PositiveThe New York Journal of BooksFarrier’s background is in literature, not science, and the more literary elements of his work tend to be the most effective. But even his science is clear and well-written. That said, Footprints would have been even more powerful if it focused a bit more on uncovering not merely the facts of how we are irrevocably changing the planet, but also excavating what those facts tell about us—the hidden story revealed in the future fossil record—and how we might use that revelation to change ... This is, all told, a powerful and fascinating approach to the great crisis of our time. And it gets to the heart of why climate change such a vexing and all-encompassing challenge. While each future fossil has a unique story, collectively they represent a radical transformation of the physical composition of the planet.
Diane Ravitch
MixedThe New York Journal of Books[Ravitch\'s] work is more polemical than journalistic—she is seeking to take down the \'reform\' movement’s supporters and sing the praise of its opponents—but nonetheless, it sheds much light on the movement and its problems ... While the book is clear on its opposition to charters and their advocates, it sometimes blurs together the various factions that support them. One could imagine, for example, well-meaning people supporting charters, but Ravitch leaves little room for this nuance ... does make a compelling argument—rooted in solid research and information—for why such schools are not working ... Ravitch is an important figure in the world of education, and her voice needs to be heard. She is a writer of considerable skill, as well as an educator who knows this movement from the inside.
