I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley. I have read other books on the ecological and environmental crisis that impacts us at this time in our history. This book, however, is the first to really "speak" to me. The writing is clear and concise. I like the fact that the author contains the doom and gloom and acknowledges the things are not as bad as we believe them to be. At the same time she emphasises that we can make changes that will have an impact for good. There feels to be a real personal aspect to the writing, I could see how the author has struggled with managing her beliefs and what she can do with them.

The diagrams are clear and easy to interpret - even in Kindle mode - which is often not the case.
The author has not overused explanatory graphs and those used really add to the information given.

Any criticism I have about the book are really about formatting and I suspect that these problems are unique to the ARC nature of my copy. Diagrams and explanatory notes pop up in the middle of narrative text and this can be difficult for the reader

As a big advocate for sustainability and leaving as little impact on the planet as possible, I was thrilled to be shared an eARC for Not the End of the World. In this book, data scientist Hannah Ritchie sets out to empower our generation – and the next – not to fear climate change, but lay out the tools we have to make a change. I worked closely in the sustainability industry for almost two years, so I was curious how the data would be organised, since I’ve researched and seen firsthand how scary some of the air pollution, biodiversity loss, plastic pollution, animal agriculture, land use, and ocean pollution stats are.

The premise of the book is great. Ritchie writes in an accessible and digestible way, presenting data in easy-to-understand charts and graphs, and she guides us with a sense of expertise. However, I wondered often whether some of the language used could misconstrue readers into believing the climate crisis is already fixed. Of course, it’s nice to see that there are some positive changes and improvements being made. As a planet, we’ve addressed things like the ozone layer, pledging 30x30, we’re pretty much all doing our best to avoid single-use plastics, and calling one another out on polluting transport. But, it’s scary to think that some readers could see the data and share that enough is being done. Without writing another essay on sustainability, we arguably continue to be in a bad situation. We need to be making bigger moves in a shorter timeframe, but this book does share some great examples of what we’re doing well and can continue doing.

I’m really in two minds about this book, because it should come with a heavy disclaimer that we all do need to be doing something, and that usually includes lobbying big companies for change and innovation investment. If you’re wanting to learn and understand more about where we’re at, sustainability-wise, and what we should do next, then definitely pick this up, then share with friends and a disclaimer.

In this provocative book, Ritchie takes all the negatives we think about - global warming, population growth, pollution, etc. - and shows how they're not as bad as we think as long as we take action now. She is clear on that last point, but it's overshadoweed a bit by the use of statistics (all heavily referenced) to prove her first points, and I do worry that it will give the casual reader the impression there's nothing to be done or you can't change things. Her central point is that fossil fuels and farming are the two big things that affect everything, so in fact not having a car and not eating beef (tick, tick: smug me) are the two things it's beset for us to do, as well as lobbying governments and donating to worthwhile organisations once you've checked their credentials. Even going meat-free one day a week would help a lot, if everyone did it. Not using plastic straws, not so much, if you live in a Western nation that doesn't promote waste going into the sea (although you should pick plastic up when on a British beach).

That's my takeaways: there's lots in here but I suggest you read it for yourself and draw your own conclusions.

It's truly refreshing to come across a book on the environment that offers a comprehensive view, covering both the challenges and the progress made. Unlike many others, the author provides a balanced analysis of the state of the world, acknowledging the significant strides taken to address issues like poverty, food production, and clean energy, while also highlighting the ongoing challenges.

What sets this book apart is its underlying optimism, which is often lacking in the flood of doom-laden narratives that dominate the conversation on environmental issues. By presenting a more balanced perspective, the author reminds us that progress is possible and that there is hope for a brighter future. In a time when pessimism often prevails, this book offers a much-needed dose of encouragement and inspiration.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and I would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

A fascinating, brave, eye-opening and (almost certainly) controversial read on the current state of our planet and what we can do to improve pollution and the environment. I learned loads and will be recommending this book very widely. A must-read for anyone alive today.

How do you alert people to the seriousness of the environmental challenges we face, while not making them feel despairing or helpless? When you want people to take action, is it better to inspire them or scare them?

This is the dilemma that Not the End of the World addresses. It does not shy away from the problems but shows the progress we have already made and highlights where we can go next. Quoting Max Roser, Ritchie points out that it can be simultaneously true that “The world is much better; the world is still awful; the world can do much better”.

She motivates the reader by highlighting that we can be the first generation in history to create a sustainable world. She is using sustainable not in the sense of corporate greenwashers, but in the sense used by the UN: “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.

Each chapter takes on a topic – including climate change, deforestation and food – and gives a comprehensive account of where we are and where we should be going, fully backed up with data. This could have made it a chore to read, but I was completely swept along. This is partly Ritchie’s breezy, engaging voice but also because she frames her case around popular arguments and misconceptions, along with graphs that even I can follow.

At the end of each chapter is a useful list of the best things we can do as individuals to make a difference (drive less), and a few things that either make no difference (banning plastic straws) or are even actively harmful (pasture-fed “local” beef, anyone?).

This is great, as far as it goes. I’m something of a miserabilist and anyone who closely follows green/left politics, as I do, cannot help being steeped in pessimism about the state of the world. It’s good to know that positive things are happening and that we have the answers to many of the problems we face.

But the thing is, we know that. We know that the answers are there, what is lacking is the will to implement them. And this is where the book falls down for me. While Ritchie does distinguish between rich and poor countries, she has no analysis of where wealth and power lies within and across nations. There is very little mention of the actions of governments or corporations.

She seems to envisage a world made up solely of well-meaning citizens who, if they only knew the right thing to do, would all pull together and do it. There is, in the conclusion, a call to engage with politicians or activist groups in order to let the powerful know that we care about these issues, as if that will be sufficient to make them change tack.

If there’s one thing we’ve learnt since 2016, it’s that well-meaning, articulate people armed with facts do not by themselves win arguments. We need to confront who has economic and political power and whose interests are being served.

I was also unsure about some of the specific arguments Ritchie presents (without having her expertise, clearly she could wipe the floor with me in a fact-fight). For example, her arguments about food production advocate for more high-yielding crops and artificial fertiliser (citing the Green Revolution). She points out that we already have more than enough food to feed the world, but then says we need high-tech solutions to produce even more, rather than considering issues like land ownership and control of distribution and inputs.

Ritchie suggests that as countries get richer, they naturally move to address issues like hunger and pollution because they now have the resources, which ignores the fact that both are increasing in the UK, that the government of today is blithely indifferent, and that in countries across the world extreme wealth and squalor exist side by side. (The politics of food production and climate change are brilliantly dissected by George Monbiot in Regenesis, who also backs up his statements with robust data.)

However, I do appreciate that it is useful to be able to take the most meaningful action as an individual. Individual actions add up, and they inspire and motivate people to act collectively, putting pressure on politicians and corporations.

One area in the book which gave me pause for thought is Ritchie’s arguments about nuclear power. My feeling has always been that, while accidents are rare, when they happen they are so disastrous that it’s too big a risk to take. But she argues that, even when you take account of disasters like Chernobyl and Fukushima, deaths from pollution from fossil fuels are much higher. They’re just less visible because they are taking place every day, dispersed among the population.

Not the End of the World is an upbeat, accessible and thought-provoking read, which will challenge and surprise you in some of its conclusions.
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I received a copy of Not the End of the World from the publisher via NetGalley.

This book gives a fair and balanced view on the state of the world, based on fact rather than influenced by hysteria, virtue signalling and money making. It is an easy read, appears unbiased and is supported by many references to studies. Highly recommended to anyone who wishes to know the truth about what is happening, but if you are already sold on what the media are telling us, you may find this book uncomfortable reading.

This is exactly the environmental book I’ve needed for years. Against the normally apocalyptic headlines about the climate crisis this book is a ray of positivity, talking about how, from a wider scope there have been improvements recently. Hannah Ritchie references numerous scientific sources in this while maintaining a great level of readability. While maintaining a level of positivity compared to other similar texts, Ritchie is by no means overly-optimistic but it remains a pleasant read full of important information.

Exceptional book on climate change. Focuses on how we got here, what’s been achieved and what should really be our focus, this is a much needed counterpoint to the often paralysing doom-laden messages that hit the headlines. I came away from reading this feeling much more fired up to do what I can to make a positive difference. Definitely not over-optimistic, but a brilliantly balanced review of one of the most sensitive, complicated and important subjects of the 21st century. Highly recommended.

We are bombarded by doomsday headlines that tell us the soil won't be able to support crops, fish will vanish from our oceans, that we should reconsider having children. But in this bold, radically hopeful book, data scientist Hannah Ritchie agrees that if we zoom out, a very different picture emerges. The data shows we've made so much progress on these problems, and so fast, that we could be on track to achieve true sustainability for the first time in history.

There are lots of references to studies, but basically, it's still easy to understand. I can't say I really read anything that I had not heard before, but it was told in more understandable detail. It's obvious that the author does know what she's talking about, and does it in a way that makes you want to know more. Unfortunately, the diagrams and graphs did not show clearly on the Kindle edition.

I would like to thank #NetGalley #RandomHouseUK #Vintage and the author #HannahRitchie for my ARC of #NotTheEndOfTheWorld in exchange for an honest review.

A balanced analysis of the current climate concerns that gives historical background to things like global warming, sustainability etc and brings good news as well as the bad news we're all accustomed to hearing. At times I felt I needed to be more of a scientist to keep up with the threads of detail, so it isn't particularly a light read but I don't suppose you'd pick this book if you were expecting a breezy book.

How delightful to have a comprehensive book on the environment which talks about the good news as well as the bad. Unusually, the author gives a balanced analysis of the state of the world and acknowledges the immense strides that have already been taken to deal with the problems such as poverty, food production, and clean energy, as well as setting out the challenges still facing the world. The underlying optimism of this book mark it out from the deluge of disaster stories which may sell books but omits fully half the story. Proselytising on environental issues has created an environment where only doom-ridden stories have been acceptable. The author of this book has had the coutrage and clearness of vision to take an unbiased and expert view. This book does not underestimate in any way the fact that the world is facing imminent and serious problems but by including the advances that human cooperation and technology can achieve the book provides a much needed fuller picture. An expert view which includes acknowledgement of environmental successes as well as serious dangers is very welcome.

If, like me, you are interested in the environment and climate change, then this book sits really well alongside other similar books. It has a much more positive outlook than, for example, the Climate Book by Greta Thunberg. But the Climate Book contains much more detail on the wide range of associated issues. I would advise reading them both and others.

My take away points were burn less and eat less beef and dairy. There is nothing extraordinarily different about these points. The more books you read about climate change, the more these points are reinforced. Some of the arguments are a bit different. I thought the section on palm oil and sustainable palm oil was very clearly explained. And the point about 'if' beef burgers were to be made from only 50% beef, what sort of difference that could make - I don't think I have read this anywhere else.

This book in particular is very readable. There are many references to published studies and data but it is all presented in an accessible way. My only criticism is that the tables, graphs and diagrams were difficult to read in the kindle format. Sometimes the legend for the diagram appeared in the middle of a paragraph of text and interrupted the flow of what I was reading. If I was buying the book, I would definitely buy the hardback version.

Many thanks to NetGalley for an early copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.