Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet We Made

"We live in times of enormous change on Earth. While previous shifts from one geological epoch to another were caused by events beyond human control, our addition of carbon to the atmosphere over the past century has moved many scientists to declare the dawn of a new era: the Anthropocene--the Age of Man. This latest geological epoch is rarely associated with positive news. Pointing to climate change, overpopulation, and species extinction, the writers weighing in on the change widely assert that this dark cloud has no silver lining. Watching this consensus develop from her seat as an editor at Nature, Gaia Vince couldn't help but wonder if the greatest cause of this dramatic planetary change--humans' singular ability to innovate--might also hold the key to our survival. And so she left her professional life in London and set out to travel the world in search of ordinary people doing extraordinary things to adapt, and, in many cases, to thrive. She meets Nepalese engineers creating artificial glaciers, a man in the Caribbean who created an entire island out of garbage, and numerous other innovators--from Uganda, the Maldives, Columbia, and countless points between. Part science journal, part travelogue, Adventures in the Anthropocene recounts Vince's journey, and introduces an essential new perspective on the future of life on earth." -- Publisher's description.