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Cover for Global Catastrophes and Trends: The Next 50 Years book
2008
4.5(117 reviews)
Publisher: Mit Pr
307 pages
ISBN: 978-0262195867
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Global Catastrophes and Trends: The Next 50 Years

Description

Fundamental change occurs most often in one of two ways: as a "fataldiscontinuity," a sudden catastrophic event that is potentially world changing, or as apersistent, gradual trend. Global catastrophes include volcanic eruptions, viral pandemics, wars,and large-scale terrorist attacks; trends are demographic, environmental, economic, and politicalshifts that unfold over time. In this provocative book, scientist Vaclav Smil takes a wide-ranging,interdisciplinary look at the catastrophes and trends the next fifty years may bring. Smil firstlooks at rare but cataclysmic events, both natural and human-produced, then at trends of globalimportance, including the transition from fossil fuels to other energy sources and growing economicand social inequality. He also considers environmental change--in some ways an amalgam of suddendiscontinuities and gradual change--and assesses the often misunderstood complexities of globalwarming. Global Catastrophes and Trends does not come down on the side of eitherdoom-and-gloom scenarios or techno-euphoria. Instead, Smil argues that understanding change willhelp us reverse negative trends and minimize the risk of catastrophe.

Book Information

Title:Global Catastrophes and Trends: The Next 50 Years
Author:Vaclav Smil
Series:Non-Fiction Books
Published:2008
Pages:307
ISBN-10:262195860
ISBN-13:978-0262195867

Series Progress

This book is part of the Non-Fiction Books series.