The last 10, 000 years have been humanity's day in the sun: we planted the first crops, domesticated animals, and built the first civilisations - and all of this happened not once but many times independently in different parts of the world. But all that is about to change. Our civilisation is facing its greatest threat - an unprecedented heating of our planet that looks set to destroy the first global civilisation humanity has ever developed. Ironically, the very substance that allowed humans to develop that civilisation - fossil fuels - is the cause of the looming catastrophe. In this groundbreaking and essential new book Tim Flannery argues passionately for the need to address - now - the implications of a global change that is damaging all life on earth and endangering our very survival. This book is accessible for every interested Australian. In addition to explaining the background story of global warming, it provides a clear outline of what each of us can do to avoid catastrophe.