Drifting North: Finding a Sustainable Future in Scotland's Past

by Dominic Hinde

Past and future collide in this engaging journey through climate change, fossil capitalism and the struggle for a sustainable world.

Scotland's history and future are entangled with climate change and the story of the modern world. This small country on the fringes of northern Europe pioneered fossil capitalism and played a key role in its spread across the planet. It is a living museum of the crisis of the west, of deindustrialisation, stagnation and the struggle to build a better future from the ashes.

Journalist and sociologist Dominic Hinde travels from the treeless Highlands to the lowland cities, struggling to balance memories with aspiration. Through this journey he finds that his own sensory turmoil, shaped by recovery from a near fatal accident, mirrors the disarray of the fossil fuel transition - an uncertain passage between what was and what must be.

Part memoir, part environmental history, part travelogue, this is a compelling narrative of connections - to place, energy and the possibility of renewal. Through the lens of one country, it asks a vital question: can the lessons of the past help us build a more sustainable future?

Genres: Scotland

220 pages, Hardcover

Published October 28, 2025

Reviews

[Al Mal · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written and poetic book which was able to read quite quickly, though it is only 200 pages. I was interested to get a perspective on the future of Scottish energy and the Scottish landscape and people which I believe was delivered. The book also reads as autobiographical as the author’s health plays a major role in his movements and ability to research for the book. The book catalogues the different energy sources available in Scotland and the past and future of them.

I don’t think I learned very much but was an enjoyable read, emphasising the need to look back before thinking about the future, as the future lives in the past. I liked the idea of un-weather as the opposite of predictable weather and the importance of this in a warming climate.

There was maybe a little too much waffle which you find in these types of books where the author talks repeatedly about the minutiae of travelling by car and ferry, the changing landscape, as well as the context for the interviews more than the actual interview content/book thesis.

[Laura (Reading is a Doing Word) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was very fortunate to receive a review copy of Drifting North by Dominic Hinde.
This book explores Scotland's energy heritage - from fossil fuels to renewables - and what it means for our future.
Hinde takes us across Scotland, connecting each region with its energy history. What impressed me most was how accessible he makes potentially technical subject matter. The writing is informative and engaging without being condescending.
I appreciated that each energy source was contextualised within its community. The parallels he draws between areas rebuilding after energy economies fail and his own recovery from an accident add an additional human element.
The structure works well - each chapter focuses on a specific energy type and location, building on previous knowledge while highlighting what makes each area unique.
One note: the subtitle suggests solutions, but this is more reflective than prescriptive. There are hopeful projects mentioned, but of course there is no one size fits all solution to the climate crisis!
This is a book that teaches you about climate change through social history - engaging, empathetic, and genuinely interesting throughout.

[Rachel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book - it was beautifully written. It maybe helped that I spent years living in Glasgow, so felt a connection to the places in the book, but maybe it was also more than that.