Hope dies last: visionary people across the world, fighting to find us a future

"In this profoundly human and moving narrative, the bestselling author of The World Without Us returns with a book ten years in the making: a study of the precarious state of our planet and what it means to be a human on the front lines of this existential crisis. His new book, Hope Dies Last, is a literary evocation of our current predicament and the core optimism of the human species against the worst odds we have ever faced. To write this book, Weisman has travelled the globe witnessing the devastation of climate change and meeting the people striving to mitigate and undo our past transgressions. From the flooding Marshall Islands to wetlands renewal in Iraq, and from the Netherlands to the Korean DMZ to cities and coastlines in the U.S. and around the world, he has witnessed personally the best of humanity battling the heat, the hunger, and the rising tides. He profiles the work of big thinkers-engineers, scientists, economists, and psychiatrists-as they devise innovative and wildly creative responses to an uncertain and frightening future. We are at an unprecedented point in history, as our collective exploits on this planet are leading us to our own undoing, and we could be one of the species marching toward extinction. A remedy to climate anxiety by one of our most important voices on humans' relationship with the Earth, Hope Dies Last fills a crucial gap in the global conversation: Now that we have passed the point of no return in our battle against climate change, how do we feel, behave, act, plan, and dream as we approach a future decidedly different from what we had expected"--
Presents a global examination of the current state of the environment and the human responses to climate change. Developed over a decade, the book combines reportage, science, and personal narratives to explore how individuals and communities around the world are confronting environmental challenges. Weisman documents his travels to regions affected by climate change -- including the Marshall Islands, Iraq, the Netherlands, the Korean DMZ, and various parts of the United States -- where he observes both environmental damage and efforts toward restoration and resilience. The book profiles scientists, engineers, economists, and mental health professionals who are developing strategies to address the complex realities of a changing planet. Rather than offering technical solutions alone, Hope Dies Last also explores the psychological and societal implications of a warming world, addressing how people cope with climate-related anxiety and uncertainty. The book seeks to contribute to the broader discourse on climate change by examining how humanity can respond -- emotionally and practically -- to a rapidly evolving global landscape.