Mary Soderstrom est une auteure basée à Montréal dont les œuvres explorent les relations complexes entre l'humanité et le monde naturel, établissant souvent des parallèles surprenants entre des phénomènes géographiques, historiques et politiques. Son écriture se caractérise par des observations perspicaces, des anecdotes vivantes et des réflexions approfondies sur des sujets apparemment disparates tels que la géologie, la génétique et la société humaine. Soderstrom a le don de relier d'une manière convaincante les événements passés et présents, offrant aux lecteurs une perspective nouvelle sur le monde à travers sa production étendue et variée. Son travail invite à la contemplation sur l'interconnexion de toutes choses.
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.
From early modern history to contemporary global influences, this resource captures the legacy of Portugal and its people. From adventurous sailors in search of spices more than 600 years ago and the pioneering city plans that rebuilt Lisbon—and the definition of a modern city—to being the first European nation to outlaw slavery, this historiography details the expansive Portuguese legacy that reaches such places as India, Brazil, Newfoundland, and San Diego. A detailed look at the peaceful overthrow of a dictatorship and the profound societal change that resulted from the Carnation Revolution of 1974 is also included.
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.
In the summer of 1968, Mary Soderstrom and her husband loaded up their VW Beetle and immigrated to Canada from the United States. The contrast between their new home and their old led to a long-running reflection on what makes the two countries different. How could two places that are similar in so many ways be so disparate in others? In Frenemy Nations, Soderstrom answers this question by addressing a range of geographical "odd couples" including the United States and Canada; New Hampshire and Vermont; Alberta and Saskatchewan; Haiti and the Dominican Republic; Scotland and Ireland; Rwanda and Burundi; and more. Through it all, Soderstrom shows how tiny differences--in geographic features, colonial histories, resource competition, education, women's roles, language, and migration--can have outsized effects on how polities develop.
A moment of panic leads Rick to mistakenly believe a stranger poses a threat, resulting in a tragic murder. As he attempts to conceal the incident from his family, he remains unaware that the victim is the innocent son of Annie, a woman from his past with whom he shared a deep connection. The story explores themes of guilt, the consequences of hasty actions, and the haunting echoes of past relationships, unraveling the complexities of Rick's choices and their impact on those around him.
A thoroughly researched and beautifully written history of roads as vectors of change, Road Through Time documents how routes of migration and transport have transformed both humanity and our planet.