Book description
First published in 1987, Peter Brimblecombe's book provides an engaging historical account of air pollution in London, offering a fascinating insight into the development of air pollution controls against a changing social and economic background. He examines domestic and industrial pollution and their effects on fashions, furnishings, buildings and human…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Big Smoke as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
Most of us think air pollution's a relatively recent problem that started back in the Industrial Revolution, but as Peter Brimblecombe demonstrates in this wonderfully readable book, it's a much older problem with deeper roots, linked to broader trends in how humans have used and abused the planet. I generally hate history, but I loved this book: it's superbly scholarly but also riveting and well-written, and tiny telling details make what could have been a very dull subject really fascinating. It was originally published in 1987, so it doesn't cover recent history, but it's still worth reading nevertheless.
From Chris' list on The best books about air pollution and what we can do about it.
If you love The Big Smoke...
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