Peter Frankopan's book on climate change | Weathering the storm

To be alive in the 21st century is to inhabit a paradox. Never before have we been able to alter our environment so thoroughly. Airconditioning, internet connectivity, speedy travel, and products from around the globe have made the world our oyster. Yet, that oyster is agitated by turbulent currents, cracked open by floods, droughts, fires and plagues that seem to be visited upon us by vengeful gods. The technical instruments we control and the political and economic institutions we have built seem to be failing. And much of the crisis is our own fault.