Title: Visit Sunny Chernobyl: And Other Adventures in the World’s Most Polluted Places
Author: Andrew Blackwell
First published May 22, 2012
306 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9781605294452 (ISBN10: 1605294454)
Rating: 3.65
Overview
Andrew Blackwell is not your typical traveler. Instead of visiting the most stunning destinations around the world, he seeks out the most polluted and desolate places on Earth.
In his book, Off the Beaten Path of Pollution, Blackwell takes readers on a journey through the most grotesquely polluted locations, from the abandoned industrial wastelands of Detroit to the contaminated waters of the Gulf of Mexico. With a mix of satire, memoir, and investigative journalism, Blackwell paints a vivid picture of the world’s most degraded ecosystems, shedding light on the devastating impact of human activity on our planet.
Off the Beaten Path of Pollution is a call to action to appreciate our environment as it is, not as we want it to be, and to take responsibility for the damage we have caused. Join Blackwell on his daring expedition through the world’s most toxic landscapes and discover the harsh realities of our modern world.
About the Author
Meet Andrew Blackwell – a New York City-based journalist and filmmaker. He’s a 2011 recipient of the New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship in nonfiction literature.
His debut book, Visit Sunny Chernobyl, is a must-read for everyone.
Editoral Review
Visit Sunny Chernobyl: And Other Adventures in the World’s Most Polluted Places by Andrew Blackwell is a fascinating journey through some of the world’s most polluted destinations. Blackwell’s writing is engaging and humorous, making this journey through toxic wastelands an entertaining and educational experience.
The book is creative non-fiction, following Blackwell as he travels to the most polluted places on earth. From Chernobyl to the Great Pacific Garbage Patch to India’s shipbreaking yards, Blackwell explores the devastating effects of pollution on both the environment and human health.
He meets locals and activists who are fighting to clean up these spaces and provides a unique and personal perspective on places that many of us will never have the opportunity to visit. While the book is structured around Blackwell’s adventures, the true strength of Visit Sunny Chernobyl is in the insights Blackwell provides regarding the global issue of pollution.
He connects the dots between the pollution of these specific locations and the broader environmental concerns we face as a planet. Blackwell’s witty writing makes this heavy topic accessible and relatable to readers.
One of the book’s strengths is Blackwell’s use of imagery. His descriptions of the sights, smells, and sounds of the polluted areas he visits are vivid and startling.
He also includes photographs throughout the book, which add an additional layer of impact to the reader’s experience. The pacing of the book is well-balanced, allowing for moments of levity and introspection in between the heavier subject matter.
While Blackwell’s writing is engaging, he could have done more to develop the people he meets on his journeys. The locals and activists often come across as one-dimensional, with limited backstories or motivations.
Additionally, Blackwell’s experience as a white, male, American traveler may affect how some readers perceive his interactions with people from other cultures. Overall, Visit Sunny Chernobyl is an engaging and thought-provoking read.
Blackwell’s humorous writing style and vivid imagery make for an entertaining journey, while his insights into the broader issues of pollution provide important food for thought. This book would be a great read for anyone interested in environmentalism, travel writing, or creative non-fiction.
Rating: 8/10
