GEOGRAPHY-RELATED BOOK REVIEWS
made in america by bill bryson
1. Culture
What is the ‘United States America’? Who or what created such an ethnically, politically and culturally diverse world ‘hyper-power’? Are the myths of culture, fame and history true? Why when we think of America do we think of fast-food, strange literary pronunciations and the ‘Wild West’!? This book deciphers the myths, answers the ‘pub-quiz questions’ and cracks open the lid on American history and the great ‘American Dream’...
Editors Choice:
Go to "Culture"
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The Party's Over by Robert Heinberg
2. Oil Politics
The Party’s Over gives an insight into the disturbing reality that most people are unaware of. The book talks about the huge dependency on oil even though our supply is in danger of running out. It suggests that the world oil peak may happen in the next 20 years and also discusses some of the many problems we will face.
With Speed and Violence (why scientists fear tipping points in climate change) by fred pearce
Editors Choice:
Go to "Oil Politics"
3. Science
This book aims to concisely and truthfully describe the various causes of global warming, alongside their effects and possible solutions. The author claims to take an un-biased viewpoint, and makes use of a large number of facts figures and statistics to help describe and substantiate various claims about the causes of global warming. He uses personal experiences, and quotes many well known climatologists, both present and past, in order to help solve the confusing and misunderstood issue of global warming.
Editors Choice:
Krakatoa (The day the world exploded) by Simon Winchester
4. The Earth
Anyone interested in volcanoes should read this book, this is a detailed analysis of Krakatoa’s history...not just the famous 1883 eruption but also the disputed eruptions before and the brief history of Anak Krakatoa.
Editors Choice:
Go to "The Earth"
King Leopold's Ghost by Adam Hochschild
Editor's Thumbs Up:
King Leopold's Ghost tells the story of King Leopold II of Belgium and his “rape” of the Congo. It became a colony that he, essentially, single-handedly owned, and to this extent – treat the nation, its people and its resources like a form of real-estate and capital. He managed to burst into country, confiscate all of its land, and then systematically destroy, not only, its autonomy, but the entire country as a whole. It is a telling and at times sickening documentation of man's capacity for evil and the rancid manifestations of it....
The Making of the English Landscape by W.G. Hoskins
The Geography literature team at GeoUniverse reviews several geography related books with exclusive ratings and powerful judgements
geography book reviews, Made in America by Bill Bryson, The End of Oil by Paul Roberts, geography books, geouniverse, With Speed and Violence by Fred Pearce, Why the Earth Quakes, by Mathys Levy and Mario Salvadori, The Making of the English Landscape by W.G. Hoskins, geography related book reviews
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Editor's Thumbs Down:
Overall, this book suffers from being too long, certain parts of the book are too repetitive, and present almost identical case studies ... a feeling of déjà vu. However, Hoskins has obviously devoted a lot of time into this book, and the amount of case studies presented is phenomenal. The book is also full of interesting facts and makes you reflect on the English landscape and how it’s got to where it is now. But, in truth, its well past its time...
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