Hard Rain - Our Headlong Collision with Nature

international | arts and media | opinion/analysis Wednesday June 21, 2006 20:39 by Muriel Lumb - Book STEPs muriel at booksteps dot ie Book STEPs, 4 High St, Bantry, Co Cork 027 52570

A Review

I got a Hard Rain in recently and it blew me away. It's a photographic exploration of the effects of climate change illustrating Bob Dylan's prophetic lyrics. Everyone should read this book and I don't care where you get it so long as you get a look at it. If any book can shake people out of their complacency, this is the one. Make your libraries buy it, show it to your friends, family and co-workers, show it to everyone you meet every day. Read it and weep. And then do something about it.

Hard Rain
Our Headlong Collision with Nature
Lloyd Timberlake, Mark Edwards (Ill), Bob Dylan (Contributor)

Reviewed by Muriel Lumb

This month I've literally been reduced to tears reading Hard Rain by Mark Edwards and Lloyd Timberlake, a photographic exploration of the state of the world and its peoples illustrating Bob Dylan's prophetic lyrics. And I'm sitting here shaking with emotion after just skimming through it and I have to say something more about this book than 'This is Great. Read it.' … If there's ever been a book that everyone should read this is it. If you've a soul it'll touch it. If you've a sensitive soul Hard Rain will tear it apart.

Dylan wrote the lyrics to Hard Rain during the Cuban crisis describing a rain than kills people, animals, plant life, eco-systems, oceans … and the planet itself. Today it's not just nuclear destruction that threatens us - for years we've known the potential catastrophic effects of climate change and have done next to nothing about it. Hard Rain shows in painful detail the destruction of planet and life that climate change has already brought about and what the future holds if we carry on regardless.

And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it I know this stuff; I've known it for years; it's what my tiny, environmental business is all about - raising awareness and inspiring and empowering individuals to follow a path of sustainability. But the knowledge that we need to change and what we need to do to bring about that change has been around for donkeys years and how many people care? Who's taking this on board? I can't even begin to describe how distressed this book leaves me. A combination of horror at the injustices of the world, the destruction, poverty, hardships; despair that nothing seems to be changing; and, an urgent need to do something. And the most immediate thing I can think of is to tell as many people as possible about this book. And desperately hope that they will feel even a fraction of what I'm feeling and be inspired to do something themselves. Something more. Something Real.

Yet I'm left despairing, impotent, afraid that change cannot come about without a global shift in consciousness. A shift away from greed and power and hatred. A shift towards world mindedness, compassion, equality and care. And people have been saying that for decades, probably longer, and we don't seem to be any closer. Maybe this book can help, I don't know. But I can't end on that note, so I'll tell you a wee bit more about Hard Rain and why you should read it.

The core of the book consists of Dylan's lyrics illustrated by Edward's evocative photographic depiction of the effects of climate change. That's the part that'll tear at your guts. But text by Edwards and Timberlake supports this emotive journey with facts and figures about climate change and policies and strategies that have not been forthcoming by those who're in a position to implement them. And Edwards offers simple, straightforward things everyone can do right now, from buying low energy light bulbs (How difficult is that? Why does anyone have to be told to do that?) to life-changing development work. In this way Edwards offers some hope. And he offers inspiration - a copy of Hard Rain was sent to world leaders before its release to the public and the accompanying letter is included in the appendices:

"Our book is an appeal to you, and an appeal to readers to get in touch with you and ask for your attention, for you to demonstrate the responsibility you promise when you ask for our votes or support."

Complete with a listing of organisations, websites, books and journals Hard Rain is not only distressing and provocative but also an excellent source of information and inspiration.

If any book can shake people out of their complacency, this is the one. Make your libraries buy it, show it to your friends, family and co-workers, show it to everyone you meet every day. Read it and weep. And then do something about it.

Although I run an environmental bookstore I'm not posting this for commercial reasons but because I think this book should be seen by as many people as possible. Hard Rain should be available at a bookshop near you and is definitely available from any number of online bookstores.

Mark Edwards will be coming to Ireland in late September (dates to be finalised). He'll be appearing at Cultivate in Dublin, Peak Oil/Climate Change gathering in Cork, mini festival in Bantry and possibly in Waterford too. The slideshow of his book will be well worth seeing.

And it’s a hard, it’s a hard it’s a hard, it’s a hard It’s a hard rain’s a-gonna fall

And reflect it from the mountain so all souls can see it

I’ve walked and I’ve crawled on six crooked highways

And I’ll tell it and think it and speak it and breathe it