{"product_id":"global-catastrophes-and-trends-the-next-50-years-9780262195867","title":"Global Catastrophes and Trends: The Next 50 Years","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGlobal Catastrophes and Trends: The Next 50 Years\u003c\/strong\u003e by Smil, Vaclav. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780262195867.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eFundamental change occurs most often in one of two ways: as a \"fataldiscontinuity,\" a sudden catastrophic event that is potentially world changing, or as apersistent, gradual trend. Global catastrophes include volcanic eruptions, viral pandemics, wars,and large-scale terrorist attacks; trends are demographic, environmental, economic, and politicalshifts 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. Smil firstlooks at rare but cataclysmic events, both natural and human-produced, then at trends of globalimportance, including the transition from fossil fuels to other energy sources and growing economicand social inequality. He also considers environmental change--in some ways an amalgam of suddendiscontinuities and gradual change--and assesses the often misunderstood complexities of globalwarming. Global Catastrophes and Trends does not come down on the side of eitherdoom-and-gloom scenarios or techno-euphoria. Instead, Smil argues that understanding change willhelp us reverse negative trends and minimize the risk of catastrophe.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"MIT Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44429742800949,"sku":"ByrdShop_0262195860","price":60.3,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0627\/8139\/0901\/files\/9780262195867_b444b96e-a844-4892-abfb-d2c3462f0ba3.jpg?v=1784353722","url":"https:\/\/atxbooks.com\/products\/global-catastrophes-and-trends-the-next-50-years-9780262195867","provider":"ATX Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}