Mary Soderstrom is a Montreal-based author whose works delve into the intricate relationships between humanity and the natural world, often drawing surprising parallels across geographic, historical, and political phenomena. Her writing is characterized by keen observations, lively anecdotes, and thoughtful reflections on seemingly disparate topics like geology, genetics, and human society. Soderstrom has a talent for connecting past and present events in compelling ways, offering readers a fresh perspective on the world through her extensive and varied output. Her work prompts contemplation on the interconnectedness of all things.
Against the Seas tells how we have coped with rising sea levels since the end of the Ice Age - by moving, building defences, or magic. Flood stories in different cultures show just how traumatic those experiences were. But what happened in the past may help us in the future and gives hope that we will survive.
A fascinating history of the carbon footprint of our concrete world―from ancient Roman architecture to urban cityscapes―and the trouble it spells for sustainability amidst rapid climate changeFor readers of The Sixth Extinction and The Uninhabitable Earth , Concrete explores the history of a material that has been central to architecture and design for thousands of years―and what its future looks like in a world experiencing rapid climate change.Imagine what the world would be like without there’d be no high-rises, no grand irrigation projects, no lettuce from southern climes in the winter, no multi-lane highways crisscrossing continents, a shortage of electricity, more mud in some places, more solitude in others. But because of the fossil fuels and other resources required to make concrete, there also would be less CO2 in the atmosphere and less dramatic climate change. In From Ancient Origins to a Problematic Future , Soderstrom tells the story of concrete’s glorious past, extravagant present, and uncertain future with careful research, lively anecdotes, and thoughtful reflection. The framework for this exploration is one the Romans―famous for concrete structures that are still strong―would the four elements of Earth, Fire, Water, and Air.