THE EMPIRE OF CLIMATE A History of an Idea

Livingstone's audiobook surveys theories about the impact of climate on humankind from classic times to modern. Derek Perkins's interpretation helps keep the deeply learned and formally written work more approachable than it might be if read on one's own. His voice is strong, his accent pleasing, and his speech crisp, clear, and finely attuned to the sense of the text. Perkins gets the tone of the occasional implied polemics exactly right, shading into doubt or bemusement but not into argument. Occasionally, his usual pleasingly brisk pace becomes slightly too quick for easy absorption. But his intelligence, fine vocal performance, and skill at interpretation make what could be a formidable text a surprisingly enjoyable program. W.M. © AudioFile 2024, Portland, Maine [Published: AUGUST 2024]