Arctic Thaw: The People of the Whale in a Changing Climate

By Peter Lourie

Book Overview

Travel north-beyond the Arctic Circle-to Barrow, Alaska, and meet the proud INupiaq people. For thousands of years they have hunted whales on the open sea, but now global climate change threatens their way of life. The whale hunt is about to begin, and you're invited to come along Just as soon as the ice covering the ocean cracks apart, the whales will appear. Set out with the INupiaqs in their bearded-sealskin boats to hunt bowhead whales, and witness a tradition that has been followed for 3,000 years. So grab some warm clothes and loosen up your throwing arm-the hunt is on Multiple award-winning author Peter Lourie is acclaimed for his environmental science writing. Here he transports young listeners due north to discover a culture completely different from their own and to show them what climate change means for the INupiaqs and us all. "A must book-right now. Tomorrow is too late."-Jean Craighead George

• Format: Audio CD
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1664497013
• ISBN13: 9781664497016
• Release Date: February 2010
• Publisher: Recorded Books, Inc.

Customer Reviews

A sane, compassionate look at global warming

I beg you to read this book! It illustrates the effect of global warming on the ecology of a little known local culture (the Inupiat) who live at the Arctic edge of the world. The author brings understanding of the world's precarious future to the reader's awareness in a completely understandable way. Making three expeditions with atmospheric chemist, Dr. Paul Shepson and several graduate students, Lourie captures the essence of the Inupiat people, their livelihood, modern culture, and the effects of global warming on their way of life, as well as what global warming has in store for our earth. Color plus B & W photographs embellish this intimate story along with maps and diagrams which encourage the reader's perception of the crisis. Includes index, glossary, resource pages as well as an inspirational "What You Can do to Fight Global Climate Change."