Reseña de Choise

A conservation biologist and an acclaimed science writer collaborate to communicate engaging stories that inspire and inform, with lessons for bioregions far beyond California. Each chapter integrates climate and ecological science with human behavior within the context of a particular community and ecosystem, from desert to forest, agrarian to urban, estuarine to riverine, coastal to mountainous, etc. Given California's diversity (populations and ecosystems), these stories of local community groups leading efforts to mitigate and prevent climate catastrophe are highly suggestive of applicability in other parts of the world. The lesson of the book is delivered by showing the consequences of human action (and inaction) for the sake of a livable climate worldwide. Numerous citations to scholarly references and reputable news sources are included for every chapter. Chapter summaries provide helpful cohesion for the disparate stories. The extensive index covers prominent community leaders, conservation groups, climate activists and solutions, key species (from abalone to zebra-tailed lizard), particular bioregions, and more. The concluding chapter thoughtfully analogizes from the way the COVID-19 pandemic has led to increased public awareness of scientific investigation to the reader's intended understanding that climate resilience requires both individual and collective responses on local and global scales. A good book for both public and academic libraries. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Alison Scott Ricker, Oberlin College