Hope Dies Last: Visionary People Across the World, Fighting to Find Us a Future

by Alan Weisman

The award-winning environmental journalist’s extraordinary, long-awaited portrait of hope and resilience as we face a fractured and uncertain future

In this profoundly human and moving narrative, the bestselling author of The World Without Us returns with a book ten years in the a study of what it means to be a human on the front lines of our planet’s existential crisis. His new book, Hope Dies Last, is a literary evocation of our current predicament and the core resolve of our species against the most precarious odds we have ever faced.

To write this book, Weisman traveled the globe, witnessing climate upheaval and other devastations, and meeting the people striving to mitigate and undo our past transgressions. From the flooding Marshall Islands to revived wetlands in Iraq, from the Netherlands and Bangladesh to the Korean DMZ and to cities and coastlines in the U.S. and around the world, he has encountered the best of humanity battling heat, hunger, rising tides, and imperiled nature. He profiles the innovations of big thinkers—engineers, scientists, conservationists, economists, architects, and artists—as they conjure wildly creative, imaginative responses to an uncertain, ominous future. At this unprecedented point in history, as our collective exploits on this planet may lead to our own undoing and we could be among the species marching toward extinction, they refuse to accept defeat.

A remedy to climate anxiety by one of the most important voices on humanity’s relationship with the Earth, Hope Dies Last fills a crucial gap in the global Having reached a point of no return in our climate confrontation, how do we feel, behave, act, plan, and dream as we approach a future decidedly different from what we had expected?

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Climate Change, Politics, Environment, Nature, Journalism

512 pages, Hardcover

First published April 22, 2025

About the author

Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name. See this thread for more information.

Alan Weisman's reports from around the world have appeared in Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, The Los Angeles Times Magazine, Orion, Wilson Quarterly, Vanity Fair, Mother Jones, Discover, Audubon, Condé Nast Traveler, and in many anthologies, including Best American Science Writing 2006. His most recent book, The World Without Us, a bestseller translated into 30 languages, was named the Best Nonfiction Book of 2007 by both Time Magazine and Entertainment Weekly, the #1 Nonfiction Audiobook of 2007 by iTunes; a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award in Nonfiction, for the Orion Prize, and a Book Sense 2008 Honor Book. His previous books include An Echo In My Blood; Gaviotas: A Village to Reinvent the World (10th anniversary edition available from Chelsea Green); and La Frontera: The United States Border With Mexico. He has also written the introduction for The World We Have by Thich Nhat Hanh, available this fall from Parallax Press. A senior producer for Homelands Productions, Weisman’s documentaries have aired on National Public Radio, Public Radio International, and American Public Media. Each spring, he leads an annual field program in international journalism at the University of Arizona, where is Laureate Associate Professor in Journalism and Latin American Studies. He and his wife, sculptor Beckie Kravetz, live in western Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Camelia Rose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A timely book on climate change. Depressing and uplifting at the same time, the book pays homage to scientists, entrepreneurs and activists who are at the front line of the fight against climate change, and discusses a wide range of technologies and how they can help us. It is also about how people, scientists and activists, keep on fighting despite insurmountable difficulties.

Some topics I find especially interesting:
- Nuclear Fusion (Commonwealth Fusion Systems)
- Live bacteria based fertilizer (Pivot Bio)
- Solar projects and the effort to electrify tuk-tuks in Southern Asian countries
- Expand human palate (sea weeds and insects)

Hope dies last, because without hope, we are already dead. This fight against climate change is about the earth, but ultimately, it’s about us.

[Cory Brock · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was very informative and I learned a lot about efforts to adapt to climate change across all parts of the world, but it was a struggle to read at times. The subject matter, while I admit was fairly bleak, wasn't necessarily the issue; it's the writing and how the topics are presented that made this a bit of a slog.

As each chapter focuses on a different group in a different part of the world dealing with their unique issues, you have to go through setup and introductions. I understand the necessity for this, but it became very repetitive after a while. I found myself not really interested in the people Weisman introduces throughout each chapter, not because their work was not interesting but because I knew that once I moved on to the next chapter I'd never read about them again. I suppose it wouldn't be easy to tie all of the chapters together, but this book would benefit from some sort of through line. In the other book I've read by Weisman, The World Without Us, I feel as though he did a good job of connecting the different pieces together which led to a more enjoyable read. Hope Dies Last would have benefited from that.

While I appreciate the information in this book, and I think it's good to know about various efforts taking place to adapt to climate change, this ultimately was not an enjoyable read for me.

[Richard Gresham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow I love the book

[Cesar Perez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even in the face of overwhelming climate and environmental crises, determined individuals can make real change—and collective human ingenuity, courage, and compassion are our greatest tools for survival. Hope is a very big thing.

[Riley Davis · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant, incredible, amazing, show stopping, spectacular

[Cami · Rating 2 out of 5]

I discovered this title through an event at my library and placed a hold on the audiobook soon after. It took a while for the hold to become available for me, and during that time, I heard some of my friends' opinions about the book, which likely influenced my own. It isn't that my friends hated this book, but they felt that it was scattered and lacked cohesion, as though the author had combined a series of essays in order to publish a book. I agree with this critique, because it explains why I had trouble paying attention to the audiobook.

Each chapter felt like it started from square one, providing background information that wasn't irrelevant per se but which became grating over time. With other nonfiction books, the introduction gives you context and every chapter builds upon that in new and exciting ways. With this book, however, each chapter was at least 50% introduction, and I found myself thinking, "Well, this won't be relevant after this chapter anyway, so it's alright if I zone out and miss it..."

I really wish I had enjoyed this book more, but honestly, my favorite parts were the ones that I had already learned about at my library, and I felt like the material was more engaging in-person than in an audiobook format. However, I did enjoy how nicely this title paired with the science fiction novel "The Ministry for the Future," which I read during the same week that I listened to "Hope Dies Last." One book provided a fictional future about humans facing up to climate change, while the other provided glimpses into what people are actually doing about it today. I couldn't have listened to this audiobook at a better time, although I still wouldn't go out of my way to recommend it to others.

[Margaret Butler · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read Alan Weisman's The World Without Us a decade or more ago. When I saw he was coming to Powell's to speak at the end of April, I decided to go. This book is heartbreaking! He understands very clearly the climate trajectory we are on. He spent 10 years traveling around the world and going deeply into the details with people who are tackling climate change in many ways, both looking for a technological breakthrough (fusion, a replacement for chemical fertilizers), and mitigating sea rise and ecosystem degradation. He also has a chapter on the water protectors fighting Line 3 in Minnesota, with a focus on the amazing Winona La Duke. During the talk, he told the story that he was arrested by accident and quite roughly treated. The talk was really interesting, and I bought the book and had him sign it. He was asking everyone something about themselves, so I said I worked with Extinction Rebellion and that we had sent a carload of folks to Minnesota. He thanked me and told me that he likes what XR is doing but decided to focus on Climate Defiance (very last chapter of the book). Anyway, the book is hard to read because it clearly tells the truth about what is already happening to our beautiful world in very specific places. It is also inspiring because people haven't given up and are trying things all over to do something that will make a difference to one particular piece of the challenge. I highly recommend it.

[Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

This collection of loosely related essays on various environment/climate related topics is a mixed bag, and more misses than hits for me unfortunately. It started off well with the first couple of chapters full of passion and summarizing our climate and biodiversity crises nicely. The following ones range from investigating nuclear fusion technology and bioengineering mycorrhizal fungi to become natural bio-fertilizer (both of which were fascinating), to flood prevention sea walls, floating cities, protesting against gas pipelines, and humanitarian work on Pacific atolls. A very broad and eclectic range that will probably not interest any single reader in their entirety. Some of the investigative reporting seemed lackadaisical though, with sudden change of characters and scenarios without warning within a chapter. I had also hoped for more on nature, wildlife and conservation issues but these were only briefly mentioned in tangential ways, only the last chapter just acknowledging that extinction and climate are related.

As for the world being impossible to model even with A.I. (quoting a Google engineer interviewed in the book), yes it is hubris to even think of accurately simulating Earth virtually. But then again it was already done in 1972 with The Limits to Growth. Just ignored by the vast majority and powers that be even today.

[Sara · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Weisman's The World Without Us so I was stoked to get my hands on this bad boy. It was nice to read something hopeful about the future and be reminded that there are people out there who are genuinely devoted to fighting the good fight and making it their life's work. The creativity is fascinating and it's so inspiring to read about people with such unshakable beliefs and the will to do what's right even in the face of capitalist monsterism.

Although I appreciated the wide-ranging aspects of this fight that Weisman covered, the book's structure did get a little same-y after awhile, making this better suited for maybe picking up and reading a section at a time in between reading other books. It also triggered one of my more annoying personal traits, which is that reading about terrible people (here, the ones causing the problems and/or actively standing in the way of their solutions when they disrupt the building of personal riches) makes me feel so angry and stressed out and upset and those mental arguments can plague me for days. If this is also a problem for you, beware! But I do think this book is worth reading. It doesn't outweigh the despair for me, but anything that can counterbalance the badness scale at all is something I'm grateful for.

My thanks to Penguin Group Dutton and NetGalley for the ARC.

[Shomeret · Rating 5 out of 5]

This deals with environmentally destructive policies that have devastated what was once known as the Fertile Crescent, and an engineer's hope that the damage can be reversed. I'd like to thank Netgalley for giving me this book for review.

This entire book was a revelation to me. I had known nothing about what has been happening in this part of the Middle East.

The engineer Azzam is advised to leave Iraq by friends, but he asks "Who will protect Basra for my son's generation?" Basra is the third largest city in Iraq. There is an extensive article about Basra on Encyclopedia Iranica at https://iranicaonline.org/articles/basra .

Azzam has a dream of restoring Iraq's marshes, and wants to replant 30 million date palms in Iraq. In addition, he has written a proposal for sharing the water of the Euphrates with the Jordan River which he thinks would promote peace in the region.

[David Rudin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weisman, an environmental journalist is reputed to have spent 10 years researching this book. From Iraq’s marshes drying up to the Marshall Islands, which the US used much of the archipelago for nuclear bomb test sites and now along with the Netherlands and Bangladesh they are fighting sea level rise with the world expert Dutch passing along their expertise to the world, for a price. And on and on the stories go.

What they have in common are individuals determined to keep fighting in often times seemingly hopeless situations. Politics, corruption, greed, denial and all the rest further complicate these efforts to adapt to climate change. However as the book title states, Hope Dies Last, so on they fight.

This continue determination is what provides hope for the rest of us, that we can and should keep up the good fight.

[Kelsey · Rating 3 out of 5]

A few reviews mention this book being uplifting and depressing, which is the most apt way to describe it. It sucks hearing how billionaires and the fossil fuel industry, and governments all want to hold on to power more than they want survival of humanity, which is a truth we know but when you read it over and over again, just really sucks. But at the same time, it was cool to read about people who are working hard to try and change climate enough to lessen species die out and hopefully make way for adaptability/life will find a way. All of the people you read about are inspiring, and he covers folks from across the globe. It’ll take a world effort to fight climate change- here’s to hoping.

[Jillian Manning · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compendium of information about our planet, and the people working tirelessly to save us from ourselves. I learned so much about historical events and ongoing initiatives across many scientific fields. Ultimately, even though the stories were inspiring, I couldn't help but walk away with an intense sadness; this book was finished prior to the election of Trump. His sweeping push for deregulation and defunding of science and research will set us back decades and we have no time to waste. I can't help but think that many of these projects will be underfunded, defunded, or completely abandoned in this current political climate.

[Dawn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a most hopeful book. The author tells many stories of people throughout the world who are attempting, usually without government help, to solve our climate problems, make sure that there is enough food to feed the people of the world. and perserving our land.

It makes me sad that in our current political climate in the U.S. that we are pulling back from the rest of the world in trying to save civilization. Hats off to all these visionary people who are more committed than many governments.

[Ryan Mac · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was both uplifting and depressing at the same time highlighting scientists and activists that continue to try finding ways to live with the changes coming due to climate change. It felt like reading about people sticking their fingers into the cracks in a dam to keep it from flooding their town but it was inspiring to read about people still fighting the good fight all across the world.

[Becky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am extremely grateful to the many strong and dedicated people who have been working for years to try to reduce the damage we’ve caused with our insistence on fossil fuel. I am certainly guilty for contributing to this damage. I must make every effort to reduce my carbon footprint! I thank Alan Weismann for introducing these people to me.

[Jeffrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was very good and informative, but I’m not gonna lie, I started skimming with the last like 20%. My library book was due and I just needed to finish it lol. This is one of those reads I need to take my time with and read alongside another book because it was a little bit of a slog, even as interesting as it is.

[Word Muncher · Rating 2 out of 5]

This reminds me of the documentary #themostunknown people who make their passion and don't give up. We are lucky to have them and learning about their passions and their work is something we all should do and try to emulate. More of this.

[Michael Norwitz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Weisman's book is hopeful and disturbing in equal measure - as well it should be - as he profiled a number of people across the world who are attempting to enact change in order to fend off the planet's ensuing climate crisis. Important reading.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Story of major, life changing break throughs that address the crises facing today's residents of planet Earth. Starts out big (fusion power par example) & quickly fizzles into the hum drum category. I lost interest. I guess I think the author's examples provide insufficient hope.

[Kimberlee · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love that this book gives examples of how to make change as we watch our environment change rapidly. I am glad that there are still people trying to help find solutions to the problems that humans have caused to our environment. Hope is still alive.

[K Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

What an amazing book! It was thought-provoking and inspiring to ready stories of people around the world doing innovative climate change work. The stories of ecological rebuilding after war-in Iraq and in the Korean DMZ, were especially powerful.

[Haley ✨]

DNF— loved the beginning. It made me feel full of environmental activism feelings. It further awakened my desire to read. But then it just got boring. Maybe connections between chapters is important to me idk. But it wasn’t a worthless read bc I did get sooo much from the beginning.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was fascinated by Alan Weisman's The World Without Us, so I was really looking forward to reading Hope Dies Last . The stories were interesting but disjointed. I was hoping for more about unified communities and less about science.

[John Michael Stroh · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read. Some of the ideas in this book are ridiculous.... and some are brilliant.

[Jim Witkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

A much needed book, filled with audacious stories of people fighting against the odds, tackling the most complex and insurmountable challenges for a better world. I hope it inspires others.

[Kevin Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Oh this mf spittin"

-The lead singer of Dashboard Confessional

[Debbie Willer · Rating 5 out of 5]

So many amazing people in the world working courageously too combat climate change. I feel heartened, but also aware that unless we all pitch in, it can still be the death knell of humanity.

[Kirstin · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5🌟

[Chicken Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Best book I read so far this year. Heartbreaking, yet uplifting. I couldn't recommend it enough.