Summary of Adventures in the Anthropocene

Adventures in the Anthropocene: A Journey to the Heart of the Planet we Made is an exploration of the human-made world, written by Gaia Vince, a science journalist and former editor of the journal Nature. In the Anthropocene—the current geological age—human activity is now the single most significant influence on the Earth’s climate and environment. To bring this concept into focus, Vince embarks on an epic journey around the world, exploring the ways that humans are altering the globe. Her trip takes her to some of the planet’s most remote locations, ranging from the coral reefs of the Caribbean Sea to the petrochemical refineries of Northern China. Throughout, she speaks to radical scientists, pioneering technologists, and environmentalists working to ensure the continued existence of our planet. Vince questions the notion of progress, offering vivid portraits of the sublime and the devastations, both highlighting and critiquing the powerful impact of human action on our natural world. In doing so, she provides essential background knowledge to understanding our ecological future.