A practical and comprehensive guide to surviving the greatest disaster of modern times from CBS Sunday Morning science and technology correspondent Pogue.
Much of the book, especially the sections on what to look for in an insurance policy, is helpful. It also includes an explanation of climate science and the obligatory feel-good sections on hope: actions some are taking and how you can participate ... It wouldn’t be wrong to do as he suggests; climate change will make these disasters worse and more frequent. Still, there’s something unsettling about the project, especially since many can’t act as advised, for financial or other reasons, and the real problem is that governments and corporations are failing us ... it’s not necessarily wrong to lay out the climate risks of living in some places and the benefits of others. But, who is this advice for? Not everyone can move to Boulder, Colo., to take advantage of its hiking trails and ambitious climate targets ... No book can do everything, but planning for our collective future should be about everyone, including those without the means to prepare, since they are in the most danger. Inequality is a large part of what got us here; preparing for climate change shouldn’t make that worse.
Pogue cites an array of resources: national and international demographic analyses, topological studies, economic statistics, case studies, agricultural reports, medical data. He includes all sorts of maps, charts, and graphs, but he’s not trying to prove anything; it’s sort of assumed that anyone who picks up this book accepts that things are not going well. Pogue’s tone is reasoned and nonsensationalized, and at times he’s even reassuring as he offers best-practice survival tips. His final chapter is all about hope: successful interventions, large-scale cooperative movements, and promising innovations in everything from fuel sources to future foods. His final message? Prepare. That’s one thing readers can control, and this extensive guide offers lots to think about and plenty of practical advice.
The author’s overall approach is less damning and more refreshingly proactive than many similar books, as he seeks to educate readers on important topics ... Though adaptation measures have been enacted worldwide to counteract the encroaching climate chaos, Pogue’s charts and graphs portend near-future calamities. This urgency makes the book an indispensable resource ... Given the persistence of the Covid-19 pandemic, readers will welcome the author’s meticulously detailed chapters on protective protocols against the increasing prevalence of disease-spreading insects like mosquitoes, ticks, and other pests that are proliferating in changing climates. Even those who are somehow still skeptical about the planet’s deteriorating condition will find useful knowledge, including action items that can be adopted regardless of one’s level of denial. As he discusses the more catastrophic decades to come, Pogue provides an overview of pragmatic, optimistic, big-idea initiatives by corporations and citizens, which leavens his foreboding message but never diminishes its criticality. It’s a long, comprehensive book perfect for reading in parts, one that consistently reminds us that while it’s too late for a climate rewind, being prepared is the next best thing ... Practicality, awareness, and survivalism converge in a sturdy cautionary handbook on enduring Earth’s new realities.