Overview

Energy is Life tells of Zion Lights's journey to from an Extinction Rebellion editor to becoming an environmental advocate for nuclear energy. She argues that now we are discussing very real environmental threats and opportunities, nuclear energy has emerged as the unavoidable and inevitable part of the equation.

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9781917458450

Table of Contents

Reviews

“The book is insightful at many levels, from the fundamental nature of our existence to the political, economic, and ecological challenges we now face. In this vivid book, Zion Lights offers strong evidence, clear thinking, and good sense on the biggest issue of our time” – Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University “Yes, nuclear energy is dangerous. But at this point, not using it is even more dangerous. In this well-argued book, Zion Lights makes a passionate, personal plea to not forget that without energy, we are nothing. Highly recommended.” – Sabine Hossenfelder, physicist and author of Existential Physics “The entire history of civilization can be reduced to two words: energy capture—in the teeth of entropy, humans need energy to survive and flourish. Zion Lights’ Energy is Life is the definitive case for why environmentalism must go nuclear. The fate of humanity depends on it, and this is the book that outlines how we can get there.” – Michael Shermer is the Publisher of Skeptic magazine and author of The Moral Arc, Conspiracy, and Truth “Zion Lights humanizes nuclear energy and persuasively describes the great potential of nuclear power to improve our lives.” – Professor James E. Hansen, climate scientist and former Director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies “I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I was really impressed. This felt like when I read The Demon-Haunted World many many years ago… A deeply humanistic call for nuclear power from one of today’s leading science communicators.” – Yishan Wong, CEO and Founder of Terraformation and former CEO of Reddit “A moving and engaging account of the author’s journey from anti-nuclear protestor to climate activist who understands that nuclear power is the most important technology we have for mitigating climate change.” – Kerry Emmanuel, climate scientist and Professor post-tenure of atmospheric science, MIT “Energy has determined human history and determines our future too. In this powerful book, Zion Lights explains how we can produce enough of it without cooking the planet - and why nuclear power is an indispensable tool in meeting this challenge. This is a must-read for anyone seeking science-based, well-written guidance on how to build a sustainable future for all of humanity.” – Atte Harjanne, MP for the Green Party, Parliament of Finland “This book is simultaneously emotionally compelling and underpinned by scientific numeracy. This combination of fact and passion comes together to weave a hopeful vision for how nuclear energy can enable a cleaner, more prosperous, equitable and sustainable future for the world. A stellar demonstration of effective science and energy communication.” – Katy Huff, Associate Professor and former Assistant Secretary at US Dept. of Energy “Written with the empathy and communication skills of a master. Zion Lights weaves a compelling personal narrative with rigorous reasoning to show why abundant, reliable electricity is a prerequisite for dignity and opportunity and why nuclear energy belongs at the center of any honest climate strategy. As someone who teaches and does research in radiation science and risk communication, I’m impressed by the book’s empirical treatment of radiation, accidents, and waste, and by its empathy for communities most harmed by energy poverty. This is the kind of bridge building environmentalism we need: principled, pro human, and grounded in evidence.” – Professor Robert B. Hayes, PhD, CHP, PE, Nuclear Engineering Department, North Carolina State University “Aldous Huxley said that the richest non-fiction writing lives in three worlds at once: the intimate world of personal experience, the solid ground of fact, and the higher space of universal ideals. Lights’ work moves effortlessly among these realms, a true Huxleyan trinity.” – Jesse Freeston, award-winning documentary filmmaker “Energy is Life is a powerful reminder that the stories we tell shape the world we build. As someone who works at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and Global South innovation, I was deeply struck by Zion’s insistence that progress cannot come from narratives rooted in fear or deprivation, but from those that champion abundance, agency, and equity. Her advocacy for communities across India, Africa and other emerging regions gives voice to those whose lives are too often defined by other people’s ideas. This is the kind of reframing our world urgently needs.” – Natasha Mudhar, global impact leader who launched India’s SDGs, founder of The World We Want Studios “Lights sees things as they are, not as wealthy people imagine them. Her writing is fresh and vivid. Energy is life. I recommend this book highly.” – Meredith Angwin, former chemist and author of Shorting the Grid “A call to action against climate change using science and storytelling, this is a must-read for environmental activists and policy makers alike. Zion shows how we can leave behind shibboleths and sentiment to give a clear-eyed way forward to a better future for all.” – Lizzi Collinge, Labour Party MP “Energy is Life is not only a clear, well-grounded account of what we actually know about the energy transition and nuclear power - it’s also a story of a climate movement learning to think with greater maturity, shaped by experience rather than ideology, told by one of its own. This is a book we urgently need today: comprehensive, rational, and free of dogma - yet also brave, candid, and deeply personal.” – Jakub Wiech, Polish energy analyst and journalist “Perhaps the time has come for the green movement to re-evaluate its position on civilian nuclear power. In this book, Zion Lights with her impressive environmental track record and lucid science communication shows why.” – Professor Alastair McIntosh, author of Riders on the Storm “Zion Lights’ book about energy describes how she has completely changed her views on nuclear and the environment. Her Pauline conversion from leading critic to vocal protagonist provides remarkably interesting and reassuring reading for anyone worried about the sources of energy we need.” – Professor Wade Allison, Emeritus Professor of Physics and Fellow of Keble College, University of Oxford “The insights in this book into the pace and scale of the transformation needed are really thought provoking and the writing shows a great depth of analysis and a personal journey which are unique. This deeply heartfelt book is essential reading for anyone interested in, let alone creating, 21st century energy policy.” – Tim Stone CBE, former Chair of the Nuclear Industry Association “In this book, Zion Lights offers the reader a masterclass in how to update your beliefs in the face of scientific evidence, how to learn from past errors, and how to engage in authentic science communication about one of the greatest challenges of our time.” – Sander van der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Cambridge and author of Foolproof

“The entire history of civilization can be reduced to two words: energy capture—in the teeth of entropy, humans need energy to survive and flourish. Zion Lights’ Energy is Life is the definitive case for why environmentalism must go nuclear. The fate of humanity depends on it, and this is the book that outlines how we can get there.” – Michael Shermer is the Publisher of Skeptic magazine and author of The Moral Arc, Conspiracy, and Truth “Yes, nuclear energy is dangerous. But at this point, not using it is even more dangerous. In this well-argued book, Zion Lights makes a passionate, personal plea to not forget that without energy, we are nothing. Highly recommended.” – Sabine Hossenfelder, physicist and author of Existential Physics “Zion Lights humanizes nuclear energy and persuasively describes the great potential of nuclear power to improve our lives.” – Professor James E. Hansen, climate scientist and former Director of NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies “The book is insightful at many levels, from the fundamental nature of our existence to the political, economic, and ecological challenges we now face. In this vivid book, Zion Lights offers strong evidence, clear thinking, and good sense on the biggest issue of our time” – Steven Pinker, Johnstone Professor of Psychology, Harvard University “I didn’t know what to expect going in, but I was really impressed. This felt like when I read The Demon-Haunted World many many years ago… A deeply humanistic call for nuclear power from one of today’s leading science communicators.” – Yishan Wong, CEO and Founder of Terraformation and former CEO of Reddit “A moving and engaging account of the author’s journey from anti-nuclear protestor to climate activist who understands that nuclear power is the most important technology we have for mitigating climate change.” – Kerry Emmanuel, climate scientist and Professor post-tenure of atmospheric science, MIT “Energy has determined human history and determines our future too. In this powerful book, Zion Lights explains how we can produce enough of it without cooking the planet - and why nuclear power is an indispensable tool in meeting this challenge. This is a must-read for anyone seeking science-based, well-written guidance on how to build a sustainable future for all of humanity.” – Atte Harjanne, MP for the Green Party, Parliament of Finland “This book is simultaneously emotionally compelling and underpinned by scientific numeracy. This combination of fact and passion comes together to weave a hopeful vision for how nuclear energy can enable a cleaner, more prosperous, equitable and sustainable future for the world. A stellar demonstration of effective science and energy communication.” – Katy Huff, Associate Professor and former Assistant Secretary at US Dept. of Energy “Written with the empathy and communication skills of a master. Zion Lights weaves a compelling personal narrative with rigorous reasoning to show why abundant, reliable electricity is a prerequisite for dignity and opportunity and why nuclear energy belongs at the center of any honest climate strategy. As someone who teaches and does research in radiation science and risk communication, I’m impressed by the book’s empirical treatment of radiation, accidents, and waste, and by its empathy for communities most harmed by energy poverty. This is the kind of bridge building environmentalism we need: principled, pro human, and grounded in evidence.” – Professor Robert B. Hayes, PhD, CHP, PE, Nuclear Engineering Department, North Carolina State University “Aldous Huxley said that the richest non-fiction writing lives in three worlds at once: the intimate world of personal experience, the solid ground of fact, and the higher space of universal ideals. Lights’ work moves effortlessly among these realms, a true Huxleyan trinity.” – Jesse Freeston, award-winning documentary filmmaker “Energy is Life is a powerful reminder that the stories we tell shape the world we build. As someone who works at the intersection of storytelling, culture, and Global South innovation, I was deeply struck by Zion’s insistence that progress cannot come from narratives rooted in fear or deprivation, but from those that champion abundance, agency, and equity. Her advocacy for communities across India, Africa and other emerging regions gives voice to those whose lives are too often defined by other people’s ideas. This is the kind of reframing our world urgently needs.” – Natasha Mudhar, global impact leader who launched India’s SDGs, founder of The World We Want Studios “Lights sees things as they are, not as wealthy people imagine them. Her writing is fresh and vivid. Energy is life. I recommend this book highly.” – Meredith Angwin, former chemist and author of Shorting the Grid “A call to action against climate change using science and storytelling, this is a must-read for environmental activists and policy makers alike. Zion shows how we can leave behind shibboleths and sentiment to give a clear-eyed way forward to a better future for all.” – Lizzi Collinge, Labour Party MP “Energy is Life is not only a clear, well-grounded account of what we actually know about the energy transition and nuclear power - it’s also a story of a climate movement learning to think with greater maturity, shaped by experience rather than ideology, told by one of its own. This is a book we urgently need today: comprehensive, rational, and free of dogma - yet also brave, candid, and deeply personal.” – Jakub Wiech, Polish energy analyst and journalist “Perhaps the time has come for the green movement to re-evaluate its position on civilian nuclear power. In this book, Zion Lights with her impressive environmental track record and lucid science communication shows why.” – Professor Alastair McIntosh, author of Riders on the Storm “Zion Lights’ book about energy describes how she has completely changed her views on nuclear and the environment. Her Pauline conversion from leading critic to vocal protagonist provides remarkably interesting and reassuring reading for anyone worried about the sources of energy we need. ” – Professor Wade Allison, Emeritus Professor of Physics and Fellow of Keble College, University of Oxford “The insights in this book into the pace and scale of the transformation needed are really thought provoking and the writing shows a great depth of analysis and a personal journey which are unique. This deeply heartfelt book is essential reading for anyone interested in, let alone creating, 21st century energy policy. ” – Tim Stone CBE, former Chair of the Nuclear Industry Association “In this book, Zion Lights offers the reader a masterclass in how to update your beliefs in the face of scientific evidence, how to learn from past errors, and how to engage in authentic science communication about one of the greatest challenges of our time.” – Sander van der Linden, Professor of Social Psychology, University of Cambridge and author of Foolproof

Author Information

Zion Lights is an award-winning science communicator who is widely recognised for her environmental advocacy. She founded Emergency Reactor, the UK's first pro-nuclear environmental campaign group, and she has played a key role in shifting the global narrative on nuclear energy. As the former Editor of Extinction Rebellion's print newspaper, The Hourglass, Zion played a pivotal role in elevating climate discourse in the UK, and as a spokesperson for the group, she highlighted the need for action on climate change worldwide. Zion has been referred to as 'Britain's greenest mother' by the Daily Telegraph and 'an eco-pragmatist, happily heavy on science' by the Guardian.

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