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The Burning Earth

An Environmental History of the Last 500 Years
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Brief Description
The Burning Earth by Sunil Amrith is a brilliant, paradigm-shifting global survey of how human history has reshaped the planet, and vice versa over the last 500 years. In this paradigm-shifting global history, Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, of genocide and eco-cide, and... Read More
Format: Hardback
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! Description

The Burning Earth by Sunil Amrith is a brilliant, paradigm-shifting global survey of how human history has reshaped the planet, and vice versa over the last 500 years.

In this paradigm-shifting global history, Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, of genocide and eco-cide, and of the expansion of human freedom and its costs. Drawing on an extraordinarily rich diversity of primary sources, he examines the ruins of Portuguese silver mining in Peru, British gold mining in South Africa, and oil extraction in Central Asia.

Amrith explores the railways and highways that brought humans to new terrains of battle against each other and against nature. His account of the ways the First and Second World Wars involved the massive mobilization not only of men, but of other natural resources from around the globe, provides an essential new way of understanding war as an irreversible reshaping of the planet. He also reveals migration as a consequence of environmental harm.

The imperial, globe-spanning pursuit of profit, combined with new forms of energy and the possibilities of freedom from hunger and discomfort, freedom to move and explore, has brought change to every inch of the Earth. On the largest canvas, Amrith relates a mind-altering epicβ€”vibrant with stories, characters, and vivid imagesβ€”in which humanity might find the collective wisdom to save itself.

Book Details

INFORMATION

ISBN: 9780241461983

Publisher: Penguin Books Ltd

Format: Hardback

Date Published: 26 September 2024

Country: United Kingdom

Imprint: Allen Lane

Audience: General / adult

DIMENSIONS

Spine width: 38.0mm

Width: 162.0mm

Height: 242.0mm

Weight: 650g

Pages: 432

About the Author

Sunil Amrith is the Renu and Anand Dhawan Professor of History and professor in the School of the Environment at Yale University. He is the author of four books, and a recipient of multiple awards including a MacArthur \"Genius\" fellowship and the 2024 Fukuoka Prize for outstanding achievements in the field of Asian studies. He grew up in Singapore and lives in Connecticut.

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  • The Burning Earth
    A brilliant, paradigm-shifting global survey of how human history has reshaped the planet, and vice versa over the last 500 years. In this paradigm-shifting global history of how humanity has reshaped the planet, and the planet has shaped human history, Sunil Amrith twins the stories of environment and Empire, of genocide and eco-cide, of the expansion of human freedom and...
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