware that they're mistaken to quote the late Carl Sagan when he described the planet Venus as what could happen due to "greenhouse gases." He's not here to ask but I cannot see anyone that honest and intelligent thinking that Earth could literally end up with an 800º F atmosphere. NOT GONNA HAPPEN (anytime before the year 2 billion "AD").
As for "The Uninhabitable Earth" by Mr. Wallace-Wells, that's exactly what the title and text is trying to pull over our adult objective eyes.
As follows: First paragraph points: (1)
Re: author's first paragraph in Chapter One ("Cascades") Ahem, taking the weakest most suspect and most flawed arguments as the whole argument is NOT a credible or proper tactic. Of course we've all heard the statements by both special interests and simply uneducated people seeking to minimize what is happening with Earth's Climate. That's Red flag #1.
Paragraph Two: Wallace-Wells begins by saying the "idea" that asteroids caused all the know extinctions is obviously false or mistaken. The problem is: HE believes that so many people mistakenly believe this, he must speak against it. Well - This has never been true! The discovery of the Chicxulub Crater in the western Gulf of Mexico DID show paleontologists that it was a factor and a major one. But very soon some paleontologist began questioning even that one single cause for the Cretaceous extinction. It COULD NOT have been the single cause without leaving evidence that would have been quite easy to find all around the world. Some of them have said that the continents being connected at the time allowed mass migrations which made spreading disease much easier and there was already climate changes which had already caused declines in several dinosaur species. The asteroids impact was a final blow.
Secondly but important, he says, "...in fact all but the the one that killed the dinosaurs involved climate change..." This isn't even a scientific statement! Because he presents it as such is clearly reason for suspicion. The full story is: climate change took place in that Cretaceous Extinction 66-65 million years ago because several things had combined: first the continents were all bunched together making for a hot dry interior of gigantic size. Second, there was a period of massive volcanic activity which pumped lava over an area of 200,000 sq. miles to a depth of 6600 feet! This was a "super volcano" which would make the Yellowstone look weak because it's atmospheric emissions were several times greater (and much greater than that caused by humans today). And the eruptions lasted tens of thousands of years. Today there is no comparable source which would affect both land and sea life to that degree. It's important to note: our greenhouse gas emissions will drop to near zero in about 150 years when we exhaust the supply of fossil fuels! EVERYONE agrees on this!] Climate change played a role too in that extinction event. So did the over specialization of some dinosaur We are not overspecialized, we're the most widely adapted species on Earth. That's Red Flag #2.
If you want, you can easily check the fact that during the "Period of the Dinosaurs" (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods combined) the climate was almost entirely even warmer than the "catastrophe level" currently given by our saviors in the Democratic Party (since this is entirely a political party issue). Not only that, CO2 levels (determined by years of geological evidence) was higher than what is predicted to bring catastrophe on all the people on Earth "in the near future." From fully accepted evidence: we also know that the Earth was covered from pole to pole with plant life - until the climate changed TO COLD. No flooding killed any whole species, either. Only because humans have built in low lying areas will people be affected and have to move to more sensible nearby land. DON'T invest in shoreline property! That's not a "catastrophe," it's just smart financial advice. These FACTS have been in high school text books for years. There is no need to go looking for all those sources which either answered limited questions or which Wallace-Wells didn't even ask.
I apparently am one of the few who has noticed something odd about the whole (politically motivated, created by a politician) "climate emergency movement". Sorry but that's the first thing that must be brought forth: few if any climatologists actually predict "climate catastrophe." The use greater caution and don't make that declaration, they say basically, "it might happen." And I see ordinary people unaware that they're mistaken to quote the late Carl Sagan when he described the planet Venus as what could happen due to "greenhouse gases." He's not here to ask but I cannot see anyone that honest and intelligent thinking that Earth could literally end up with an 800º F atmosphere. NOT GONNA HAPPEN (anytime before the year 2 billion "AD").
As for "The Uninhabitable Earth" by Mr. Wallace-Wells, that's exactly what the title and text is trying to pull over our adult objective eyes.
As follows: First paragraph points: (1)
Re: author's first paragraph in Chapter One ("Cascades") Ahem, taking the weakest most suspect and most flawed arguments as the whole argument is NOT a credible or proper tactic. Of course we've all heard the statements by both special interests and simply uneducated people seeking to minimize what is happening with Earth's Climate. That's Red flag #1.
Paragraph Two: Wallace-Wells begins by saying the "idea" that asteroids caused all the know extinctions is obviously false or mistaken. The problem is: HE believes that so many people mistakenly believe this, he must speak against it. Well - This has never been true! The discovery of the Chicxulub Crater in the western Gulf of Mexico DID show paleontologists that it was a factor and a major one. But very soon some paleontologist began questioning even that one single cause for the Cretaceous extinction. It COULD NOT have been the single cause without leaving evidence that would have been quite easy to find all around the world. Some of them have said that the continents being connected at the time allowed mass migrations which made spreading disease much easier and there was already climate changes which had already caused declines in several dinosaur species. The asteroids impact was a final blow.
Secondly but important, he says, "...in fact all but the the one that killed the dinosaurs involved climate change..." This isn't even a scientific statement! Because he presents it as such is clearly reason for suspicion. The full story is: climate change took place in that Cretaceous Extinction 66-65 million years ago because several things had combined: first the continents were all bunched together making for a hot dry interior of gigantic size. Second, there was a period of massive volcanic activity which pumped lava over an area of 200,000 sq. miles to a depth of 6600 feet! This was a "super volcano" which would make the Yellowstone look weak because it's atmospheric emissions were several times greater (and much greater than that caused by humans today). And the eruptions lasted tens of thousands of years. Today there is no comparable source which would affect both land and sea life to that degree. It's important to note: our greenhouse gas emissions will drop to near zero in about 150 years when we exhaust the supply of fossil fuels! EVERYONE agrees on this!] Climate change played a role too in that extinction event. So did the over specialization of some dinosaur We are not overspecialized, we're the most widely adapted species on Earth. That's Red Flag #2.
If you want, you can easily check the fact that during the "Period of the Dinosaurs" (Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods combined) the climate was almost entirely even warmer than the "catastrophe level" currently given by our saviors in the Democratic Party (since this is entirely a political party issue). Not only that, CO2 levels (determined by years of geological evidence) was higher than what is predicted to bring catastrophe on all the people on Earth "in the near future." From fully accepted evidence: we also know that the Earth was covered from pole to pole with plant life - until the climate changed TO COLD. No flooding killed any whole species, either. Only because humans have built in low lying areas will people be affected and have to move to more sensible nearby land. DON'T invest in shoreline property! That's not a "catastrophe," it's just smart financial advice. These FACTS have been in high school text books for years. There is no need to go looking for all those sources which either answered limited questions or which Wallace-Wells didn't even ask.
235 people found this helpful
Free & fast delivery, movies and more with Amazon Prime
Prime members enjoy free & fast delivery, exclusive access to movies, TV shows, games, and more.