Book Review: The Transition Timeline by Shaun Chamberlin

There is so much information coming out on an almost daily basis about the state of the planet, and to a lesser extent, the fragile nature of our future energy supplies, that it is easy to become bewildered.  In 'The Transition Timeline' Shaun has gathered all the key data together and he presents a coherent and alarming analysis.  It is easily the best discussion I have read about the tensions between peak oil and climate change policy and he shows that a radical shift in approach is vital.  That shift is at the heart of the Transition vision.

The book has been described as the history of the next twenty years.  It examines four scenarios for the future and what the implications are.  The Transition scenario shows the positive and exciting challenges that adopting it will give us - the others including what we are doing now, will fail us.  And just as The Transition Handbook inspired me to begin to do things differently Shaun's book has done the same.

Of course the information is grim.  We know now that the indicators of global warming are all following the 'worst case' predictions made by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.  And we know that the most common reaction from people is to adopt the Ostrich position.  But this is a call to arms written with passion and conviction containing a whole series of innovative ideas on what to do.  The beauty of Transition for me is, as Shaun points out in his book, that it is on a human scale.  That's the level we all work at.  We can see value in planting a tree or getting together a community food coop and with its rate of growth the actions taken by 'transitioners' can be a new, positive tipping point.  As one quote in the book goes "imagine waking up one morning and finding you're in the majority!"

The Transition Timeline is a tool for changing the world I fervently hope you will use it and encourage others to do the same.

The Transition Timeline is published by Green Books at £12.95.  By ordering 20 or more copies I can reduce the cost to £7.50.  I would like to make a bulk order and would propose selling them at £10 each with the extra £2.50 going into the New Forest Transition account to support local group activities.  If you would like to order a copy please email or phone me. Thank you.

Richard Barnett - chair@newforesttransition.org

or 023 8029 2531

Click here for an extended guide to the book by the author