A review by jmariedewitt
Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World by John Vaillant

5.0

Vaillant provides a masterclass in historical and science communication with this book. He ties so many threads together, constantly moving back and forth in time and scale, to effectively show how the history of Fort McMurray and it's oil sands industry is connected to larger, global economic and cultural forces that have ultimately contributed to climate change and the very forces that made the historic 2016 Fort Mac fire possible. He does all of this while keeping the narrative engaging, accessible, and focused on the messy, but relatable humanity of the people, past and present, involved.