Elizabeth Kolbert's Field Notes from a Catastrophe extensively discusses climate change, combining scientific insights with compelling narratives. Critics praise its accessible yet informative approach, though some find the tone overly pessimistic. The book effectively raises awareness, but its dire projections might overwhelm some readers.

Readers who appreciate Field Notes from a Catastrophe by Elizabeth Kolbert are environmentally conscious individuals drawn to narratives blending scientific research with compelling storytelling. Fans of The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert or Silent Spring by Rachel Carson will find this book intriguing and insightful.

In Field Notes from a Catastrophe, Elizabeth Kolbert explores the urgent and multifaceted impacts of climate change, beginning with observations in Greenland and the Alaskan island of Shishmaref and tracing historical and contemporary scientific research. She examines global climate models, the political resistance to addressing emissions, and the consequences for biodiversity and human societies. Kolbert concludes that human activities have ushered in the Anthropocene epoch, significantly disrupting the earth's natural climate balance. 

The book contains discussions of environmental displacement and mentions large-scale famines.

Informative / Challenging / Melancholic / Unnerving / Contemplative

- Field Notes from a Catastrophe originated from a series of articles by Elizabeth Kolbert on global warming that were published in The New Yorker.
- Elizabeth Kolbert traveled to various locations, including Alaska and Greenland, to observe climate change impacts firsthand while researching for the book.
- The book has been praised for effectively communicating complex scientific data about climate change in an accessible way to the general public.

**Elizabeth Kolbert**  
Initially a reporter for The New York Times, she moved to The New Yorker, focusing on politics and environmental issues; she's an author and member of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists’ Science and Security Board.

**Paul Crutzen**  
A Nobel Prize-winning Dutch chemist who introduced the term “Anthropocene” to describe the era in which human activity significantly influences the planet's climate.

**David Hawkins**  
Leader of the climate program at the Natural Resources Defense Council, he works on promoting sustainable energy initiatives, particularly in the US and China.

**Robert Socolow**  
A Princeton professor emeritus who co-directs the Carbon Mitigation Initiative and developed strategies called "stabilization wedges" to manage climate change.

**Marty Hoffert**  
A physics professor at New York University focused on developing carbonless electricity sources and advocating significant financial investment in energy research.

**Chris Thomas**  
A biologist specializing in butterflies and moths, he studies the impact of climate change on biodiversity and the potential threat to ecosystems and agriculture.

**John Tyndall**  
An Irish physicist who was among the first to document climate change by studying the greenhouse gas effect, which helps make Earth habitable.

Elizabeth Kolbert

Adult

Book

Nonfiction

Guide

Study Guide

Before You Read

Explore Field Notes from a Catastrophe reviews, reading age recommendations, and essential genre and thematic details before you start reading.

Before You Read Field Notes from a Catastrophe | SuperSummary

title

content

Overview

Get ready to explore Field Notes from a Catastrophe and its meaning. Our full analysis and study guide provides an even deeper dive with character analysis and quotes explained to help you discover the complexity and beauty of this book.

Field Notes from a Catastrophe

Before You Read

Super Short Summary

Reviews & Readership

Review Roundup

Who Should Read Field Notes from a Catastrophe?

Reading Age

Book Details