As I just learned from Belgrade, my book on climate change is going to the printers today (“Belgrade Book Fair,” October 3, 2013). Three-hundred copies will be printed at this stage. Even though this is mere peanuts, I am still delighted. With some luck, the book’s message will spread. Although it is unlikely that humans will get the message any time soon, it will spread unimpeded from now on. But I already cringe in awe at the day when humans really get it. The message. The quiet panic will be heard all around the globe. The silence will be deafening. What follows will define the human species for centuries to come. Some will go nuts, but it can still be hoped that most will hunker down and pay due attention to survival. Mere survival.

Addendum (June 9, 2016)

I cannot but shake my head in utter disbelief upon bumping into this piece in one of my random peregrinations through my writings. Silly old me! As I could have guessed way in advance, my book about climate change was a complete and total dud. It is anyone’s guess when the humans will get the message, but it is not likely that this will be any time soon. In fact, it is entirely possible that they never will. Never ever. The intervening wars will buffer the message. And so will untold calamities of climate change itself. Thus it is entirely possible that nobody will think of climate change by then. Once the shit hits the fan, ruminating about the underlying causes will be entirely irrelevant. By then, sheer survival will be at stake. Simply put, the message is for the birds.