The Vortex: An Environmental History of the Modern World

The book by Frank Uekötter explores how humans have impacted their physical environment throughout history, arguing that we must consider all the paths we have taken to arrive in our current predicament to stay afloat in a vortex of history. It invites us to look at environmental challenges from multiple perspectives and provides us with the right tools to deal with them.

Format: Hardback
Length: 848 pages
Publication date: 18 April 2023
Publisher: University of Pittsburgh Press

Environmental challenges are shaping the twenty-first century, requiring a comprehensive understanding of their origins. This ambitious and original contribution to environmental history explores the multifaceted ways in which humans have impacted their physical environment throughout history. Rather than a linear trajectory towards collapse, Frank Uekötter argues that our current predicament results from a series of gradual cuts. To navigate this complex vortex, we must examine the various pathways we have traversed, from agriculture to industry to infrastructure, collectively. Uekötter's book encourages us to approach environmental challenges from diverse perspectives, considering the intricate twists and turns that have contributed to our current predicament. In a world where things are falling apart, Uekötter offers a global history that equips us with the necessary tools and experience to address these challenges, yet we often fail to manage our affairs effectively.

Dimension: 254 x 178 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780822947561