
While writing this book, Steve Jones had beside him the coral brooch that his sea captain grandfather brought back across the Indian Ocean as a gift for his wife. This simple object is a starting point for a dazzling narrative that touches on a number of the most important issues facing us today. Following in the footsteps of Darwin & Captain Cook, Jones reveals what coral has to tell us about the human genome project, cloning, & the possibility of a cure for cancer & genetic diseases; what insights it can offer us into the future of trade in oil & other forms of carbon; how it is linked to the fluctuations in weather patterns that have lead to destruction along the coasts of the Americas & the Far East. Finally, Jones considers what coral
- exploited & destroyed in many ways & under siege from climate change
- tells us about the likely future of the planet & humankind: it is a warning that both may be close to the point of no return. CORAL: A PESSIMIST IN PARADISE is an inspired, eclectic book that links science with history, literature, politics & myth. It belongs to a vivid tradition of thinking & writing about humankind & its place in nature.