The Heat Will Kill You First
Life and Death on a Scorched Planet
by Jeff Goodell
Reading about the heat in June seemed very appropriate — temperatures in the northern hemisphere were already soaring and many people were bracing themselves for another scorching summer. But this book is worth reading at any time, because even on colder days we should not forget that the heat is here to stay.
As many authors and experts have noted, the climate crisis is hard to define and comprehend, but easy to ignore. And denial is the worst possible strategy for humanity right now. So in trying to get people to act, it is good to focus not on the complicated and sometimes ambiguous science, but on the very real and tangible consequences. And that is exactly what Jeff Goodell has done in this gripping book.
Of course, heat itself can be misunderstood too — after all, as the author points out, who doesn’t dream of lying in the hot sun? But more and more often, this so-called beautiful weather can turn deadly. And Goodell presents us with vivid stories of real people who underestimated the risk of heat and paid the ultimate price. It really makes you think. He also writes about possible strategies and solutions — not to fight global warming, it’s too late for that, but to cope with it and make our future more bearable.
Thanks to the publisher, Little, Brown and Company, and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
