The Atlas of a Changing Climate

The Atlas of a Changing Climate is a much more accessible read on how the world is changing than I've seen so far. Brian Buma takes you through the changes in a few different settings: the atmosphere, water, land, cities, and basic life. Each section has plenty of charts, graphs, and maps that show the changes over the years. The whole book reads like an article in National Geographic, which I loved. It stays engaging and doesn't feel long and tedious, as some scientific readings can be. The book went by a lot faster than I expected. The images throughout the book helped give a little more clarity and perspective on the stories they went with-something that is super necessary when reading about things that are hard to understand at first! If you enjoy Nat Geo and/or want to learn more about climate change, this would be a great book to pick up.

Thanks to Netgalley and Timber Press for an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This didn't focus as much on the inforgraphics as I was expecting it too. While there is a lot of helpful information to be found in this book, I probably wouldn't suggest it to people new to the topic as I thought I would have before picking it up. I definitely think it would be a better fit for people who already have a strong base understanding of climate change. It is a beautiful book though and I enjoyed sitting down and delving into it, even if I was often overwhelmed by the amount of information being presented.

A thoroughly approachable introduction to the changing climate on Earth.

Brian Buma breaks down the climate into sections (ex: Wetlands, Mountains, Grasslands, Cities), and expounds on each topic with maps, charts, and engaging stories. This is a hefty book but the fantastic images and historical data ensure that you don't get bored. The engaging text utilizes historical data from around the world. This book feels targeted towards a North American audience as many of the images and illustrations focus on that region.

It's difficult to approach the topic of climate change without feeling overwhelmed or filled with despair. This book succeeds by breaking down the topic into manageable chunks and by placing humans within the myriad of systems that support life on Earth.

This would be a great addition to adult or YA nonfiction shelves or a helpful if lengthy introduction to climate change for anyone interested in the subject.

THE ATLAS OF A CHANGING CLIMATE: OUR EVOLVING PLANET - Brian Buma
Timber Press
ISBN-10: 1-60469-994-9
ISBN-13: 978-1-60469-994-4
November 9, 2021
Non-Fiction Environmental Science

This book is an atlas of the many maps and graphs drawn of the Earth through the ages of man and comparing them to today's world. They show the changes occurring—changes dangerous to many life forms on Earth, including man. It opens with the author's experience on Isla Hornos, Cape Horn, and what he experienced there which exposed him to one human problem: none of us completely understands the spatial scale of Earth, our home. Nor can we experience the time-related scale of the planet. Changes in our life take place daily, monthly, or even in decades, but the Earth's changes are more sporadic. Some are daily or seasonal, others last decades, and some take centuries.

The images are wonderful! Some are in black and white but many in color. These graphics help the reader visualize the Earth and its changes. The book covers five changes, the first in the always in motion atmosphere, followed by the global buffer of water, the infinite variety of land, the (relatively) new environment of cities, and ending with the biodiversity of life. It also has an extended reading list on these topics. It is a valuable book as the images give visual appeal and the text valuable and understandable information. As the book explains, we have nowhere else to live—we are all part of this one world. We humans must readjust our view of ownership of the Earth to one of caretakers of our only viable home.

Robin Lee

For most people, climate change is an abstract concept. Hence, not many have a solid grasp of what climate change is and how it impacts our home planet. With its numerous maps and graphs, "The Atlas of a Changing Climate' by Brian Buma makes climate change easier to understand. In other words, this book presents the conceptual knowledge along with visuals so that the reader not only reads about the subject but also sees the associated changes.

The writing style is accessible, with a tone similar to what one finds in National Geographic articles. The author organized the information in the book by Earth systems such as atmosphere, water, land, etc. Each chapter is packed with clear and factual information and captivating images. This book would be a great addition to any library.

This is an excellent set of visualisations of the spread of climate change. Whether an ominous Hurricane Sandy approaching shore, or receding glacier in Alaska, there are plenty of large visual cues to turbulence and temperature rise. We also see riverbeds mapped with lidar or aerial photography, indicating the many meanders over the centuries. And a span of lights at night indicating cities, mainly along coastlines.

With packs of data behind each colourful map or graphic, from wind power to ocean currents, or beetle attack on trees, this will be a valuable resource for anyone wishing to understand these topics and the challenges we face. I believe the science material is too complex for primary school, but the graphs could be understood on their face by young readers. However, the ideal reader seems to be one with a grasp of the issues. Many of the locations relate to North America.

I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

This timely, illustrated guide to climate change highlights causes for concerns in changes that impact the atmosphere, hydrosphere, geosphere, urban environment, and biosphere. Author Brian Buma succinctly covers this global problem with case studies, historical data, and clear diagrams. A fantastic read and fabulous resource for a lay person to get a general understanding of climate change. I plan to add this to my classroom and school library.

A simplistic writing and an educational tone, along with data charts, geographical maps, and engaging tales, creates an easy-to-understand and commendably comprehensible introduction to the changing climate. From the urban landscape to the historical outlines, this illustrated guide successfully puts across the concerning impact of climate tensions on the various facets of our biosphere. A captivating and factual resource that easily comprise the various aspects and effects of a problem that should and does inevitably bring us together to save something we can all call 'home'. Though, one would quickly realize that the book is largely garnered towards a Western audience from the lack of enough focus on the Eastern or other overlooked regions of this planet.

I received a free eARC from the author/publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is a timely illustrated guide to climate change - its causes, its development, and its impact. It looks at changes in the hydrosphere, geosphere, biosphere, and the urban environment, and why these are concerning.

There is quite a lot of information to absorb, so I had to read this in small bursts, but there are plenty of gorgeous illustrations and maps to peruse. This isn't a children's book, so that's something to be aware of when purchasing it (although older children with an interest might enjoy it.) It is written in a very straightforward and easy to understand manner, and all the information is presented beautifully.

Would recommend for people interested in climate change, earth science, and life sciences more broadly.