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Blink 3 of 8 - The 5 AM Club
by Robin Sharma
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Adventures in the Anthropocene summary
A Journey to the Heart of the Planet We Made
30 mins
Brief summary
Adventures in the Anthropocene by Gaia Vince is a captivating exploration of humanity's impact on Planet Earth, revealing the power of human ingenuity to solve global challenges and help restore environmental balance.
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Adventures in the Anthropocene
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Humans are changing the atmosphere beyond recognition.
Ever laid under a tree on a warm summer’s day and watched the clouds drifting by? Or marveled at the stars at night? The skies above us and the air we breathe are as familiar to us as they were to our ancestors thousands of years ago.
But what we’re doing to the atmosphere these days is completely new.
The key message here is: Humans are changing the atmosphere beyond recognition.
As you may have guessed, we’re talking about pollution. It’s not that our releasing noxious substances into the air is anything unusual. Just think of the infamous London smog. However, the extent of the damage has changed dramatically.
Humans are no longer just a tiny puff of smoke on the vast surface of the earth. Today, we’re altering the atmosphere on a global scale.
This is partly because there are so many more of us now; the world’s population is already more than seven billion. But that’s not the only reason. The days of the “dark Satanic mills” of the Industrial Revolution may be long gone. Stricter pollution controls have cleared up the visible soot and sulfurous gasses that used to dirty the skies. What they haven’t got rid of is the source of the problem itself – coal power. Pollution from coal power stations in Europe alone still kills more than 22,000 people a year.
And the developing world is also contributing more pollution than ever. In China, there’s so much dirty industry that only a tiny 1 percent of the population is breathing air that European Union standards count as clean.
What’s more, people are adding their own homemade pollution to the industrial emissions.
In Nepal, for example, the largest polluter is the wood and dung cooking fires used all over the country. They arguably make for the tastiest chapatis, the popular local flatbread. But what they also do is infuse the air with a distinctive acrid brown haze.
The effects of the haze are many, from rising temperatures to frequent droughts, which result in failed harvests. And the health effects are as alarming as the environmental ones. In India alone, estimates say that, annually, almost two million people die from conditions related to the haze – more people than are killed by malaria worldwide.
The good news is that the effects need not be permanent. If all the emissions were to stop at once, it wouldn’t take many years for the atmosphere to recover.
But we all know that’s not about to happen. So the challenge for humanity is going to be to learn to live in this new atmosphere and the new climate it brings.
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What is Adventures in the Anthropocene about?
Adventures in the Anthropocene (2014) explores how humanity has altered the planet so radically in recent decades that a new geological epoch is said to be coming into being – we’re crossing over from the Holocene to the Anthropocene, or the Age of Man. Author Gaia Vince examines what the changes we’ve made really mean for the world. From disappearing islands to urban slums, from Mekong fishermen to ancient nomadic tribes in Kenya, these blinks tell the story of our new relationship with nature and our hopes for the future.
Adventures in the Anthropocene Review
Adventures in the Anthropocene (2014) is a captivating exploration of how humans are reshaping the planet and the consequences of our actions. Here's why this book is worth reading:
- It offers a deep dive into diverse landscapes and communities across the globe, showcasing the interconnectedness of our world and the complexities of environmental challenges.
- Through first-hand reporting and in-depth research, Gaia Vince provides a nuanced understanding of the Anthropocene era and the urgent need for sustainable solutions.
- The book inspires reflection and prompts readers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world, making it an essential read for anyone concerned about the future of our planet.
Best quote from Adventures in the Anthropocene
Living in a changed climate is like living in a different world.
—Gaia Vince
Who should read Adventures in the Anthropocene?
- Anyone who’d like to understand the human impact on the world
- Global citizens who want to learn about the effects of climate change
- Everyone who wonders about the future of human life on Earth
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Adventures in the Anthropocene FAQs
What is the main message of Adventures in the Anthropocene?
The main message of Adventures in the Anthropocene is an exploration of how humans are shaping the world.
How long does it take to read Adventures in the Anthropocene?
The reading time for Adventures in the Anthropocene varies, but it typically takes several hours. The Blinkist summary can be read in just 15 minutes.
Is Adventures in the Anthropocene a good book? Is it worth reading?
Adventures in the Anthropocene is a captivating read that sheds light on the impact of human activity. It is definitely worth reading.
Who is the author of Adventures in the Anthropocene?
The author of Adventures in the Anthropocene is Gaia Vince.
What to read after Adventures in the Anthropocene?
If you're wondering what to read next after Adventures in the Anthropocene, here are some recommendations we suggest:
- Scale by Geoffrey West
- Why Nations Fail by Daron Acemoglu & James A. Robinson
- The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri
- Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle
- Thinking, Fast and Slow by Daniel Kahneman
- The Courage to Be Disliked by Ichiro Kishimi & Fumitake Koga
- The Sirens' Call by Chris Hayes
- The Hidden Power of the Five Hearts by Kimberly Snyder
- The Human Condition by Hannah Arendt