The Earth Transformed by Peter Frankopan Book Review

Released: 2023

Genre: Non-Fiction, Environment, History

From the ice age all the way to the 21st Century, humans and planet earth have changed and been changed by the other. Charting the impact we have had is a lofty task, but UK historian Peter Frankopan makes a solid effort in “The Earth Transformed”. The book takes us on a long and winding journey, blending history and science together across many intriguing discussions. Each section is clearly marked by its time period, going from 4.5 billion years BC to 2023 AD and all are very ambitious in their scale and depth.

Every key moment in history is woven into the book; the early agricultural revolution, countless military conquests, notable disasters, the rise and fall of civilizations and the ever-changing approach we have taken to shaping the environment around us. It is this last point that forms the backbone of the Peter’s hypothesis, that societal change through the centuries has been heavily influenced by the natural world itself. We formed new ways to take advantage of resources, invented new solutions and found ways to manipulate the landscape in our favour. It’s a compelling point that does ring true throughout the large-scale chapters.

The Earth Transformed is an extremely long and complex book; any reader will need to be prepared for a gargantuan amount of information, historical events and smaller stories that all feed into the central theme. Weather patterns affecting all corners of the globe in different ways, man’s expansionist goals leading to deadly disease vectors and our ever-increasing damage to nature in pursuit of power and wealth are just some of the big ideas on display. Sometimes the historical descriptions are too all-encompassing, pulling us away from the environmental bedrock. Frankopan often embarks on long-winded side tangents that can feel distracting at times.

Recommended?

YES: The Earth Transformed forms a cohesive picture of how our natural world ties into humanity’s own journey. It’s a very long-winded book and there is undoubtedly a ton of research poured in, but the historical elements can sometimes overpower the central commentary on environmental change. The final chapters will be rated highly by all who care about our fragile moment and the dangers of the climate crisis.