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Novacene
Novacene
Oct 9, 2024 12:26 AM

Author:James Lovelock

Novacene

SUNDAY TIMES BESTSELLER

The creator of the Gaia hypothesis and the greatest environmental thinker of our time has produced an astounding new theory about the future of life on Earth. James Lovelock argues that the anthropocene - the age in which humans acquired planetary-scale technologies - is, after three centuries, coming to an end. A new age - the novacene - has already begun.

New beings will emerge from existing artificial intelligence systems. They will think 10,000 times faster than we do and will regard us as we now regard plants. The cruel, violent machine takeover imagined by sci-fi writers will not happen: these hyper-intelligent beings will be as dependent on the health of the planet as we are. They will need the planetary cooling system of Gaia to defend from the increasing heat of the sun. Gaia depends on organic life. We will be partners in this project. It is crucial, Lovelock argues, that the intelligence of Earth survives and prospers. We are at present the only beings capable of understanding the cosmos, but he speculates that the novacene could be the beginning of a process that will see intelligence suffusing the entire cosmos. At the age 100, Lovelock has produced the most compelling work of his life.

Reviews

The hard science is explained with beautiful clarity, and a characteristic mischievous wit ... It is a bracing corrective

—— Steven Poole , Guardian

This restlessly thoughtful and forward-looking book ... is partly a defence of a lifetime's ideas, but mostly an argument about how AI is soon to overtake us - and what that means for our species

—— James McConnachie , The Times

Leavened with wit and optimism ... Novacene is the collected wisdom of an elder of our tribe which more than repays the short time it takes to read.

—— Stephen Cave , Financial Times

Novacene reads like undiluted Lovelock. From the start of his writing life - no matter how tortuous the narrative or complex the argument - Lovelock has written persuasively. ... if you want a sense of hyperintelligence in bipedal form, Novacene is a good place to start.

—— Tim Radford , Nature

Terra Incognita draws readers into multiple worlds and provides the tools to navigate between them. Goldin and Muggah use powerfully-engaging maps to help understand and confront our biggest challenges - from climate change to inequality. By inviting readers to traverse a vast range of disciplines and ideas, their volume helps each of us better appreciate how our problems are interconnected. This is a must read for everyone striving to make a better world.

—— Saskia Sassen, Lynd Professor of Sociology at Columbia University, author of Expulsions and The Global City

Every young person must read this book. Full of mesmerizing maps and powerful story-telling, Terra Incognita is an indispensable guide to change our futures for the better.

—— Marvin Rees, Mayor of Bristol

Fascinating, beautiful, alarming and revelatory use of mapping and infographics

—— Stephen Fry

A riveting account of humanity´s most pressing challenges and innovative solutions, fusing mesmerizing maps and compelling analysis to help navigate our complex future.

—— Steven Pinker

An indispensable read. Ian Goldin and Robert Muggah´s hypnotic maps surprise and amaze. This book offers a future-looking guide to navigate our uncertain times. Offering an unflinching account of our challenges and ways to fix them, it willleave you optimistic about the future.

—— Arianna Huffington

A stunning account of our fast-changing world. Earth Time is a wake-up call and blueprint for future change. Ian Goldin and Robert Muggah´s extraordinary maps offer an entirely new perspective on some of our most urgent environmental and geopolitical conundrums.

—— Francis Fukuyama, New York Times Bestselling author of The End of History and the Last Man

The mapmakers of old wrote "Here Be Dragons" to designated unknown and uncharted areas. Terra Incognita simultaneously shows us how much of our world we can see and map and how many dark places still remain to be explored. Most important, it is a vital tool for teaching students, researchers, and analysts how to change our mental models -- our imagined maps -- of the worlds we think we inhabit. Our future depends on it.

—— Anne-Marie Slaughter

Terra Incognita is a terrific achievement. It utilises maps as a graphic foil to a wide-ranging and deeply informed argument about our current international challenges and the possibilities for future collective action. The result is both compelling and subtle. Situating the argument within the current pandemic is very powerful and timely. Essential reading-and viewing-for anyone engaged in the global state we are in.

—— Jerry Brotton, author of A History of the World in 12 Maps

It not only charts the mesmerising development of geographical maps, [...] but also contains maps that reveal insights into global cultural developments, including the incredible rise of McDonald's and Netflix.

—— Mail Online

Who Cares Wins is a compelling reminder that the future is in our hands. Lily's book is a much-needed ray of light during a dark and unsettling time - a radical vision for a better future, infused with optimism at every turn. It's a rousing call to action but it's up to us to dare to care, will you?

—— John Sauven, Executive Director of Greenpeace UK

Who Cares Wins aims to shed light on a broad range of issues such as sustainability, technology and gender equality. Bringing together extensive research and interviews

—— Grazia

In this book [Cole] combines self-reflection [...] with expert insight

—— Cosmopolitan

Part manifesto, part personal dispatch from the frontline of environmental and social activism it's an impressively wide ranging audit on the planet most pressing challenges - most notably the threat of climate change that also offers an inventory of potential solutions

—— Waitrose Weekend

Who Cares Wins is an extremely well researched outline of the complex debates around environmentally impactful subjects

—— AnOther

I read it in one sitting without pause. It is an astonishing book. I haven't stopped thinking about it

—— Charlotte Edwardes , columnist for Sunday Times Style Magazine

A wonderful and transformative memoir about the impact of loss and the power of love; and one that illustrates how it is never too late to tackle suppressed grief

—— Julia Samuel , author of the Sunday Times Bestseller This Too Shall Pass

I read this in one sitting, tears splashing onto its pages. A beautiful book about grief, losing a sibling, trauma, drugs, parenting & memory in the most exquisite way. Please everyone read it

—— Emma Gannon , podcaster, author of Olive and founder of The Hyphen Book Club

This book is genuinely extraordinary

—— Eleanor Wood

Life affirming [...] an enrapturing journey through darkness, destructive behaviour and an urgency for light and happiness now

—— Magic Radio Book Club, May's Book of the Month

A powerful memoir

—— Laura Whitmore , BBC Radio 5

Timely and highly original

—— Evening Standard

Brilliant and moving

—— The Times

The Consequences of Love is undoubtedly one of this year's most hotly-anticipated books, and with good reason

—— The Sunday Salon podcast with Alice-Azania Jarvis

Brilliantly written and heartbreaking but also joyful and uplifting

—— Psychologies

Extraordinary . . . profoundly moving

—— Sunday Mirror

A brave, lyrical, painful tale of bereavement, addiction, and the building of a new life

—— Joanna Briscoe , Evening Standard

Superbly written. Beautifully written and utterly heartbreaking. Courageous, inspired, bleakly comic, extreme candour

—— Guardian

Searing

—— Daily Mail

Hodge's beautiful memoir is both a devastating, grief-fuelled account of her sister's death and a redemptive tale of an emotional reckoning

—— i

It's a vivid and oddly entertaining memoir, a hand plunged into the dark hole of grief . . . uncovers surprising treasures - most importantly, strength, resilience and love

—— Mail on Sunday

Searing. A masterful writer with a gift for storytelling. Her prose is rich with detail, combining a sharp sense of place with escalating drama. A triumph

—— i

The most moving, most exquisitely written book about addiction, grief, loss and coming to terms with trauma even decades on. One that you will be thinking about, and remember long after finishing

—— Sophia Money-Coutts , Quintessentially

One of the most beautiful memoirs I've ever read. This story will say with you long after you put the book down

—— Emma Gannon

I just turned the last page (reluctantly!). A bold, often brutal exploration of memory, grief and love. Full of hope and heart. I can't recommend it enough

—— Terri White, author of Coming Undone

A brave, brilliant book that is both beautiful and important. Read it then buy it for all your friends

—— Hello!

Gavanndra's memoir The Consequences of Love is absolutely beautiful. It's compelling, heartbreaking, sweet, honest, fascination. I recommend it HIGHLY. I absolutely LOVED it.

—— Marian Keyes

This stunning exploration of grief is so well written and profoundly moving

—— Good Housekeeping

An elegant study of grief and memory

—— Guardian

Hodge pours heartbreak and love into the pages of a book that never pretends to know the answers, and is all the better for it

—— Sunday Times

An eye-opening snapshot of the fashion world in '90s London

—— Vogue UK
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