My reviews are both 5 stars
A Billion Butterflies A life in Climate and Chaos Theory by Dr. Jagadish Shukla
Some books come to us at the right time. I wanted to research weather vs climate but didn't want to read something detailed and textbook-like. This book is a mix of biography and we get so many instances of the author's life mixed with his journey to becoming an expert. The important and well-delivered scientific information punctuates the life of a child born in an Indian village and worked hard to achieve his status in the science community. But we also get the stories behind his losses, grief, and family, and even cultural shock. I love that the author is not afraid to confess how fearful he was during the most important events in life that turned out to become turning points for his career. At the same time, we have a general idea of the changes in time and politics that affected India. His work comes from the will to do better for his people who mostly depend on agriculture. Or even the change in America. The author is so focused on his work, that constant witch hunt politics phases become no more than disruption of good work. His commitment to living in America led him to the project intended to predict El Niño. In a simulation, they erased the Amazon from the Earth and saw the consequences, the extinction of many species, and repercussions around the world. Desertification is the end of many ancient societies already as History has shown. Climate prediction is extremely relevant. Imperative. Great awareness of a concept that is so simple but we keep forgetting. That the planet works as an organism that is in constant interaction. Even our acts of civilization building cities change the temperature and other factors of the land and not only these create the butterfly effect, rippling into drastic consequences.
Thank you author for dedicating a chapter to point out the valuable work women scientists have contributed, and for creating the college in your mother's village, Dr. Jagadish Shukla giving an opportunity to so many young women. Also, the book is a great way for the author to correct the misinformation that tried to denigrate his name and explain facts.
When the Earth Was Green: Plants, Animals, and Evolution's Greatest Romance
by Riley Black
Riley Black is my favorite author in Pre-history educational and informative books because he does it so entertainingly. This is the first time that I have listened to an audiobook first, and I loved it. It's easier to get the humor that makes learning fun. Always so much detail and information. What I loved most about his approach is that he sees nature as a community and symbiosis where one element influences the other being responsible for the evolution of other species. In this volume the author makes the plants sound as active and powerful as the dinosaurs, because they depend on their digestion, and their aggressiveness and hunger to spread the seeds and repopulate other locations. Also,o it was so relevant to learn that plants know how to create fire. The intro in itself is a great lesson. I learned about trees that are now extinct, and others like the Ginko Tree that is still outside our windows. It's extraordinary and makes always a great read. I always recommend it for easy comprehension but also because we don't forget the facts after a few months. It sticks to our memory.
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