Dangerous Years

Climate Change, the Long Emergency, and the Way Forward

By: David W. Orr

Narrated by: Danny Campbell

This gripping, deeply thoughtful book considers the future of civilization in the light of what we know about climate change and related threats. David Orr, an award-winning, internationally recognized leader in the field of sustainability and environmental education, pulls no punches: Even with the Paris Agreement of 2015, Earth systems will not reach a new equilibrium for centuries. Earth is becoming a different planet - more threadbare and less biologically diverse, with more acidic oceans and a hotter, more capricious climate. Furthermore, technology will not solve complex problems of sustainability. Yet we are not fated to destroy the Earth, Orr insists. He imagines sustainability as a quest and a transition built upon robust and durable democratic and economic institutions, as well as changes in heart and mindset. The transition, he writes, is beginning from the bottom up in communities and neighborhoods. He lays out specific principles and priorities to guide us toward enduring harmony between human and natural systems.

©2016 David W. Orr (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"David Orr has written a perfectly marvelous book, a deep and wide-ranging reflection on the human condition. It's a winner, and a rare one at that." (James Gustave Speth, author of Red Sky at Morning)

Excellent view of a possible near future Earth.

It seems wordy, but in all this was necessary to convey the views. In all, more should be said about this possibility of the future of the planet. As of this review, the only news is of more miss-direction from the country leaders to keep focus off the truecorruptness governing, and literally no news of anything to do with the four or five massive hurricanes that took a huge toll this past season. It appears to have begun.

An important and must read.

It's a great book. many books on climate change leave me feeling hopeless but this book actually talks quite a bit about what we can do to soften the blow of climate change for our children and grand children. It's a call to action with more than just an alarm. It's an alarm with directions and mission. Let's get to work fixing this mess!

Hopeful, and filled with actionable plans for survival

This has to be the one of the few books that recognizes that one of our best chances at survival will have to include a variety of small hyper-local, self sufficient regions. There is a good overview of our current predicament, and an analysis of the best options we have for not only moving forward, but doing so well.

Two thumbs up, 10/10 would recommend.

Great Information Told Very Poorly

Orr is an expert, and did a lot of research, but he inundates the listener with far too much. He is a pie in the sky dreamer. The book is very poorly edited. The reader's voice is too congested.