The Yellowstone River Conservation District Council and their 2010 Yellowstone River Symposium are bringing acclaimed British science writer Fred Pearce to Montana this August, and they’re sharing him with us on Monday, August 16th at 7pm when Pearce will give a talk based on his work, answer questions, and sign books at the Country Bookshelf.

His latest book is The Coming Population Crash and Our Planet’s Surprising Future (hardcover $26.95).

Pearce chronicles nearly 200 years of demographic issues, beginning with efforts to contain the demographic explosion, from the early environmental movement’s racism and involvement in eugenics to coercive family-planning policies in China and India.�
“Demography is destiny. But not always in the way we imagine, begins Pearce (“When the Rivers Run Dry”) in his fascinating analysis of how global population trends have shaped, and been shaped by, political and cultural shifts… Highly readable and marked by first-class reportage.” –

“Consistently interesting, informative and inspiring reporting.” — Kirkus Reviews

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Confessions of an Eco-Sinner: Tracking Down the Sources of My Stuff (paper $16)

Pearce exposes the hidden worlds that sustain a Western lifestyle, and does it by examining the sources of everything in his own life. This work offers a fascinating portrait of the effects the world’s 6 billion inhabitants have on the planet, as well as their various working and living conditions.

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When the Rivers Run Dry: Water — The Defining Crisis of the Twenty-First Century (paper $16)

In this groundbreaking book, veteran science correspondent Fred Pearce travels to more than thirty countries to examine the current state of crucial water sources. Deftly weaving together the complicated scientific, economic, and historic dimensions of the world water crisis, he provides our most complete portrait yet of this growing danger and its ramifications for us all.
“A strong–and scary–case that a worldwide water shortage is the most fearful looming environmental crisis. With a drumbeat of facts both horrific (thousands of wells in India and Bangladesh are poisoned by fluoride and arsenic) and fascinating (it takes 20 tons of water to make one pound of coffee), the former New Scientist news editor documents a ‘kind of cataclysm’ already affecting many of the world’s great rivers.” –Publishers Weekly, starred review
“Oil we can replace. Water we can’t–which is why this book is both so ominous and so important.” –Bill McKibben, author of The End of Nature and Eaarth
“An enriching and farsighted work.” –Jai Singh, San Francisco Chronicle
“Pearce cogently presents the alarming ways in which this ecological emergency is affecting population centers, human health, food production, wildlife habitats, and species viability. Having crisscrossed the globe to research the economic, scientific, cultural, and political causes and ramifications of this under publicized tragedy, Pearce’s powerful imagery, penetrating analyses, and passionate advocacy make this required reading for environmental proponents and civic leaders everywhere.” –Booklist

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With Speed and Violence: Why Scientists Fear Tipping Points in Climate Change (paper $15)

Fred Pearce has been writing about climate change for twenty years, and the more he learns, the worse things look. As Pearce began researching this book, numerous scientists sought him out to recount their findings and fears: where once they were concerned about gradual climate change, many now worry that we will soon be experiencing abrupt change resulting from triggering tipping points. With Speed and Violence is the most up-to-date and readable book yet about the constantly accumulating evidence for global warming and the dramatic effects it may unleash.
“[Pearce's] grasp of [scientists'] work is exceptional. What’s more, he has a talent for explaining science in terms understandable to the nonscientist . . . This enjoyable read was difficult to put down.” –Library Journal, starred review
“If you want to quickly get up to date on climate change and its consequences, I recommend With Speed and Violence. If you can read only one book on climate change, this is it.” –Lester Brown, president, Earth Policy Institute

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About the Author:

  Fred Pearce is a freelance author and journalist based in London, England. He has reported on environment, science and development issues from 64 countries over the past 20 years. Trained as a geographer, he has been environment consultant of New Scientist magazine since 1992. He writes regularly for the Guardian newspaper, and recently publish a 12-part investigation of the “climategate” emails affair at the University of East Anglia. He is a frequent lecturer, having spoken on all six continents in the past four years, and is a frequent contributor to US newspapers and magazines. Fred’s books have been translated into at least 14 languages. They include When the Rivers Run Dry, Confessions of an Eco Sinner, Earth: Then and Now, With Speed and Violence (on climate change), Deep Jungle and The Coming Population Crash, published in April this year.