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Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) [Paperback]

Bill McGuire (Author)
3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
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Book Description

Publication Date: 26 Jan 2006 | ISBN-10: 0192804936 | ISBN-13: 978-0192804938
Life on earth will come to an end. It's just a matter of when. Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction focuses on the many potential catastrophes facing our planet and our species in the future, and looks at both the probability of these events happening and our chances of survival.

Coverage extends from discussion of the likely consequences of the current global warming to the inevitable destruction of the earth in the far future, when it is enveloped by our giant, bloated sun. In between, other 'end of the world scenarios' will be examined, including the New Ice Age, asteroid and comet impact, supervolcanoes, and mega-tsunami.

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Global Catastrophes: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) + Global Warming: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) + The Earth: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions)
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Product details

  • Paperback: 152 pages
  • Publisher: OUP Oxford (26 Jan 2006)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0192804936
  • ISBN-13: 978-0192804938
  • Product Dimensions: 11.1 x 0.9 x 17.4 cm
  • Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 312,684 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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About the Author


Bill McGuire is Benfield Professor of Geophysical Hazards at University College London, Director of the University's Benfield Hazard Research Centre, and a member of the Natural Hazard Working Group, established by the UK government in the wake of the Asian tsunami disaster.

A volcanologist by training and inclination, he has published over three hundred papers, books and articles on volcanoes and other natural hazards. Bill regularly contributes to newspapers, television and radio, and his popular science books include Volcanoes of the World, Apocalypse: A Natural History of Global Disasters, Raging Planet: The Tectonic Threat to Life on Earth, and Surviving Armageddon: Solutions for a Threatened Planet.
Inside This Book (Learn More)
First Sentence
We are so used to seeing on our television screens the battered remains of cities pounded by earthquakes or the thousands of terrified refugees escaping from yet another volcanic blast that they no longer hold any surprise or fear for us, insulated as we are by distance and a lack of true empathy. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars IMPORTANT BUT NARROW 6 Mar 2012
By Yehezkel Dror
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Technology and Society: Building Our Sociotechnical Future (Inside Technology Series) The Capacity to Govern: A Report to the Club of Rome

As far as natural catastrophes not caused in part by human action are concerned, this is an important book well presenting complex issues in ways understandable to the non-professional. But when moving into catastrophes caused, at least in part by human action, the book misses a lot.
There are also some oversimplifications and exaggerations. Thus, on pages 38-39 the author states "all the great reefs will be dead and gone within 50 years...obliterated by warmer seas just so that some of us can continue to live, or strive for, lives of conspicuous consumption." With due appreciation for the great reefs, it is hard to regard their disappearance as a "catastrophe" in line with those discussed in the book. And to explain the warmer seas in terms of conspicuous consumption is a gross oversimplification, to put it delicately.
As the author takes up humanity-caused global warming and its repercussions, some of which may indeed by catastrophic as rightly pointed out in the book, then other anthropogenic (caused by human action) possible and in part likely catastrophes should have been extensively discussed, such as resulting from biotechnology, robotics and nano-technologies. But these are not taken up, though their probability is much higher than that of a large comet hitting earth which is discussed. This reduces the comprehensiveness of the book.
Also missing is serious discussion of the socio-political requirements of effective counter-measures. Given the overall mood of the book, with which I largely identify, sudden unwarranted optimism came to me as a surprise. On page 41 very naïve trust in rather worthless efforts to reduce emission of green-house gases reveals lack of understanding by the author of the power and interest dimensions of the issue. Instead, he should have taken up the need for essential decisive globally imposed measures - which are unlikely before catastrophes strike, but should be thought through in advance.
Still this is an important book as far as it goes, which should be on the reading list of all decision makers.
Professor Yehezkel Dror
The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars Easy read 31 Dec 2012
By Andy
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
A short book that is thoroughly readable, though ultimately it doesn't teach you anything essential and as such there isn't much to take away from it, nor is it particularly memorable. Still, it passed the time on a long train journey.
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8 of 10 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars The end of the world? Not if, but when. 9 May 2008
By GoatHorns
Format:Paperback
This book is very nice: well written and concise - ideal for the beginner who wants a broad coverage of a fascinating topic. This is certainly one of the better 'short introductions' on the market.

The introductory chapter serves as a good overview for the rest of the book, while the proceeding chapters about global warming and the possibility of an ice age are both good. The text is fact-heavy but still flows nicely, telling a clear story. While the authors own views are certainly evident, he also mentions the ideas of other scientists (some contraversial and some downright mad).

The book goes on to discuss the threat and possible consequences of geological events such as super-volcanic eruptions, mega-tsunami's and city-destroying earthquakes. He not only considers the Earth sceince behind these phenomena, but the economic impact is also covered, albeit superficially. I found the chapter about the 'Threat from Space' particularly interesting (and disturbing).

I give the book 4 stars and not 5 because, i my opinion, it lacked scientific depth. I believe, even in a book so small and introductory, that the author could have given a little more explanation of the science. Perhpas he neglected to do this in the fear of scaring off potential readers who don't want too much of an intellectual challenge, or perhaps he was concerned with making the book too long for the format of the series (though he does repeat himself several times, so cutting down the words would not have been too difficult). A bit more technical science would have been welcome.

Overall, a very nice read with a pessimistic (but probably realistic) outlook.
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