Environment (Object Lessons) by Rolf Halden is another volume in Bloomsbury Academic's Object Lessons series. I have come late to this intriguing series but am quite pleased with my experiences so far.
First, some of my opinions about the series. The basic idea, short focused books about specific objects appeals to me, much like approaching history and even memoirs through objects rather than simply an attempt to make a cohesive narrative. At least when dealing with an object the narrative has some thread beyond making a person or an abstract entity (a nation, a group, or even a discipline) sound more or less appealing (which is often the point of biographies, memoirs, and many histories). My initial concern was about how heavy-handed the editing would be. Too much structure and the volumes would essentially be the same outline with different facts filling it out. Fortunately, these books seem to result from each author being given a lot of latitude to approach the topic as they see fit. This appeals to me and makes each book truly a new work rather than a repetitive work about a different object.
Now to the current volume, Environment. I was curious how this would be an “object” since it is so often looked at locally, regionally, and globally. Not to mention specific types of environments (ocean, arid, tropical, etc). Halden manages to make the obvious, well, obvious. The environment is everything, it is one big all-encompassing object. In fact, it is far more homogeneous than we usually perceive. No, everything isn't the same everywhere. But at the microscopic level, there is a lot more in common throughout the environment than we once realized. From microplastics to chemicals the butterfly effect in its popular understanding is more than just a thought experiment.
This is both an educational trip into the connectiveness of everything as well as a warning about our self-destructive tendencies all for the sake of immediate gratification and the almighty dollar. We don't risk future generation's safety and health, risk implies some uncertainty. We knowingly harm future generations by doing what we have already learned is harmful because it will turn a quick tidy profit. That isn't risk, that is premeditated murder.
I highly recommend this to any and every reader. Whether you consider yourself an environmentalist or not you need to at least know and understand the facts. Well, unless you are one of the cult members or other similarly impaired fact-averse members of society, in which case you probably can't read this anyway, so...
Reviewed from a copy made available by the publisher via NetGalley.
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required. Learn more
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Flip to back Flip to front
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now.
Frequently bought together
- +
- +
Total price:
To see our price, add these items to your cart.
Choose items to buy together.
Customers who bought this item also bought
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
