I have read many books about global warming and what we can do about it, as individuals and collectively.   Most of them put forward unconvincing recipes for political change.  They suggest changes to current political, social and economic trends that are simply impossible in the timeframes required to avoid catastrophic change.  We are just not going to get changes in our materialistic consumer lifestyles that are required to reduce our carbon footprints to acceptable levels; China and India are just not going to forego the development that Western countries have enjoyed for so long.

Hamilton, believes that at the best, humans face mass die-offs in the coming centuries.  At worst we confront extinction as a species.  On this basis, a basis of squaring up to the unthinkable, Hamilton turns for wisdom to our psychological understanding of personal processes that individuals face when confronted with death or total disaster.  The normal sequence of response is denial, despair, denial, acceptance, and finally, a capacity to act.  He writes: Climate disruption's assault on all we believed - endless progress, a stable future - will corrode the pillars that hold up the psyche of modern humanity.  it will be psychologically destabilising . . . . We can expect for a time, the loss of faith in the future and in our ability to control our lieves will see a proliferation of depression, withdrawal and fearfulness.  it is well known, however, that one of the most effective responses ti depression is to act.  As Pablo Casals is reputed to have said: "the situation is hopeless; we must now take the next step."  finding meaning in adverse circumstances is one of the most remarkable human qualities.

In short, as one who has confronted climate change and global warming with despair, I recommend this book.  It is a call for courage and action.