Burning Planet: The Story of Fire Through Time

by Andrew C. Scott

Raging wildfires have devastated vast areas of California and Australia in recent years, and predictions are that we will see more of the same in coming years as a result of climate change. But this is nothing new. Since the dawn of life on land, large-scale fires have played their part in shaping life on Earth.

Andrew C. Scott tells the whole story of fire's impact on our planet's atmosphere, climate, vegetation, ecology, and the evolution of plant and animal life. It has caused mass extinctions, and it has propelled the spread of flowering plants.

The exciting evidence we can now draw on has been preserved in fossilized charcoal, found in rocks hundreds of millions of years old, from all over the world. These reveal incredibly fine details of prehistoric plants, and tell us about climates from deep in earth's history. They also give us insight into how early hominids and humans tamed fire and used it.

Looking at the impact of wildfires in our own time, Scott also looks forward to how we might better manage them in future, as climate change has an increasing effect on our world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Ecology, Environment

256 pages, Hardcover

Published June 1, 2018

Reviews

[Peter Tillman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Geological evidence for wildfires goes deep into Earth history, back to the first widespread land plants, about 350 million years ago, in the late Devonian. The evidence is mostly fossilized charcoal, and paleobotanist Scott has spent much of his career studying it. Much of the evidence was “hiding in plain sight” — as in the dinosaur-bearing sediments of Dinosaur Provincial Park in Alberta, where no charcoal had been reported. Yet when Scott visited, he saw fossil charcoal in the rocks at a tourist viewpoint! And this was not his only such discovery. “Fortune favors the prepared eye.”

Scott’s writing style is pretty dry and academic, and the technical terms he uses are often from coal petrology, which I bet few of you have previously seen (a lot of fossil charcoal is found within regular coal). He does define the terms, and includes a useful glossary and geological time scale. Interestingly, many of the scientists who did the early work were women (and still are).

I found his photographic plates the most interesting part of the book. I was very surprised how much detail is preserved in fossil plants converted to charcoal, including details of cell structure, fern fronds, insects trapped in the burning plant, and charcoal flowers! If your library has the book, you will definitely find it worthwhile to look at the b/w plates. (The color ones, sadly, are much less interesting.) Some nice sample photos of charcoalized fossil flowers:
https://www.researchgate.net/figure/9...
For more: Google Image search: “charcoalified fossil flowers”

And way more cool stuff than I have room for here. OK, one more:
You know about the giant Chicxulub meteor, that hit Yucatan 66 million years ago, and might have killed off the dinosaurs? OK, the story is more complicated than that, but Scott debunks part of it: various people have speculated that the meteor impact could have caused a worldwide fire storm! He looked at the evidence, and concluded that, surprisingly, the time around the impact didn’t really stand out in the wildfire fossil record. Looked pretty convincing to me. The late Cretaceous was a wildfire-prone era.

So, required reading for paleobotanists, and curious botanists, geologists and paleontologists (professional and amateur) will have fun too. I don’t think non-scientists will find it too intimidating. The very best stuff is the photos, and the text (mostly) gets better as you go. Plus, it’s short: 178 pages of text, up to the notes. 3.5 stars, rounded up.

And many thanks to Erica at the SLO County Library! Our county library has a *wonderful* new program: you ask for a book, the library orders it from Amazon. Two days later, it’s in your mailbox. How cool is that?

The best and most detailed professional review I saw was William Finnegan’s, the one that led me to read it. You should read it, too. https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2018... Sample:
"Scott’s story begins over 400 million years ago, in the Silurian Period, when the first vascular land plants make their appearance in the fossil record, and the chemical reaction we call fire might have first found something to burn. Evidence for extensive wildfires first appears in the late Devonian, 350 million years ago. Using fossilized charcoal found in coal to infer fluctuations in atmospheric oxygen over geologic time, Scott distinguishes between high-fire worlds (more oxygen) and low-fire worlds (less). The planet has been a low-fire world, despite appearances, for the last 45 million years."

[Elentarri · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this book, Scott examines the nature and history of fire, from the inception of the Earth to present times. He also takes a look at how humans interact with fire and the difficulty in determining a defining national fire policy. The author covers such topics as the impact of natural and man-made fire on the Earth's atmosphere, climate, ecology, vegetation, the evolution of flora and fauna (e.g. the possible causes of mass extinctions and the spread of flowering plants and grasslands), and how early hominids tamed and used fire. A lot of fossilized charcoal and charcoalified (I didn't know this was a word!) plants make an appearance in this book, accompanied by numerous diagrams, photographs, and graphs. Scott also briefly discusses the current impacts and management of wildfires. The book is clearly written without numerous, lengthy, tedious, biographical or travelogue side tangents. The information contained within these pages is interesting and the diagrams extremely useful in understanding the information conveyed.

[Michael Haase · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting book on wildfires through the millennia on earth. As long as there is fuel and enough oxygen there will be fires. The climate has always changed and fires wax and wane depending on the warm or cold trends. Puts out little short lives on earth in perspective.

[Carl · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a well researched and discussed book on the history of fire. It covers many different aspects and geological periods, as well as discussing the scientific process through which discoveries are made. I give it credit for going into depth, but at times it felt so laden with geological terms that it would be alienating for a popular audience. I also felt that the technical detail detracted from the "story" being discussed, and perhaps some summary sections or signposts scattered throughout the book would keep one from feeling a bit lost (although I did listen to this book instead of reading it physically).

That being said, for lovers of science it has much to offer, and provides a thorough discussion for the neglected place of wildfire in geological history.

[Erika · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a book about charcoal.
It is less for those interested in modern fire science, & the history of fire in shaping the forests we have now, and more about what charcoal deposits & fossils tell us about the prehistoric world.

In this way, the description feels a bit misleading. Put simply, this is a book a paleontology student would read, not necessarily one an environmental or forest science student would.

That's not to say that it isn't full of good or interesting information, but the mindset we have going into a book influences both how it is received, and whether or not any of what was learned from it will be retained and applied. For me, personally, I will retain almost nothing.

[Simona · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Burning Planet: The Story of Fire Through Time" by Andrew C. Scott was an enthralling expedition for me, a nature lover and environmentalist, into the intricate history of fire and its profound impact on our planet. Scott, a distinguished paleobotanist, expertly blended scientific insights, historical narratives, and ecological perspectives, creating a comprehensive exploration that resonated with my passion for the natural world.

As I journeyed through the pages, Scott's narrative skillfully unfolded the evolution of fire, from its ancient beginnings to its crucial role in shaping ecosystems and human civilization. His ability to make complex concepts accessible made the scientific aspects of the book engaging and informative, catering to a wide audience.

What stood out in "Burning Planet" was its interdisciplinary approach. Scott seamlessly wove together geological, botanical, and climatological viewpoints, providing me with a holistic understanding of how fire dynamically interacts with the environment. The author's evident enthusiasm for the subject added a layer of excitement, painting vivid pictures of the landscapes and ecosystems he described.

The historical dimension of the book deepened my appreciation for the ways in which fire has been both a destructive and regenerative force throughout different eras. From the wild wildfires of prehistory to the controlled burns practiced by indigenous communities, Scott illuminated the diverse ways in which fire has shaped our world.

"Burning Planet" didn't just dwell on the past; it also addressed the contemporary challenges associated with wildfires, climate change, and human interactions with fire. Scott's insights served as a powerful call to action, prompting me to reflect on the implications of our relationship with fire in the context of our rapidly changing global environment.

In conclusion, my journey through "Burning Planet" was a thought-provoking and enlightening experience. Andrew C. Scott's expertise, combined with his captivating storytelling, transformed this book into a valuable resource for a nature lover and environmentalist like me. Whether you share my passion for the environment or are simply curious about the forces that have shaped our world, this book offers a compelling narrative that deepens our understanding of the elemental force that connects us all.

[Cheng Bogdani · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr Scott has been studying ancient climate and specifically fire for his entire academic career, and he knows his subject so well he's able to explain how different epochs of earth's history have been influenced by fire to a layperson like me. He does not shy away from difficult and technical explanations of his research, but he is able to explain them thoroughly by building up from common understandings, adding layers of complexity and then finally taking the abstract result and showing how the evidence compares to what has been discovered by other researchers with their own specialities.

I learned a lot; I had no idea that fire had such a major role in shaping the earth's climate and lithic record. I learned that coal seams are regularly layered with seams of charcoal, remnants of massive conflagrations that regularly wiped whole sections of continents clean, but that the plants and animals adapted to this and eventually evolved to take advantage of the regular clearing and nutrient rich ash.

I listened to the audiobook via Overdrive from my local library while running and/or cycling, and I don't process auditory info very well at the best of times so my recollection of details is suspect.

Reading Level: adult
Romance: NO
Smut: NO
Violence: NO
TW: NONE

Kindle/Audible only? NO

[Neil McGee · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very good book filled with copious amounts of historical information which data geeks like me enjoy.

I like most studious people recycle and do our part to save the planet from the effects of global warming, which has me wondering and asking why it is that as a human race, we cannot develop desalination stations alone the coast's to 1). Lower rising seas 2). To grow crops to produce food for humans & potentially livestock (I am Vegan yet understand many are not)

There is so much as a species that we could be doing that is not being done.

The oil industry has constructed multiple pipelines spanning from Alberta, Canada to Texas, USA to facilitate the automobile, to reverse climate change is a miniscule task by comparison.

Hemp sequesters 3x-10x as much carbon as trees when taking in to account the growth duration of 90 days for hemp, the byproduct of which re- fortifies the soil, has hundreds of uses ranging from medicine to , biofuel to actual hemp carbon fiber cars.

https://www.instagram.com/hemp_global/

[The Inquisitive Biologist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Burning Planet uncovers the planetary deep history of fire – you will never look at charcoal the same again. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2018...