54 pages • 1 hour read
The Collapse of Western Civilization
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Book Brief
104
Novel • Fiction
Western Civilization • 21st century
2014
Adult
18+ years
Super Short Summary
The Collapse of Western Civilization: A View From the Future by Naomi Oreskes and Erik M. Conway is a speculative fiction novella set in the year 2300, narrated by a historian from the Second People’s Republic of China. The historian elucidates the consequences of climate change denial and inaction, leading to the downfall of Western civilization, marked by extreme weather events, environmental degradation, and a societal collapse that necessitated a massive human migration and a transition to a neocommunist government.
Informative
Dark
Unnerving
Challenging
Reviews & Readership
3,221 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
The Collapse of Western Civilization by Naomi Oreskes presents a chilling future shaped by climate inaction. Reviewers praise its compelling narrative and informative blend of fiction and science, but some criticize its bleak outlook and lack of solutions. Despite minor flaws, it effectively raises urgent awareness about climate change.
Who Should Read The Collapse of Western Civilization?
A reader interested in The Collapse of Western Civilization by Naomi Oreskes would likely enjoy speculative fiction and environmental science. This book will appeal to those who appreciated the critical analysis in Jared Diamond's Collapse and the dystopian undertones of Margaret Atwood's The Handmaid's Tale.
3,221 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Akari Ishikawa
Akari Ishikawa
A fictional genetic engineer from Japan who indirectly appears in Chapter 2, known for developing a lichenized fungus that absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere effectively.
104
Novel • Fiction
Western Civilization • 21st century
2014
Adult
18+ years
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