Life: Selected Writings

by Tim Flannery

Tim Flannery is one of the world’s great thinkers, environmental scientists and writers. Sir David Attenborough once described him as being ‘in the league of the all-time great explorers like Dr David Livingstone.’

This definitive collection of his work brings together thirty years of essays, speeches and occasional writing on palaeontology, mammology, environmental science and history, including the science of climate change and the challenges and opportunities we face in addressing this issue, so critical for all of us.

Tim Flannery is a paleontologist, explorer and conservationist, a leading writer on climate change, and the 2007 Australian of the Year. His books include the award-winning international bestseller The Weather Makers, Here on Earth and Atmosphere of Hope. He is currently chief councillor of the Climate Council.

‘This man is a national treasure, and we should heed his every word.’ Sunday Telegraph

‘Flannery is a writer who sneezes at political correctness and charges into the densely land-mined territory of the biological determinants of human behaviour.’ Washington Post

‘Flannery synthesises a vast range of scientific studies and a decent selection of historical and cultural writings, leavening those with his own forceful ideas.’ New York Times Book Review

Genres: Nonfiction

604 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 5, 2019

About the author

Tim Flannery is one of Australia's leading thinkers and writers.

An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and many books. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers, which has been translated into more than 20 languages and in 2006 won the NSW Premiers Literary Prizes for Best Critical Writing and Book of the Year.

He received a Centenary of Federation Medal for his services to Australian science and in 2002 delivered the Australia Day address. In 2005 he was named Australian Humanist of the Year, and in 2007 honoured as Australian of the Year.

He spent a year teaching at Harvard, and is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the National Geographic Society's representative in Australasia. He serves on the board of WWF International (London and Gland) and on the sustainability advisory councils of Siemens (Munich) and Tata Power (Mumbai).

In 2007 he co-founded and was appointed Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a coalition of community, business, and political leaders who came together to confront climate change.

Tim Flannery is currently Professor of Science at Maquarie University, Sydney.

Reviews

[Fergus Hawkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting book (received as subject prize for bio last year). Unfortunately, it is very long and therefore not helpful for reaching my goodreads target this year.

[Fleur Walsh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read and really enjoyed the references back to historical events with such detail especially back to the aboriginal way of life before settlers arrived. Goes into the successes of our species and how certain animals have evolved over time