“Compelling . . . Bloch’s conversation-starter draws examples from history, city-planning and social policy to make his case and offer some tentative solutions going forward.”—NPR
“Shade is a straightforward solution to the problem of a warming world. But as this thought-provoking series of dispatches about the history of shade shows, its deployment is uneven and often politically charged . . . Bloch, an environmental journalist, examines how shade is now a privilege, often denied to farmworkers, the homeless, and residents of poor neighborhoods.”—The New Yorker
“Despite overwhelming evidence that shade is indispensable to public safety and urban health, Americans have devalued it . . . Smart and compelling.”—The Baffler
“This engaging offering makes an eloquent argument for re-investing in and even re-inventing shade . . . logical and convincing . . . Bloch blends accessible science with real-world scenarios, evaluates the effectiveness of current interventions, and considers future solutions.”—Booklist
“Shade is my favorite kind of book: a history of something seemingly niche that secretly explains the entire world. Sam Bloch connects the decisions made by people hundreds and thousands of years ago to our present planetary crisis of heat and does so in a way that’s both informative and super entertaining. I never thought I’d enjoy learning so much about shade!”—P. E. Moskowitz, author of How to Kill a City
“This is a delightful book, driven by boundless curiosity and a serious sense of injustice. Sam Bloch succeeds in rehabilitating the reputation of the shadows, and a hot sunny day will never look the same again.”—Henry Grabar, author of Paved Paradise
“Shade is the book we need now. Through detailed research, Sam Bloch shows how the simple presence—or absence—of shade provides keen insight into our communities and their deep-seated disparities, and how it could be the key to a better, more resilient and equitable future. I have been trying to make this point for years now, and I finally have the ammunition.”—Richard Florida, author of The Rise of the Creative Class
“A fascinating and detailed look how we cool the world around us—a question that’s never been more urgent or important. Sam Bloch offers a riveting exploration of the unheralded shadows that shelter us from the sun.”—Megan Kimble, author of City Limits: Infrastructure, Inequality, and the Future of America’s Highways
“Both a comprehensive history and an impassioned rallying cry, Shade is an eye-opening globe-spanning guide to our most underappreciated natural resource.”—Benjamin Lorr, author of The Secret Life of Groceries
“A thoroughly documented and thought-provoking book, certain to spark attention and discussion.”—Kirkus Reviews
“Bloch is at his best describing racial and socioeconomic inequalities in shade access: he presents data indicating that poor neighborhoods in L.A. and Portland, Ore., can have ambient temperatures as much as 20 degrees higher than more affluent areas, and notes that previously redlined neighborhoods have the highest land-surface temperatures. . . . Readers will find some solid information about how local communities are dealing—or not—with rising temperatures.”—Publishers Weekly
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