
Hell and High Water
Climate Change, Hope and the Human Condition
Alastair McIntosh(Author)
Birlinn Ltd (Publisher)
Published on 20. June 2008
Book
Paperback/Softback
296 pages
978-1-84158-622-9 (ISBN)
Description
Climate change is the greatest challenge that the world has ever faced. In this groundbreaking new book, Alastair McIntosh summarises the science of what is happening to the planet - both globally and using Scotland as a local case study. He moves on, controversially, to suggest that politics alone is not enough to tackle the scale and depth of the problem. At root is our addictive consumer mentality. Wants have replaced needs and consumption drives our very identity.
In a fascinating journey through early texts that speak to climate change - including the ancient Sumerian Epic of "Gilgamesh", Plato's myth of "Atlantis", and Shakespeare's "Macbeth" - McIntosh reveals the psychohistory of modern consumerism.He shows how we have fallen prey to a numbing culture of violence and the motivational manipulation of marketing. To start to resolve what has become of the human condition we must get more real in facing up to despair and death. Only then will we discover the spiritual meaning of these our troubled times. Only then can magic, new meaning, and all that gives life, start to mend a broken world.
In a fascinating journey through early texts that speak to climate change - including the ancient Sumerian Epic of "Gilgamesh", Plato's myth of "Atlantis", and Shakespeare's "Macbeth" - McIntosh reveals the psychohistory of modern consumerism.He shows how we have fallen prey to a numbing culture of violence and the motivational manipulation of marketing. To start to resolve what has become of the human condition we must get more real in facing up to despair and death. Only then will we discover the spiritual meaning of these our troubled times. Only then can magic, new meaning, and all that gives life, start to mend a broken world.
Reviews / Votes
Praise for Soil and Soul by Alistair McIntosh:'a terrific book' -- Brian Logan * The Guardian * 'the book of the decade' -- Robin Harper MSP 'This is a world-changing book ... one day it'll be recognised as a classic' * Sunday Express * 'It is a beautifully written analysis' * Scotland on Sunday * 'A book of passion and wit ... weaving a dizzying range of ideas into a bright fabric ... It is a book every Scot should read' -- John Burnside * The Scotsman *More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Edinburgh
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Birlinn General
Dimensions
Height: 198 mm
Width: 129 mm
Thickness: 20 mm
Weight
299 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-84158-622-9 (9781841586229)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

E-Book
07/2012
Birlinn Ltd
€9.59
Available for download
Person
Alastair McIntosh is an independent writer, broadcaster, speaker and activist who is involved in a wide range of contemporary issues, from land reform, globalization and nonviolence to psychology, spirituality and ecology.