Scan barcode
debr's review
3.0
Well full disclosure- I did not in fact finish this book. I read the first two parts. The stories are very fascinating. Even as someone who works in this space I hadn’t heard of some of the issues he introduced. But i simply got too frustrated with his sensational presentation which felt click-baity in parts, was underwhelming in its synthesis and reflection, and at times felt like he did not have the data to come to some of his conclusions but rather just made some really big assumptions about how a community or public acted or felt on an issue. These shortcuts frankly felt lazy, and for a book engaging in such incredibly serious topics it feels really lacking in scholarship.
brettpet's review
4.0
I was blown away when I read Nathaniel Rich's Losing Earth earlier this year, which was a perfectly paced exposé on the failings of the Reagan administration towards addressing climate agreements. Second Nature is not quite as organized as it's predecessor, but it's still very much worth your time.
Nature is broken up into three sections ("Crime Scene", "Season of Disbelief", and "As Gods") with stories in each being loosely connected to the overarching theme. I do wish there had been an introduction to each section for Rich to further explain how they connected, as the introductory section "Crime Scene" did a solid job of setting the book's tone but felt too brief.
"Here Come the Warm Jets" was my favorite individual story/article here, discussing the Aliso Canyon gas leak in 2015. It gave a solid overview of the issues that aging gas refineries will continue to dredge up and I especially liked the interviews with the Porter Ranch residents—some being comically resistant to leaving the hazardous area. "Frankenstein In The Lower Ninth" was a powerful read as well, giving an oversight into the recovery issues still pertinent in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (also acting as a compliment to my current read of Rothstein's The Color of Law). "Aspen Saves the World" was another favorite, showcasing the hurdles facing local governments in enacting strong renewable energy policy even with citizen support.
The final section, "As Gods", was my least favorite overall. I felt the standout story was "Pigeon Apocalypse", discussing Ben Novak's endearing effort to resurrect the passenger pigeon and the wider discussions around "de-extinction" (e.g. does resurrection matter more than conservation? are we ever able to replicate a one to one of a missing species?). The story "Bayou Bonjour" is the centerpiece of this section (and arguably the whole of Second Nature), being the longest here and the only split into multiple parts. I think I got the gist of "Bonjour" within the first thirty pages, and it honestly felt like enough material for a whole other book, so I wouldn't reread this one. Unfortunately the final two stories "Immortal Jellyfish" and "Green Rabbit" were some of the weakest for me and I have trouble recalling their major points.
Despite the mixed stories in the final section, I liked Second Nature quite a bit. Nathaniel Rich's writing is as important as ever, and I think he does an exemplary job of synthesizing massive issues into article format (just read the first story, "Dark Waters" if you want a prime example of this). If you haven't read Losing Earth yet, definitely check that out first, and if you want something comparable to Nature, Thor Hanson's recent book is well worth your time.
Nature is broken up into three sections ("Crime Scene", "Season of Disbelief", and "As Gods") with stories in each being loosely connected to the overarching theme. I do wish there had been an introduction to each section for Rich to further explain how they connected, as the introductory section "Crime Scene" did a solid job of setting the book's tone but felt too brief.
"Here Come the Warm Jets" was my favorite individual story/article here, discussing the Aliso Canyon gas leak in 2015. It gave a solid overview of the issues that aging gas refineries will continue to dredge up and I especially liked the interviews with the Porter Ranch residents—some being comically resistant to leaving the hazardous area. "Frankenstein In The Lower Ninth" was a powerful read as well, giving an oversight into the recovery issues still pertinent in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina (also acting as a compliment to my current read of Rothstein's The Color of Law). "Aspen Saves the World" was another favorite, showcasing the hurdles facing local governments in enacting strong renewable energy policy even with citizen support.
The final section, "As Gods", was my least favorite overall. I felt the standout story was "Pigeon Apocalypse", discussing Ben Novak's endearing effort to resurrect the passenger pigeon and the wider discussions around "de-extinction" (e.g. does resurrection matter more than conservation? are we ever able to replicate a one to one of a missing species?). The story "Bayou Bonjour" is the centerpiece of this section (and arguably the whole of Second Nature), being the longest here and the only split into multiple parts. I think I got the gist of "Bonjour" within the first thirty pages, and it honestly felt like enough material for a whole other book, so I wouldn't reread this one. Unfortunately the final two stories "Immortal Jellyfish" and "Green Rabbit" were some of the weakest for me and I have trouble recalling their major points.
Despite the mixed stories in the final section, I liked Second Nature quite a bit. Nathaniel Rich's writing is as important as ever, and I think he does an exemplary job of synthesizing massive issues into article format (just read the first story, "Dark Waters" if you want a prime example of this). If you haven't read Losing Earth yet, definitely check that out first, and if you want something comparable to Nature, Thor Hanson's recent book is well worth your time.
pldean's review
5.0
Disturbing and thought-provoking reporting from the strange frontiers of the ongoing ecological crisis as humans relentlessly alter our planet. Rich does a great job of seeking out interesting people on which to hang his chapter-long examinations of issues, places, and uncomfortable truths about where we are and where we're headed.
audreyapproved's review
5.0
I feel like a lot of climate change and anthropocene books, articles and documentaries try to inspire the reader to *do your part*, or end with a rousing call to action, a we-must-act-now! But in Second Nature, Rich takes a different approach - we are already fucked and now we have to figure out what comes next. Ultimately, the "natural" world we romanticize will be forever gone, and even the path of "saving" nature will involve fundamentally changing it. This realist tone threads through the entire piece. We ARE to blame to an irreversibly changed world. Now the question is really how we're going to deal with it.
In engaging, highly researched and very intimate human-centered stories, we cover examples of contemporary ecological issues, ranging from industrial capitalistic apathy, to rapidly changing landscapes, and the intersection of environmental techno-engineering. I especially appreciated the ethical discussions and the history of changing environmental views.
This gave me major [a:Elizabeth Kolbert|45840|Elizabeth Kolbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1380812913p2/45840.jpg] vibes (a big compliment). It is, in fact, a much better version of Kolbert's recent release [b:Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future|54814834|Under a White Sky The Nature of the Future|Elizabeth Kolbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608039192l/54814834._SY75_.jpg|85515756], which I think had a very similar goal to this piece. I've also had [b:How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction|38800772|How to Clone a Mammoth The Science of De-Extinction|Beth Shapiro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519711867l/38800772._SY75_.jpg|42923637] on my TBR for a while now, and am inspired to pick it up next after reading the de-extinction chapter that specifically talks about Shapiro and her research.
In engaging, highly researched and very intimate human-centered stories, we cover examples of contemporary ecological issues, ranging from industrial capitalistic apathy, to rapidly changing landscapes, and the intersection of environmental techno-engineering. I especially appreciated the ethical discussions and the history of changing environmental views.
This gave me major [a:Elizabeth Kolbert|45840|Elizabeth Kolbert|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1380812913p2/45840.jpg] vibes (a big compliment). It is, in fact, a much better version of Kolbert's recent release [b:Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future|54814834|Under a White Sky The Nature of the Future|Elizabeth Kolbert|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1608039192l/54814834._SY75_.jpg|85515756], which I think had a very similar goal to this piece. I've also had [b:How to Clone a Mammoth: The Science of De-Extinction|38800772|How to Clone a Mammoth The Science of De-Extinction|Beth Shapiro|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1519711867l/38800772._SY75_.jpg|42923637] on my TBR for a while now, and am inspired to pick it up next after reading the de-extinction chapter that specifically talks about Shapiro and her research.
More...