Nobel Peace Prize Posts

“A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory” by Dr. Jagadish Shukla

05 06 , 2025 No Comments

This book was sent by PanMacmillan India in time for World Environment Day. I look forward to reading it soon.

The amazing true story of the man behind modern weather prediction

Consider a world without weather prediction. How would we know when to evacuate communities ahead of fires or floods, or figure out what to wear tomorrow? Until 40 years ago, we couldn’t forecast weather conditions beyond ten days. Renowned climate scientist Dr. Jagadish Shukla is largely to thank for modern weather forecasting. Born in rural India with no electricity, plumbing, or formal schools, he attended classes that were held in a cow shed. Shukla grew up amid turmoil: overwhelming monsoons, devastating droughts, and unpredictable crop yields. His drive brought him to the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology, despite little experience. He then followed an unlikely path to MIT and Princeton, and the highest echelons of climate science. His work, which has enabled us to predict weather farther into the future than previously thought possible, allows us to feed more people, save lives, and hold on to hope in a warming world.

Paired with his philanthropic endeavors and extreme dedication to the field, Dr. Shukla has been lauded internationally for his achievements, including a shared Nobel Peace Prize with Al Gore for his governmental research on climate change. A Billion Butterflies is a wondrous insider’s account of climate science and an unbelievable memoir of his life. Understanding dynamical seasonal prediction will change the way you experience a thunderstorm or interpret a forecast; understanding its origins and the remarkable story of the man who discovered it will change the way you see our world.

Read an extract from the book on Moneycontrol.

“Jagadish Shukla’s A Billion Butterflies is engaging and illuminating—part fascinating memoir, part critical history of modern climate science, and part manifesto. It is the almost magical story of a barefoot boy who rises from a tiny Indian village and discovers how to predict the previously unpredictable monsoon rains—upon which the fragile supply of food for his village and thousands like it depend. Along the way he has to overcome the contrary scientific thinking of some of meteorology’s greatest minds. Ultimately, he, himself, becomes a world leader and defender of climate science. It is a rich tale written in layman’s terms and deserves the attention of anyone wanting to discover the story—and people—behind the latest climate science.” —Rob Wesson, geophysicist and author, Darwin’s First Theory

“A Billion Butterflies is the wonderful story of Jagadish Shukla’s pathfinding contributions for extending the range of forecasting weather and climate variations. He is one of the towering figures in the science of weather and climate and his book should be read far and wide.” — Syukuro Manabe, Nobel Laureate (2021)

“In A Billion Butterflies: A Life in Climate and Chaos Theory, Dr. Jagadish Shukla weaves a rich tapestry of his journey from a small village in India to the forefront of climate science. His profound insights into the delicate balance of our planet’s climate systems are not just a testament to his scientific rigor but also a call to action. This book is a compelling narrative that marries the personal with the planetary, urging us to heed the lessons of the past and act decisively for a sustainable future. It’s a must-read for anyone who cares about the legacy we leave for the generations to come.” — Dante S. Lauretta, Regents Professor at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and Author of The Asteroid Hunter: A Scientist’s Journey to the Dawn of our Solar System

“A Billion Butterflies is a multi-dimensional tale which beautifully weaves together global cultures, personal ambition and cutting-edge science. The book is a masterpiece!” – Dr. Bob Bishop, President & Founder, International Centre for Earth Simulation (ICES)

“The memoir of a scientist who rose from poverty in India to triumph in his specialty. … An admirable and inspiring account from a pioneering figure in climate research.” – Kirkus Reviews

“A scintillating look at the rewards and pitfalls of dedicating one’s life to science.” – Publishers Weekly

“Shukla is a captivating storyteller, modest, funny, and warm. Readers will be thrilled to discover a new hero, a globally impactful scientist, educator, and humanitarian.” – Booklist (starred)

DR. JAGADISH SHUKLA is a Professor of Climate Dynamics at George Mason University. Internationally recognized for his role in the development of weather and climate science, he has received the International Meteorological Prize by the UN and the Exceptional Scientific Achievement Medal of NASA, the highest honor given to a civilian by NASA. For his work as a lead author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s 4th assessment, his team was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

5 June 2025

“Voices of History: Speeches that Changed the World” by Simon Sebag Montefiore

12 10 , 2019 No Comments

When a historian such as Simon Sebag Montefiore who is also a brilliant public lecturer/ performer, puts together a collection of speeches that changed the world, then it is best to read the book. Regularly giving public engagements, ranging from lectures to conversations and performances such as dramatised readings of extracts from his last book — Letters that Changed the World, it is amply clear how crisply he selects and contextualises the speeches in his recent book Voices of History: Speeches that Changed the World.

He apologises to the purists but admits to editing some of the longer speeches for brevity so that the general reader may enjoy them. Many such anthologies exist in the market and are useful in their own way but Voices of History is special for the selection and its horrifying relevance to modern times. It is as if Simon Sebag Montefiore has accurately picked up the undercurrents of his audiences and his various worldwide engagements and put together a selection of speeches that were pertinent when they were first read out and are sobering to read today. More importantly, like a true historian, to lay out the facts and let the reader judge, albeit with a little nudge in terms of the arrangement of the material. Take for instance the inclusion of the only two speeches in the “Genocide” section. Unsurprisingly both belong to the Nazis — Adolf Hitler on “The annihilation of the Jewish race in Europe” ( 30 January 1939) and Heinrich Himmler’s “The Jewish people are going to be exterminated” ( 4 October 1943). These are immediately followed by the next section on “Good vs Evil” where the first speech is by Elie Wiesel, Nobel Peace Prize winner and a survivor of the Auschwitz Birkenau camp. Wiesel spoke on “The perils of indifference” ( 12 April 1999) at a speech he gave at the White House before President Bill Clinton.

…What is indifference? Etymologically, the word means ‘no difference’.

A strange and unnatural state in which the lines blur between light and darkness, dusk and dawn, crime and punishment, cruelty and compassion, good and evil. What are its courses and inescapable consequences? Is it a philosophy? Is there a philosophy of indifference conceivable? Can one possibly view indifference as a virtue? Is it necessary at times to practise it simply to keep one’s sanity, live normally, enjoy a fine meal and a glass of wine, as the world around us experiences harrowing upheavals?

Of course, indifference can be tempting — more than that, seductive. It is so much easier to look away from victims. It is so much easier to avoid such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome, to be involved in another;s pain and despair. Yet, for the person who is indifferent, his or her neighbours are of no consequence. And, therefore, their lives are meaningless. Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the other to an abstraction. …

This is a well-picked collection of speeches. Sobering reminders of recently past events that should not be forgotten.

12 October 2019

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