The End is Nigh: A History of Natural Disasters
| Date: 28 April 2011, 04:43
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The End is Nigh: A History of Natural Disasters
By Henrik Svensen
* Publisher: Reaktion Books
* Number Of Pages: 224
* Publication Date: 2009-05-15
* ISBN-10 / ASIN: 1861894333
* ISBN-13 / EAN: 9781861894335
Product Description:
The Lisbon Earthquake of 1755. The South Asian Tsunami of 2004. The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. Hurricane Katrina in 2005. All of these are natural disasters that not only caused massive devastation but actually changed the course of history, and have influenced our reactions to and perspectives on disasters ever since.
Spanning two millennia, The End is Nigh provides a detailed history of natural disasters around the world and how they have shaped our cultural beliefs and our practical planning. Henrik Svensen draws from many eyewitness accounts to reveal the personal stories of the victims of natural disasters. Through them, we are reminded that while the disasters are natural phenomena, victims often react in similar ways seeking to explain the disaster within the context of an omen or a divine warning. A geologist, Svensen also explores the science behind the occurrence of specific disasters, and he examines whether climate change is creating an environment where natural disasters are more frequent and more deadly.
The End is Nigh is as instructive as it is insightful and will appeal to fans of history and science, as well as policy makers and all those seeking to better prepare for future calamities.
“The End is Nigh is a great example of storytelling across scientific disciplines, and in gripping prose it spans geology, geography and history, anthropology, sociology, and the history of religion.”—Apollon
Summary: Natural Disasters and People
Rating: 4
Many books on natural disasters focus on the processes that caused the various disasters. Also usually included is information on property damages, lives lost, likelihood of reoccurrence of a similar event, scientific efforts towards understanding the mechanics of the catastrophe, engineering efforts towards reducing potential damages in the event of a reoccurrence, etc. Although this book does briefly touch upon these topics, it deals mainly with people's reactions in the wake of the natural disasters that touched them - reactions that are usually prompted by (often very strong) religious beliefs. Thus the book's title was particularly well-chosen. Social, political, psychological and cultural effects are also discussed to varying degrees. The writing style is clear, authoritative and quite accessible, although the text does contain a higher-than-average number of editorial errors. This book can be enjoyed by anyone, but especially those interested in human reactions to life-altering natural disasters when these are often viewed as Acts of God.
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