The Uninhabitable Earth (Adapted for Young Adults): Life After Warming

by David Wallace-Wells

An exploration of the devastating effects of global warming—current and future—adapted for young adults from the #1 New York Times bestseller. This is not only an assessment on how the future will look to those living through it, but also a dire overview and an impassioned and hopeful call to action to change the trajectory while there is still time.

The climate crisis that our nation currently faces, from rising temperatures, unfathomable drought, devastating floods, unprecedented fires, just to name a few, are alarming precursors to what awaits us if we continue on our current path. In this adaptation for young adults from the #1 New York Times bestseller, journalist David Wallace-Wells tells it like it is, and it is much worse than anyone might think. Global warming is effecting the world, if left unchecked, it promises to transform global politics, the meaning of technology and the trajectory of human progress.
In sobering detail, Wallace-Wells lays out the mistakes and inaction of past and current generations that we see negatively affecting all lives today and more importantly how they will inevitably affect the future. But readers will also hear—loud and clear—his impassioned call to action, as he appeals to current and future generations, especially young people. As he “the solutions, when we dare to imagine them . . . are indeed motivating, if there is to be any chance of preserving even the hope for a happier future—relatively livable, relatively fulfilling, relatively prosperous, and perhaps more than only relatively just.”

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

176 pages, Paperback

Published October 10, 2023

About the author

David Wallace-Wells is a national fellow at the New America foundation and a columnist and deputy editor at New York magazine. He was previously the deputy editor of The Paris Review. He lives in New York City.

Reviews

[Eli · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great book for anyone who wants to know the true gravity of climate change, written in an honest and sober manner. Each section on a particular aspect of climate change (wildfire, flooding, famine, etc.) only takes up a couple pages, and while there is a lot of statistic listing it is intertwined with a clearly through of how these issues intersect politically, socially etc.

The second half of the novel consists of analysis of factor that perpetuate the inaction on climate change, being techno-optimism, collective apathy/fatalism, and the developed world’s reluctance to give up consumerism. Wallace-wells’ insights are poignant here, especially in the afterword which includes points more up-to-date compared to what was said in the original 2019 publication of this book.

Honestly, I think that this is a better version of the book. The original is a fuller text, but it often rambles where this one doesn’t. I’m not sure why this edition is dubbed “adapted for young adults”, as there is no additional content that speaks to specifically young people. I guess it was just the author trying to make a more concise version to appeal to those with smaller attention spans, ironically this improves his writing.

Overall, this is a great concise read. Definitely a better and more informative resource about climate change than the many biased takes you’ll find online.

[Notael Elrein · Rating 4 out of 5]

My library only had this young adult version, not sure if they are that different, this one is shorter I think because I saw a slightly bigger one at the bookstore.

I would like to begin by stating that the author makes it clear that they aren't willing to be vegan for the planet despite wanting this to be inspiring and hopeful. They could have just not mentioned this, not put this in my brain and not let me think about their hypocrisy. The book is full of lists, cities that were affected by climate change. It is a bit annoying as I don't live in the US so the amounts mentioned went over my head. I don't orient myself well with US cities yet.

I think this is relevant and overall good although it doesn’t offer any solutions and lists the problems. This does need to be seen as a problem and people need to be active for it. If you want to hear about examples of climate change damage this is it. There are some culture opinion rants at the end too about the apocalyptic themes in our fiction. Not sure what to make of it.

[Thomas Ray · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Uninhabitable Earth: Life after Warming, David Wallace-Wells, 2023 edition adapted for young adults, 157 pages, ISBN 9780593483572, Dewey 304.28 W155un new teen collection

mya = million years ago

Extinction events:
450 mya 86% of species dead
380 mya 75% of species dead
255 mya 96% of species dead
205 mya 80% of species dead
70 mya 75% of species dead

All but one of these involved greenhouse-gas-produced climate change. p. 3.

The worst, 255 mya, 96% of species dead, was caused by carbon dioxide raising global air temperature 5°C, leading to methane release. p. 3.

We are now adding carbon to the atmosphere at more than 10 times the rate of 255 mya. p. 4.

We're going to

bake,
starve,
drown,
burn,
parch,
lose ocean life,
choke,
sicken,
be impoverished,
go to war,
and worse.

Yet the author says he's optimistic because, "we remain in command."

No. No one is in control.

[Swampscott Library · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Uninhabitable Earth” is an extremely detailed account of what the Earth may become if global warming continues. The book discusses how every facet of our lives could change if the planet continues warming, and the grim reality we could be faced with. Although bleak, it does not feel exaggerated and the author takes a realistic approach to presenting his research. I think that some books about climate change do focus more on solutions to/ways of combating climate change, which this book does not really cover. I would say that if someone wants to learn more about how humans are working on solving environmental issues rather than just reading about the facts of climate change, this may not be the right choice. Otherwise, I thought that this was an amazing book and I would definitely recommend it to others.

--Teen Volunteer, 11th grade

[Leifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was excessively hard to read, not because of the writing but because of the content. Unless you are deliberately disregarding the message for your own political beliefs, perhaps; it’s hard to imagine coming away from this book unchanged. I’ve read so many science fiction stories imagining scenarios that were all included in this book, factually predicting our shifting world in which billionaires and western Americans will feasibly remain less affected, while much of the rest of the world suffers the effects of a steadily heating planet. I would recommend that everyone read this book.

[David Hadley · Rating 3 out of 5]

I give this 3.5. The .5 only for its relevance.
I believe this book did an excellent job at facts and figures. If it was just to inform it would be much higher, however at its heart this book is made with the intent of inspiring political action and it left me with much more despair than resolve which is the absolute last thing I think the author intended.

[Jacob · Rating 3 out of 5]

Incredibly harrowing information, but can get a little static with the data. Should be read by more to understand the serious nature of the current situation, but it’ll more than likely fall on deaf ears and we’ll end up doomed anyways.

[Kellee Moye · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an intense book. Like shared in the excerpt below, climate change is a “hyperobject” which makes it seems so intimidating, but David Wallace-Wells does a good job of taking this daunting reality and potential future and breaking it down for the reader though he definitely did not sugar coat anything for the Young Reader edition. It is terrifying and a call to action. But it is also so important, and I am so glad that the author and publisher decided to make it available and accessible for young readers.

I really liked the structure of the books. Wallace-Wells didn’t combine everything and just throw it all at the reader. Each of the four parts are broken up into smaller topics where he focuses on just those aspects. For example, climate changes’ effect on hunger, wild fires, air, plagues, etc. This allows the reader to process each part and not get too overwhelmed.

I also appreciate that he added an afterword which has updates since the original book was published. I think this shows readers that science changes and needs to be updated and make the book more reliable.

I do need to add a warning: The book will not help with eco-anxiety. If anything, it will make it worse. I had to pause the book sometimes to take a breath.

Review with teaching tools: https://www.unleashingreaders.com/27154