Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid by Thor Hanson

 

This book is one of my favourites that I have reviewed so far for Netgalley. It has a curious title - Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid - but it is a wonderful read and shows its author, Thor Hanson, as being a really accessible writer; easy to read and understand, which is important for a book on a subject that can sometimes get a little technical!

This is an engaging read that is an evenly presented, non-biased account of what is happening to our climate, not by looking at potentially flawed computer models but by focusing on what is actually happening on the ground - changes in the flora and fauna of our planet. There is an emphasis on how everything is connected, in that one apparently minor change in the climate or environment ripples out to affect many different species. This is not a book about the causes of climate change, but rather about its effects.

I love the author’s style of writing - as if he is talking with you over a cup of coffee. He weaves personal stories into his narrative and has a knack of bringing the people he interviews to life on the page, so you are not reading about a fact given by a named expert, you are reading about the thoughts and opinions of a real life person who has lived experiences and has valuable stories to tell.

I really enjoyed this book. Climate change is not usually a subject I read much about but I am so glad I picked this book to read because it is a refreshing look at what is really going on - some species are coping, some species are thriving and others are really struggling. It states facts rather than apportioning blame or skewing statistics to fit an agenda. You can’t argue with nature.

This is a fascinating, entertaining book that I read in a day because I couldn’t bear to put it down and when I did put it down I kept thinking about it. I highly recommend it.

I thank Netgalley and Icon Books for providing me with an advance review copy of this fantastic book. All opinions in this review are my own.

Verdict: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐