Peter Brannen - Böcker

From the celebrated author of The Ends of the World, an epic biography of the molecule that made – and could now break – everything we knowAll life is made from CO2 . It was there at earth’s birth, and throughout evolution. It has kept our planet habitable for hundreds of millions of years. It has given us all the splendours of the world we know today. And yet it also holds the potential for life's destruction.In this gripping adventure through eras and places, award-winning science journalist Peter Brannen tells the story of the world’s most important molecule. We travel from the beginning of time all the way up to our present reality, witnessing the staggering journey that CO2 has undertaken.As we watch its movements through the rocks, the air, the oceans and living beings over four billion years, we come to see more clearly what it means for us to be churning through ancient life – in the form of fossil fuels – as we power our industrial world. We are, Brannen shows, performing an unprecedented experiment on our planet. If we are to avoid its catastrophic consequences, we must all begin to deepen our understanding of this curious substance, which has given us everything from the very first life forms on earth to the business titans reshaping our planet today.

‘A book about one apocalypse – much less five – could have been a daunting read, were it not for the wit, lyricism, and clarity that Peter Brannen brings to every page.’ Ed Yong, author of I Contain MultitudesApocalypse, now?Death by fire, ice, poison gas, suffocation, asteroid. At five moments through history life on Earth was dragged to the very edge of extinction.Now, armed with revolutionary technology, scientists are uncovering clues about what caused these catastrophes. Deep-diving into past worlds of dragonflies the size of seagulls and fishes with guillotines for mouths, they explore how – against all the odds – life survived and what these ominous chapters can tell us about our future.

First published in 1976, The Worker Directors: A Sociology of Participation offers an exploration of industrial democracy and the role of worker participation in corporate decision-making. Drawing on extensive research and case studies, the authors delve into the emergence and implementation of worker-director schemes, with a particular focus on the British steel industry during a period of significant economic and social change.The book examines the evolution of participation in the 1960s, the challenges of organizational adjustment, and the dynamics of worker representation at the boardroom level. Through detailed analysis, the authors provide a nuanced understanding of the experiences, challenges, and contributions of worker directors, while also situating their findings within a broader European context. With its rich sociological insights and practical implications, The Worker Directors remains a seminal work for those interested in industrial relations, organizational change, and the sociology of work.