“This has been a book about people trying to solve problems created by people trying to solve problems. (…) The solutions were presented to me less in a spirit of techno-optimism than what might be called techno-fatalism.”
p. 200
Under a White Sky: The Nature of the Future by Pulitzer Prize–winning author Elizabeth Kolbert is an engaging, well-researched book that explores the question of whether humans can interfere with nature in a way that makes up for the damage done to nature by human intervention. Kolbert tells stories of smart people working hard on smart ideas and offers valid critiques of techno-solutionist ideals.
Conclusion: Innovation alone will probably not save us, but what else are we left with? The book left me fascinated, but also with a feeling of futility regarding our prospects on this blue earth.