Down to Earth II

by Matt Ridley

A second collection of essays by Matt Ridley, this book represents the best of the author's columns in the Sunday Telegraph, Daily Telegraph and others. Ridley challenges the views of the vested interests of environmental lobbyists and politicians. Witty and often humorous, his essays comment on recurring environmental themes and problems.

102 pages, Paperback

First published September 19, 1996

About the author

Matthew White Ridley, 5th Viscount Ridley, is a British science writer, journalist and businessman. He is known for his writings on science, the environment, and economics, and has been a regular contributor to The Times newspaper. Ridley was chairman of the UK bank Northern Rock from 2004 to 2007, during which period it experienced the first run on a British bank in 130 years. He resigned, and the bank was bailed out by the UK government; this led to its nationalisation.
Ridley is a libertarian, and a staunch supporter of Brexit. He inherited the viscountcy in February 2012 and was a Conservative hereditary peer from February 2013, with an elected seat in the House of Lords, until his retirement in December 2021.