A look at the hidden impact of light pollution, and an appeal to cherish natural darkness for the sake of the environment, our own well-being, and all life on earth.
Labeling his book a manifesto, a word that suggests fiery polemics, does Mr. Eklöf no favors. He’s a much quieter author than that, taking his readers by the hand for a snapshot survey of light pollution around the world, then offering a modest program of reform ... Mr. Eklöf is really more of a rhapsodist than a scold, tempering peril with possibility ... Given the stakes outlined in The Darkness Manifesto, one wonders why it’s so long on diagnosis but short on prescriptions. Mr. Eklöf’s 'manifesto' for change, tucked at the back of the book, is only two pages.
The Darkness Manifesto is a compelling title, but the book does not read like a strident decree. It takes us on a gentle if sometimes meandering journey: poetic and philosophical at times, intimate and expansive at others.
Eklöf expresses his fears with cogent clarity ... Eklöf is at his best when writing about wildlife, in a style that is sometimes elegiac and often urgent. (Plaudits to his translator Elizabeth DeNoma).
