Book #4: Tropic of Chaos: Climate Change and the New Geography of Violence - Christian Parenti

Trevor Jones 

9/28/15

File Size: 1333 KB

Print Length: 314 pages

Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1568587295

Publisher: Nation Books; First Trade Paper Edition edition (June 28, 2011)

Publication Date: June 28, 2011

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Language: English

ASIN: B004Z2NQCS

Professional Review: 

"Christian Parenti offers an unusual and compelling analysis of violence through the lens of the environment….Parenti also turns a sharp eye upon the repression, surveillance, and counterinsurgency that first-world nations have employed to combat growing violence in water-scarce, conflict-ridden regions, and calls for a more enlightened approach."

-San Francisco Bay Guardian 

Customer Review: 

"Mr. Parenti's book is a revelation as it takes a clear eyed glimpse into our undeniable climate crisis; and with that glimpse he illustrates the real threats that crisis represents to both human life and to the democratic ideals that we cherish as American citizens; and finally Parenti maps out at least some possibilities of an exit strategy from this crisis. That these ideas are presented are of utmost importance. Fortunately Mr. Parenti goes beyond just stating abstract notions -- he brings these ideas to life with some generally exciting first hand reporting that takes us from the hardest hit crisis zones of Africa, Afghanistan to our own backyard border zones of Texas and Arizona. In effect he personalizes the overwhelming concepts of global warming by introducing us to the goat herder, the Indian logger, the DEA agent whose lives have been totally turned around by the steady increase in temperature and erratic weather patterns. Most books about the climate crisis can overwhelm us with negativity and a sort of end-of-days mentality. Mr. Parenti's book is the opposite. It is a book that virtually pulses with a love for democracy and belief in the power of human beings to finally do the right thing. And it is a great read as well. What could be better?"

Why I chose this book: 

I chose to read this book not just because of the description it gives about humanities effects on climate change, but also how the downfall of a country or civilization will unleash a chain reaction, bringing other nations down with it. This teaches the reader exactly how we are hurting our nation, as well as others around it.