Extremes

Essays by leading intellectuals and public figures explore extreme events, environments, and achievements.

Duncan Needham (Edited by), Julius Weitzdörfer (Edited by)

9781108457002, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 7 March 2019

186 pages, 7 b/w illus. 44 colour illus. 5 tables
24.7 x 17.3 x 0.9 cm, 0.4 kg

Humanity is confronted by and attracted to extremes. Extreme events shape our thinking, feeling, and actions; they echo in our politics, media, literature, and science. We often associate extremes with crises, disasters, and risks to be averted, yet extremes also have the potential to lead us towards new horizons. Featuring essays by leading intellectuals and public figures arising from the 2017 Darwin College Lectures, this volume explores 'extreme' events, from the election of President Trump, the rise of populism, and the Brexit referendum, to the 2008 financial crisis, the Syrian war, and climate change. It also celebrates 'extreme' achievements in the realms of health, exploration, and scientific discovery. A fascinating, engaging, and timely collection of essays by renowned scholars, journalists, and intellectuals, this volume challenges our understanding of what is normal and what is truly extreme, and sheds light on some of the issues facing humanity in the twenty-first century.

Notes on contributors
Acknowledgements
On the notion of 'extremes' Julius F. W. Weitzdörfer
1. Dealing with extremism David Runciman
2. Extreme weather Emily Shuckburgh
3. Probability, risk, and extremes Nassim Nicholas Taleb
4. Extreme rowing Roz Savage
5. Extremes of war: stories of survival from Syria Lyse Doucet
6. Extreme politics: the four waves of national populism in the West Matthew Goodwin
7. Extreme longevity Sarah Harper
8. Extremes of power in the universe Andrew C. Fabian
Index.

Subject Areas: Popular astronomy & space [WNX], Environmental management [RNF], Astronomy, space & time [PG], Popular science [PDZ], Probability & statistics [PBT], Energy & natural resources law [LNCR], Environmental economics [KCN], Politics & government [JP], Sociology [JHB]