Non-Fiction Book Review

  Armenian Fishermen at Kumkapı by Ara Güler *** Here’s a detailed review of the book Armenian Fishermen at Kumkapı , by Ara Güler, covering its background, content, strengths, weaknesses, and what makes it of interest. *** 1. Background & Context The book reproduces a photo-journalistic series Güler published in the Armenian-language newspaper Jamanak from 21–26 May 1952. ( NAASR ) At the time Güler was 24 years old, and this project marked a significant early milestone in his career — helping establish his reputation in photo-journalism. ( Daily Sabah ) The subject matter is the fishermen community (specifically Armenian fishermen) of the Kumkapı district of Istanbul, during a period just prior to major urban changes (the coastal road / “Sahil Yolu” etc) that transformed the area. The book is trilingual (Turkish, English, Armenian) and includes both the original text and translations; plus archival photographs (56 total) beyond the original 12 published in th...

  *** In "Carbon: The Book of Life" by Paul Hawken, re-frames the way we think about carbon: not simply as the villain behind climate change, but as an essential element of life, deeply woven into everything alive on Earth. *** "Carbon: The Book of Life" by Paul Hawken Hawken takes a panoramic view, tracing carbon from cosmic origins through ecosystems, organisms, soils, plants, human culture, fungi, food systems, etc. PublishersWeekly.com +2 PenguinRandomhouse.com +2 The book is part science, part philosophy and part environmental/cultural critique. It seeks to shift our relationship with nature and our understanding of our role in the living world. Atmos +1 Key Themes & Arguments Carbon as Life-giver, Not Just Pollutant Hawken emphasizes that carbon is foundational: it's in every living being, every cell; it cycles through soil, air, oceans, plants, humans. While we typically blame carbon (in forms like CO₂) for climate change, that’s only...

  In Praise of Floods, James C. Scott’s *** James C. Scott’s In Praise of Floods is a nature/environmental non-fiction work that frames how we think about rivers and floods — not simply as hazards or resources, but as living, dynamic systems.   *** Key Themes & Arguments Rivers as living systems Scott argues that rivers are more than channels for water flow; they are full, complex ecosystems with floodplains, tributaries, wetlands, backwaters, eddies, and seasonal marshlands. These parts all contribute to the river’s vitality. Kirkus Reviews +3 Shakespeare and Company +3 NHBS +3 The importance of the “flood pulse” One central concept is the flood pulse — the annual flooding-event when the river spills into its floodplain. It’s during this event that so much of the river’s ecological productivity happens: nutrient renewal, habitat creation, supporting biodiversity. mitpressbookstore +3 Kirkus Reviews +3 Shakespeare and Company +3 Human engineering & cont...