{"product_id":"global-catastrophes-and-trends-vaclav-smil-9780262518222","title":"Global Catastrophes and Trends: The Next 50 Years","description":"\u003cb\u003eA wide-ranging, interdisciplinary look at global changes that may occur over the next fifty years--whether sudden and cataclysmic world-changing events or gradually unfolding trends.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003eFundamental change occurs most often in one of two ways: as a \"fatal discontinuity,\" a sudden catastrophic event that is potentially world changing, or as a persistent, gradual trend. Global catastrophes include volcanic eruptions, viral pandemics, wars, and large-scale terrorist attacks; trends are demographic, environmental, economic, and political shifts that unfold over time. In this provocative book, scientist Vaclav Smil takes a wide-ranging, interdisciplinary look at the catastrophes and trends the next fifty years may bring.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSmil first looks at rare but cataclysmic events, both natural and human-produced, then at trends of global importance, including the transition from fossil fuels to other energy sources and growing economic and social inequality. He also considers environmental change--in some ways an amalgam of sudden discontinuities and gradual change--and assesses the often misunderstood complexities of global warming.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eGlobal Catastrophes and Trends\u003c\/i\u003e does not come down on the side of either doom-and-gloom scenarios or techno-euphoria. Instead, Smil argues that understanding change will help us reverse negative trends and minimize the risk of catastrophe.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e Vaclav Smil\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 0262518228\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9780262518222\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e MIT Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 09\/14\/2012\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 320\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.06lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.75h x 6.72w x 0.60d","brand":"Vaclav Smil","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":44045135446271,"sku":"9780262518222","price":24.95,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_24e1f1b8-ed6e-40e2-8e0b-7c851f742760.jpg?v=1684976942","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/global-catastrophes-and-trends-vaclav-smil-9780262518222","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}