Before It's Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America

by Jonathan Vigliotti (Author, Reading)

Runtime: 9 hours and 11 minutes

In the vein of This Changes Everything and Saving Us , a character-driven and shocking up-close look at the way climate change is affecting America, right now, and a call to action to protect the people and places we stand to lose if nothing is done to preserve our planet.

Discussion of the climate crisis has always suffered from a problem of abstraction. Data points and warnings of an overheated future struggle to break through the noise of everyday life. Deniers often portray climate solutions as inconvenient, expensive, and unnecessary. And many politicians, cloistered by status and focused always on their next election, do not yet see climate as a winning issue in the short run, so they don’t take any action at all. But climate change, and its devastating consequences, has kept apace whether we want to pay attention or not.

CBS News national correspondent Jonathan Vigliotti has seen that crisis unfold for himself, spending nearly two decades reporting across the United States (and the world) documenting the people, communities, landmarks, and traditions we’ve already surrendered. Vigliotti shares with urgency and personal touch the story of an America on the brink.

Before It’s Gone traces Vigliotti’s travels across the country, taking him to the frontlines of climate disaster and revealing the genuine impacts of climate change that countless Americans have already been forced to confront. From massive forest fires in California to hurricanes in Louisiana, receding coastlines in Massachusetts and devastated fisheries in Alaska, we learn that warnings of a future impacted by climate are no more; the climate catastrophe is already here.

This is the story of America, and Americans, on the edge, and a powerful argument that radical action on climate change with a respect for its people and traditions is not only possible, but also the only way to preserve what we love.

Genres: Nonfiction, Climate Change, Science, Nature, Environment, Audiobook, Ecology

10 pages, Audiobook

First published April 2, 2024

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some of the best (and most human) environmental justice reporting I have read.

[Jessica - How Jessica Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve read a few books on climate change - mostly written by scientists. This one is written by a journalist, and is more humanized - focusing on specific individuals impacted by climate change.

Surprisingly sweary too, which made me laugh several times. He takes his climate reporting f-ing seriously. 😂

[Claire Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

An important and riveting read that provides a front-row seat to the devastating effects of climate change for everyday Americans. Drawing on author Jonathan Vigliotti’s extensive experience as a climate reporter, BEFORE IT’S GONE serves as a chilling reminder that we are not centuries - or even decades - away from the devastation of climate change. We are all feeling the effects every season, every day, now. From wildfires in California to hurricanes on the eastern seaboard, and all of the tornadoes and crop failures in between, the overarching story is told in 4 parts, covering the elements of Fire, Water, Air and Earth in turn. Vigliotti uses story-telling to great effect, personalizing the tragedies while weaving in facts, statistics and some hope in the form of actions we can still take to mitigate if not stop the man-made catastrophes heading our way.

My only nits are relatively minor - each section told more than one story and would switch back and forth in a manner that was sometimes confusing. I think a linear progression of one story at a time would have the same effect without the potential for confusion.

Pub Date: 4/2/24
Review Published: 3/25/24
eARC received from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Taylor Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

big walter mitty vibes… or like if Indiana Jones was a climate activist. i thought nothing could be as good as Elizabeth Kolberts books, but this one was! Jonathan tells these peoples stories in such an authentic, thoughtful way. it’s terrifying to see the real effects of climate change in areas that are totally unprepared for it, and even more proof that we need to take action right now. I wish this book was longer!!!

[Amy Brown (amylikestoreadalot) · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars. Started off strong, but the stories he told would skip around too much. I would have preferred the chapters be about the same climate related event. The first 25% of the book was my favorite.

[Mallory (onmalsshelf) Bartel · Rating 4 out of 5]

A huge thank you to Atria and One Signal publishing for this ARC.

I really wish I had read this one sooner. This is a great piece of enivornmental reporting. I watch NBC more than CBS when it comes to news, but I always appreciate any piece that Jonathan Vigliotti puts out on wildfires, etc.

I highly recommend this. I ended up listening to it on audio because I love his reporting, but I would recommend it either way.

Vigliotti divided it into four parts, each focusing on one of the four elements: Fire, Water, Air, and Earth. He was able to weave in personal anecdotes between statistic, facts, and stories of survivors in a way that made sense.

My one real complaint is that I do think that each part should have been more in a linear progression as there was some confusion when flipping back and forth.

[Wayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book 44 of 2025: Before It's Gone: Stories from the Front Lines of Climate Change in Small-Town America by Jonathan Vigliotti (2024, Atria/One Signal Publishers, 302 p.)
Vigliotti is a reporter with CBS News and covers extreme events: floods, wildfires, hurricanes, etc.
As climate change heats up (!), these extreme events have increased in severity and frequency. Vigliotti presents the impact that these events inflict on small-town America.
I was struck at how much NOAA and FEMA were mentioned in these narratives. Agencies which are being gutted by the current administration. As the climate changes and extreme weather and related events increase, our ability to help our fellow citizens by predicting these extreme events, mitigate the consequences, and aid our fellow citizens is decreasing. It will become apparent, even to the climate change deniers in the administration that something is happening.
These are cautionary tales as we creep closer to the 1.5 degree C increase over pre-Industrial Age temperatures and even closer to the 2 degree C which increasing feedback loops that will GREATLY impact our civilization.
Vigliotti is a fine writer, even if he is a bit sweary (reminds me of James Fell a bit).
His stories did jump back and forth a bit too much for my taste, but his choice of narrative style wasn't too distracting.
Recommended.

[Carianne Carleo-Evangelist · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this a while ago, but forgot to mark it as such here. I appreciated the intersectionality Vigliotti raised between fire damage and the ensuing floods, and how once a storm has passed and. the news media has moved on - the storm is still very real to the people impacted. Being on site just hours after a tree was removed from the young girl it had crushed was poignant, as were the stories of the Camp/Paradise fires. Vigliotti writes with the clarity of a member of the media - which he is - but also the passion of someone who knows the story is never "over".

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sad and infuriating and hopeful and overwhelming - putting a personal story to all sorts of disasters caused by climate change. And surprise, Chapter 33 was about the Matanuska Valley Colony of 1935, something I know a few things about. Highly recommended, also helped get some insight into the personality and life of the reporter/author.

[Jammin Jenny · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book written by a journalist who deals with the front lines of climate change. I thought the personal stories from towns all around America really told the story of how climate change is impacting all sorts of people and places. Hurricanes, tornados, melting ice, all of this is having a tremendous impact on the planet. I hope we can turn it around in time.

[Leslee Jaeger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely book to be reading during Hurricane Helene.

[Sadie · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the best climate 101 books of our time!! both for the overwhelmed/scared and the denialists

[Read With Chey · Rating 5 out of 5]

At times scary, sad, and frustrating but also such a heartfelt and hopeful report on environmental justice and climate change. I truly loved this audiobook and will think about it for a long time.

[Amber · Rating 4 out of 5]

He's a bit all over the place - but that's how my brain works too, so I found this book fascinating.

[Meg · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sobering reminder about the destruction of climate change and the people who have already been affected by disasters. This book makes you face the reality of the situation we’re all in no matter how tempting it is to look away.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you for the ARC, @netgalley and @atriabooks. Before It’s Gone is an important and accessible analysis of the real effects of climate change on all of us, now and into the future. Jonathan Vigliotti deftly weaves together the many threads of our looming ecological crisis, without resorting to preachiness or melodrama. By telling the tragic yet resilient stories of those whose lives and livelihoods have been affected by drought, fire, floods and soil depletion, he implores us to challenge the all-too-pervasive belief that the dangers of climate change are abstract, hypothetical and alarmist. A worthwhile and ultimately hopeful read.

[Angie Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not only is climate change impacting our planet but the geopolitical ramifications are not often discussed. The evidence is clear that climate change also contributes to increased war and conflict. Socioeconomic conditions, governance, and political factors will interact and play a key role in translating climate change into conflict/war risks. If you want to read more about water quality I really liked The Swine Republic by Chris Jones

[Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an important book about climate change effects in different parts of the country. It alternated between educational and eye-opening as the author informed us of wildfires, over-farming, soil depletion, more hurricanes, rising temperatures, etc. I think everyone should read this book - especially the climate change deniers (who I will never understand).

[Paige · Rating 3 out of 5]

Super late review because I truly just didn't know how to organize my thoughts! Thanks @ NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Vigliotti organizes various climate-related stories from his journalism/news career into 4 sections based on the elements (Fire, Water, Air, and Earth) to put a face to the more abstract phenomena of climate and habitat change. Highlights include cities burnt to the ground, a flood of rocks, tracking tornadoes, and giant vegetables.

In terms of the breakdown of the book, I like how the stories were grouped by element, but some sections (Fire) were stronger than others (Air). Fire is pretty well-organized, but the later sections tended to jump between stories and it got super confusing. I also really liked how each section mentions one of the big names who changed how we see and combat climate change.

Where this book shines is in its report-like description of the natural disasters taking place and the science behind them. Everything is explained clearly enough for someone without a strong grasp of environmental science/climate change to understand, and at a pretty snappy pace. The parts of the story where he's talking about his own life involve a lot of clunky wording in an attempt to be funny, and gratuitous use of metaphors.

Content-wise, I learned a lot about weather and climate change but the corny writing made it a bit of a slog. The simplified science + story of devastating loss combo makes this a good candidate to recommend to a relative who doesn't believe in climate change, or as a popular nonfiction pick for a public library.

[Juliana · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a good survey and a frightening reminder of the many climate change disasters we have experienced in the 21st century. As a CBS national correspondent, Jonathan Vigliotti visits small towns across America and examines the catastrophes we face, from massive forest fires to devastating hurricanes, storms, and flooding. I have relatives across the country, so many have been affected by these disasters. It is easy to think, "Oh, this is a one-time event." No, as Vigliotti's book shows, they add up. Since Katrina in 2008, which affected my family in New Orleans, I've had colleagues lose homes to fire in California or been evacuated, I've had relatives in Oregon lose property to wildfires, I have a relative dealing with a neighborhood that smells like onions because excess flooding in California is causing toxins to bubble up at the local dump. I experienced the heatwave in Washington State that caused too much marine life to die out...

Since I have never reviewed one book without recommending another, I think Vigliotti's book is an excellent survey of many disasters, and he covers the Paradise fire in California. If you read Vigliotti's book and want to know more, Paradise: One Town's Struggle to Survive by Lizzie Johnson is an excellent follow-up that goes deeper into one specific disaster.

[Laura Skladzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

I LOVED this book and have been recommending it right and left. Jonathan is a CBS News reporter who is frequently sent out to cover “natural disasters” that are, in fact, due to climate change. In this book, he recounts the personal stories of people he met through his reporting, and builds a strong case for why the devastating effects of climate change are not far off but are in fact already occurring. The entire book is very compelling and easy-to-digest, even as it teaches readers the science of why this is happening. As someone who lives in the wildfire-prone foothills of Colorado, where the devastating 2021 Marshall Fire destroyed over 1000 homes in my town, this hit very close to home, and helped me see the bigger picture: that this wasn’t a one off and we need to take action NOW. The book is divided into four sections - fire, water, air, and earth, and my only complaint is that a few stories didn’t fit their section as well as I would have liked (e.g., the “air” section had a lot of content about a flood in Montana, which would have fit better in the “water” section rather than in discussions of tornadoes). Overall, a fantastic book that I wish everyone would read.

[Lori · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s hard to read this and not wonder if your town is next. O r your home will be burned down or flooded or blown away. And if so where will you go and will they take you?
Many of these stories have the same theme: if officials had listened and acted decades ago lives would have been saved. Which leads me to believe we cannot depend on politicians to do the right things. In my state legislators and governors are term limited so they are disincentivized to prevent catastrophes that won’t happen on their watch. My city is constrained by pension fund obligations. We need an independent agency that is focused only on fighting climate changes, not dependent on being reelected or political agendas. That can’t be defunded when a new regime takes over. Something like DARPA where the best and brightest figure out what works and makes it scalable and economical. Where they get that a dollar spent today is cheaper than five dollars next year. Who gets businesses and homeowners and farmers and engineers and scientists and construction companies and tribes and first responders working together for the greater good. How do we get this going and start solving problems before it’s too late?

[Jen Juenke · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the author ever gets tired of reporting, he may just have a career in writing.

I really enjoyed this book. I love how the author went with the elements, FIRE, Water, AIR, Earth. ANd then gave examples of each one.
Further, talked about some people are trying to improve the environment.

One of the overwhelming things I noticed was just how rural all of the places felt. How before the tragedy hit there was a big community there.

The author took it slow, using plain English on why some of the super storms are happening more often.

I Really appreciated the aspects of all of the weather that the author covered, from a diner hit by the Beast, to a suicide hotline for farmers in Minnesota, the author covers all of the bases.

The only small thing was in the Air section, there talked about a flood in a National Park. It was just weird to talk about flooding then the Beast tornadro. Didn't seem to belong in the air section.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

[Desirae · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Before It’s Gone” is a provocative and informative read. Based on the author’s collection of over twenty journals, this book is about his personal journey covering weather related disasters and the people and communities impacted by them. Vigliotti organized his book into four sections-fire, water, wind and earth; each dealing with weather impacts specific to each element.

I found the historical aspects of this book both intriguing and absorbing. Personally, it made me stop and re evaluate historically important events in this country.

It was also riveting reading about the author’s personal challenges as a frontline reporter covering the various environmental disasters that are plaguing the country due to climate change. Most importantly, he highlights the resiliency of both the people and their towns who have survived these disasters, bringing truly a personal element and connection to their stories. Climate change doesn’t just impact “other” people or “other” places. It impacts us all, both in our country and globally. A must read!!

[Casey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very engaging ebook as the author visits traumatized communities after disasters, in four categories: Fire, Water, Air (e.g. tornados, hurricanes), and Earth (e.g. drought).

Syria: I’ve read some books on the Syrian war but only now understand the climate change angle. Before the war, Syria was already destabilized by drought and crop failures.

Maps: One advantage of ebooks is the ease of opening another tab on the laptop to locate the communities on a map. Although I’m still not sure how the snow melt from Yellowstone could have poured to Red Lodge, Montana, without carving a new river path.

Edits: Okay, this is petty, but the editor should have caught these errors: Us (We) humans are… All he had left to do was lay (lie) down…

This book is focused on the human toll of climate change, and is highly recommended!

[Hella Comat · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for everyone, especially politicians and legislators! It is presented in 4 sections. Fire looks at the increasing incidence and greater intensity of forest fires. Water studies the rise in ocean levels due to melting ice caps as a result of a warming climate. Air reviews the horrendous damage done by tornadoes in recent decades, and Earth shows how modern 'factory farming' techniques aren't sustainable.

In every section, the author relies on first person accounts and experts' summations, but he always makes it highly readable and interesting, despite the frightening statistics. Listening to the experiences of a forest fire survivor or a bankrupt farmer certainly drives the point home - we must be better environmental stewards and actively demand our governments to take this issue seriously.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This fascinating and impactful book looks at the effects of climate change on many communities across the country. It is divided into 4 sections, catastrophes caused by air, water, fire and earth. He goes into affected communities and tells the stories of these people caught up in these disasters. They are often marginalized communities, far from the ears of politicians and experts. It was shocking to read that Alaska is the new face of agriculture because of climate change. Since my family was a victim of flooding in Hurricane Hazel in 1954, I was keen to see how quickly communities recovered from these disasters. We lived in a trailer for 4 months, but then were back home in our recovered community. Sadly, a lot of communities these days do not get the help needed in a timely manner. Thanks, Hella, for this recommendation.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first took note of Jonathan during his reporting in Lahaina. He had so much empathy for the survivors and grit when holding public officials accountable. He was the guy who asked hard hitting questions to the head guy of the emergency response who then resigned the next day. This book embodies that same empathy and grit. But what stood out most to me was his ability to break down complicated science into easy to understand parts. His focus on habitat change made me rethink our impact on our planet beyond just climate change. The solutions to building resilient communities actually seem achievable. Also, if I may add, he can really write! Like the rest of the best writers. He transported me with his words and I’ll never look at our weather the same way again.

[Adam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Before It's Gone is a decent first book by Jonathan Vigliotti, who details his experiences reporting on disasters created and/or intensified by climate change. He's a good writer. Some of his stories had me on the edge of my seat. There's also some good humor and he writes in a way I found to be relatable. Unfortunately, the book is a bit chaotic. While it's broken into 4 overarching sections, the chapters contained with in jump around chronologically and geographically quite a bit. Some chapters are a page or two long, while others are quite lengthy. That makes pacing a bit of a problem, which is also evident in the very different scopes of coverage in each of the four sections. I would say it reminded me of Jeff Goodell's recent books, just not quite as polished.

[Diane Vigliotti · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fascinating and eye opening personal account by the author of how climate change is impacting various towns and the people who call these places home throughout America with world wide implications. I like how this book is broken up into four parts: fire, water, air and earth. For a climate change “novice” like myself, I found this book to be enlightening as well as easy to read. I learned so much about how our weather is impacted by the inhabitants of this great world and while time is running out it is essential that we lessen our negative influence on it. It is our responsibility to preserve our planet for future generations! A very thought provoking and inspiring read.