Fire and Flood: A People’s History of Climate Change, from 1979 to the Present

Linden (Deep Past) has written a prescient book on the history of climate change initiatives, science and humanity’s missed opportunities. Starting the climate change era in the 1970s, Linden traces the trends of the era in four facets: the climate, the science, public perception and business and finance views, up to today. He explores how each facet has been behind the reality of what is happening, in a decade-by-decade behind-the-scenes inspection. Linden ends his book on a bittersweet yet cautionary note. Linden is both an investigative reporter on the issue and a former investment strategist, and as such, his approach is an across-the-aisle tour de force that pulls no punches and does not offer absolution. It hurts to read to read this book and yet this in-depth, expertly researched, but eminently readable title should be on every person’s bookshelf. Linden combines his analysis with solutions as to where humanity should and may go, and those solutions should surprise, enrage, and enlighten readers.