Running the Risk: From Shark Attacks to Nuclear Disaster - understanding life's biggest risks and how we build a safer future
About this ebook
'A must-read for anyone who wants to know about the risks we run in this highly complex world we're living in' Vincent Doumeizel, author of The Seaweed Revolution
'I have been studying risk for more than sixty years and have seen a lot of books on the subject... Running The Risk is one of the best' Professor Paul Slovic, founder and president of Decision Research
'A genuinely fabulous book... my bet is that this book will be talked about for years to come' Professor Richard Clegg, chairman of the Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk, National University of Singapore
Crossing the road, sitting next to someone on the subway who might have a virus, or going out at night alone, we are surrounded by hidden risks. Running The Risk delves into the fabric of our daily existence, posing crucial questions about the risks we face, what we need to know about them, and what we can do to engineer a safer, more resilient future.
From the roots of the concept of risk to new threats brought by climate change, each chapter unfolds a captivating narrative, weaving together major historical incidents and topical news events. Explore the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and how it transformed the way we prepare for disasters. Travel to Fukushima and witness the importance of listening to our ancestors. Uncover the way coastal communities are adapting to rising sea levels in Indonesia. Dive into the digital realm with the Cambridge Analytica scandal, revealing a new era of digital risk and anxiety.
Through riveting storytelling, Running the Risk invites readers to reflect on the risks we navigate in a rapidly changing world and understand the global implications of interconnected threats. This exploration of risk is not just an exposé: it's a guide to building resilience, making informed choices, and ultimately leading safer, healthier, happier lives.
'A well-rounded book that draws on history in a thought-provoking way' Claire Fox, Baroness Fox of Buckley, panellist on BBC Radio 4's The Moral Maze and Director of the Academy of Ideas
About the author
David is a visiting fellow at the Institute for the Public Understanding of Risk at the National University of Singapore, specialising in risk communication. An expert in strategic communications and public engagement, he has held various roles promoting science and engineering for the UK government, Institute of Physics, UCL, and was the director of one of Europe’s largest science festivals, The Times Cheltenham Science Festival. He is also a director and leads on global advocacy and partner campaigns for Lloyd’s Register Foundation, an international charity dedicated to making the world a safer place. He lives in Oxford and spends his spare time coaching rowing at St. Peter’s College.
