This book invoked the twin deities of terror namely climate anxiety and climate depression simultaneously. The further I ventured into the book, I couldn't shake the sense of doom. We, the human race, are going to end up in the underbelly of Hades' lair - not a land of torment but a place where the dangers are real enough.
The book is divided into four sections: Cascades, Elements of Chaos, the Climate Kaleidoscope and the Anthropic Principle. I had to roll my eyes in Cascades where Wallace-Wells describes himself as a non-vegan and it almost stopped me from reading. I am glad I didn't. Diving into Elements of Chaos was unnerving to say the least. With chapter headings such as Heat Death, Hunger, Drowning, Dying Oceans, Unbreathable Air, Plagues of Warming, Economic Collapse and Climate Conflict, he paints a hell of a picture of the effects of our actions on the ecosystem as a whole. I felt dissilusioned with all of humankind. How on earth did we allow it to get to this point?
It's clear that Wallace-Wells did his homework. There are tons of notes and references in the back of the book which is reassuring in a sense but also not - could these doomsday scenarios really be on the cards for us? The ending is well signposted. A poignant and clear delivery that explains that we do have the tools to make a difference but it is our collective sense of responsibility that is the key.
A highly recommended read. Perhaps when we work together like Zeus, Hades and Poseidon, we can also beat the Titans we call climate change.
