Seven Books on the History and Impact of Natural Disasters

Disasters | Book recommendations | Non-fiction

A glance at recent news—or even a brief check of the weather outside—has led many people to an ominous conclusion: something has gone very wrong with the natural world around us. In recent months, hurricanes have devastated the Caribbean and the southern United States. Island nations in the Pacific face the prospect of being entirely flooded within a few years. Increased droughts have prompted political upheaval throughout the world. The sort of scenarios that have cropped up in ominous speculative novels of the near future—Claire Vaye Watkins's Gold Fame Citrus and Paolo Bacigalupi's The Water Knife both come to mind—are increasingly turning into contemporary newspaper headlines. Here's a look at seven books that explore natural disasters, some on a macro level, others zeroing in on the impact of one catastrophe. Both options leave us with plenty to ponder, and hopefully provide lessons with which we can avoid repeating the errors of the past.
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Curated by Tobias Carroll

Rain: A Natural and Cultural History Cynthia Barnett
Rain is a ubiquitous occurrence for many of us: sometimes it can herald a change in climate; at others, it can cause crops to grow and refill reservoirs. It can frustrate as well, when it turns outdoor activities into canceled activities. Cynthia Barnett's acclaimed book takes a grand view of its subject, beginning with the Earth in its infancy and bringing the reader up to present-day concerns about climate change. Barnett has written several books looking at the relationship between humans and water, and this comprehensive work makes an urgent case for the importance of this bond. Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks Books A Million | IndieBound		.