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53 pages 1 hour read

The Uninhabitable Earth: Life After Warming

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2019

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Book Brief

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David Wallace-Wells

The Uninhabitable Earth

Nonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 2019
Book Details
Pages

310

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Global • 21st century

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1370L

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Super Short Summary

The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells, a New York Times bestseller, delves into the dire consequences of climate change throughout the 21st century, emphasizing the rapid warming due to human activity since the Industrial Revolution. The book examines the impact of rising temperatures, sea-level rise, extreme weather, water shortages, air pollution, and societal upheaval, urging immediate action. The text includes discussions of deadly heat waves, food scarcity, natural disasters, disease, and potential global political shifts.

Informative

Dark

Unnerving

Mysterious

Challenging

Reviews & Readership

4.2

32,684 ratings

76%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

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Review Roundup

David Wallace-Wells' The Uninhabitable Earth is widely praised for its urgent and detailed examination of climate change, but it faces criticism for its alarmist tone. While many appreciate the compelling narrative and scientific backing, others find it overly pessimistic and lacking in practical solutions. The book undeniably sparks important conversations about the future.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Uninhabitable Earth?

A reader who would enjoy The Uninhabitable Earth by David Wallace-Wells is deeply concerned about climate change and keen on understanding its far-reaching impacts. They likely appreciated titles like Silent Spring by Rachel Carson or This Changes Everything by Naomi Klein, seeking both scientific insights and urgent calls to action.

4.2

32,684 ratings

76%

Loved it

18%

Mixed feelings

6%

Not a fan

Character List

David Wallace-Wells

A deputy editor and climate columnist for New York magazine known for his focus on climate change, he defends his approach to highlighting worst-case scenarios to convey the serious threats posed by climate change.

The Brazilian president depicted as a significant contributor to climate challenges, due to his controversial stance on policies like opening the Amazon rainforest to deforestation, which could lead to increased atmospheric CO2.

A Swedish journalist and activist whose work significantly influences Wallace-Wells’s views on the ties between capitalism and fossil fuels; he advocates for a critical examination of industrial progress, particularly during the Fossil Capital era.

Book Details
Pages

310

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Setting

Global • 21st century

Publication Year

2019

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Lexile Level

1370L

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