Synopses & Reviews
This timely and captivating look at the hidden impact of light pollution is
"rich in revelation and insight...lyrical" (The Wall Street Journal) and urges us
to cherish natural darkness for the sake of the environment, our own well-being, and all life on earth.
How much light is too much light? Satellite pictures show our
planet as a brightly glowing orb, and in our era of constant
illumination, light pollution has become a major issue. The world's
flora and fauna have evolved to operate in the natural cycle of day and
night. But in the last 150 years, we have extended our day mdash; and in doing
so have forced out the inhabitants of the night and disrupted the
circadian rhythms necessary to sustain all living things, including
ourselves.
In this "well-researched and surprisingly lyrical" (The
New Statesman, UK) book, Swedish conservationist Johan Eklöf
urges us to appreciate natural darkness, its creatures, and its unique
benefits. He ponders the beauties of the night sky, traces the errant
paths of light-drunk moths and the swift dives of keen-eyed owls, and
shows us the bioluminescent creatures of the deepest oceans. As a
devoted friend of the night, Eklöf reveals the startling domino effect
of diminishing darkness: insects, dumbfounded by streetlamps, failing to
reproduce; birds blinded and bewildered by artificial lights; and bats
starving as they wait in vain for insects that only come out in the
dark. For humans, light-induced sleep disturbances impact our hormones
and weight, and can contribute to mental health problems like chronic
stress and depression. The streetlamps, floodlights, and neon signs of
cities are altering entire ecosystems, and scientists are only just
beginning to understand their long-term effects. The light bulb mdash; long
the symbol of progress and development mdash; needs to be turned off.
"Urgent...vivid...eye-opening" (Publishers Weekly), and ultimately encouraging,
The Darkness Manifesto outlines simple steps that we can take to
benefit ourselves and the planet. In order to ensure a bright future, we
must embrace the darkness.
Review
"A superb book by a world-leading ecosystem ecologist, Eklöf takes us on
an exciting journey spanning multiple fascinating areas of nocturnal
biology. . . . This is a critically important must-read for all who have
an interest in the health of our planet." Russell Foster, Director of the Sleep and Circadian
Neuroscience Institute and Head of the Nuffield Laboratory of
Ophthalmology at the University of Oxford
Review
"An urgent and erudite hymn to the night, composed by a scientist with the soul of a poet." Chloe Aridjis, author of Book of Clouds
Review
"What is lost when darkness disappears? Stargazing, flowers that unfold
by moonlight, phosphorescence in the sea, and something deeper yet. With
extraordinary insight, Johan Eklöf explores the influence of night on
nature, on cities, and in our connections to one another. . . . a
scintillating read by a conservationist of true literary flair, who has
spent long hours tuning his attention to twilight and nocturnal life." Rebecca Giggs, award-winning author of Fathoms
Review
"As a Swedish conservationist, Johan Eklöf urges us to think of light
pollution as more than a nuisance that obscures our starry skies. . . .
well-researched . . . the book is a reflective reminder that our control
of the world is as delicate as the smallest of species affected by it." Scientific American
Review
"Though Mr. Eklöf loves both bats and darkness, his sensibility is more
good-natured than gothic, rendering night not as an ordeal but an
odyssey, rich in revelation and insight . . . lyrical." Wall Street Journal
Review
"Though the book is written as a sort of
Silent Spring manifesto against the ecological devastations of
light pollution, its considerable charm depends on the encyclopedic
intensity with which he evokes the hidden creatures of the night. . . .
Eklöf's book is made most memorable by the sometimes wild eccentricities
of the life-forms it chronicles." Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker
Review
"A wide-ranging exploration of humanity's troubled relationship with
darkness, and the damaging effects of our drive to overcome it." The New York Times
About the Author
Johan Eklöf, PhD, is a Swedish bat scientist and writer, most known for
his work on microbat vision and more recently, light pollution. He lives
in the west of Sweden, where he works as a conservationist and
copywriter. Eklöf has studied bats for almost twenty years and now has
his own consultancy company, hired by authorities, wind companies,
municipalities, city planners, and environmental organizations as an
expert on bats, night ecology, and nature friendly lighting.
The Darkness Manifesto is his second book to be translated into English.
Elizabeth DeNoma is a literary translator of Scandinavian languages, as
well as a freelance editor and publishing consultant specializing in
international literature. She's the recipient of a Fulbright scholarship
and the Swedish Women's Educational Award, sits on the advisory board
of the University of Washington's Translation Studies Hub, and founded
the National Nordic Museum's Meet the Author series.