THURSDAY, 16 MAY 2019
The term Anthropocene is used to reflect the age of human influence on our planet. A read of Gaia Vince’s Adventures in the Anthropocene is an unquestionable must for every one of us. In ten chapters, each representing a different ecosystem, Vince reflects on a monumental journey to understand what the Anthropocene really means for our Earth and its residents: Does any part of our dynamic Earth still elude human impact? What are the consequences for those living on the frontline? Vince meets with people from around the globe, local villager to national president; each of them are facing their own unique challenges and devising their own solutions with equal ingenuity and determination. Vince’s accounts of the meetings are so detailed and intimate that you can easily feel as though you were there in person. More, she is able to weave together multiple stories amongst factual context, considering restrictions, oppositions and limitations with refreshing fairness. In recognition of this thought-provoking book the already well-accomplished science journalist was deservedly awarded the 2015 Royal Society Winton Prize for Science Books. For many of us, the effects of the Anthropocene may feel far off, but as human activity continues unabated, this book is an important journey we all should take.Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet we Made by Gaia Vince was published by Chatto & Windus in 2014. Reviewed by Hollie French
