The Heat Will Kill You First audiobook cover - Life and Death on a Scorched Planet

The Heat Will Kill You First

Life and Death on a Scorched Planet

Jeff Goodell

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Nature & the EnvironmentScience

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The Heat Will Kill You First
The Lethal Reality of Extreme Heat+
Evolution and Biological Limits+
Survival Mechanics+
Urban Heat and Inequality+
Mass Migration and Displacement+
The Spread of Disease+
Hope and Collective Action+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7
What evolutionary adaptation gave early humans a significant advantage when endurance hunting during the hottest parts of the day?
  • A. The development of endothermy to regulate internal heat without the need for water.
  • B. The evolution of eccrine sweat glands and the loss of body hair to cool the skin through evaporation.
  • C. The enlargement of the brain, which acted as a central cooling system for the body.
  • D. The ability to rest for long periods in the shade, similar to savanna chimpanzees.
Question 2 of 7
Why does the author caution against taking medications like Tylenol or aspirin to treat heatstroke?
  • A. They increase your heart rate, which pumps warm blood faster to the brain.
  • B. They cause excess sweating, leading to more rapid and severe dehydration.
  • C. They can interfere with kidney function, making it harder for the body to cope with the temperature.
  • D. They constrict blood vessels in the skin, trapping heat inside the body's core.
Question 3 of 7
What major factor makes the extreme heat in Chennai, India, fundamentally more dangerous than the heat in Phoenix, Arizona?
  • A. Chennai has a much higher concentration of concrete and asphalt, worsening the urban heat island effect.
  • B. Chennai experiences high humidity or 'jungle heat,' which causes sweat to pool rather than evaporate, inhibiting the body's cooling mechanism.
  • C. Phoenix has a much larger natural supply of groundwater to combat dehydration.
  • D. Phoenix is located at a higher elevation, allowing for significantly cooler nighttime temperatures.
Question 4 of 7
How does extreme heat create a 'positive feedback loop' that worsens climate change in forested areas?
  • A. Heat causes trees to release more oxygen, which traps greenhouse gases in the lower atmosphere.
  • B. Heat dries out the soil, which then absorbs more sunlight and directly warms the earth's crust.
  • C. Heat-stressed forests are ravaged by beetles, leading to more wildfires that emit carbon and heat the atmosphere further.
  • D. Heat causes animals to migrate rapidly, destroying carbon-absorbing vegetation along their paths.
Question 5 of 7
According to the book, why is climate change expected to increase the rate of viral diseases jumping from animals to humans?
  • A. Higher temperatures cause viruses to mutate into human-transmissible variants at a much faster rate.
  • B. Melting permafrost is the primary source of all new viral pathogens that will infect humans.
  • C. Heat weakens the human immune system, making populations more susceptible to existing animal viruses.
  • D. Habitat loss and climate-driven migration force different species to interact more frequently with each other and with humans.
Question 6 of 7
What societal danger does the author warn about regarding future extreme heat deaths, drawing a parallel to the COVID-19 pandemic?
  • A. That society might simply normalize and accept the deaths of vulnerable populations like the elderly, sick, and poor.
  • B. That governments will use heatwaves as an excuse to mandate permanent climate lockdowns.
  • C. That we will rapidly run out of medical supplies and hospital beds to treat heatstroke victims.
  • D. That extreme heat will cause people to become so isolated that all climate migration will stop.
Question 7 of 7
Which of the following best summarizes Heather McTeer Toney's quote, 'We’re all in the storm, but we’re not in the same boat,' in the context of the book?
  • A. Everyone experiences the exact same biological symptoms during a heatwave, regardless of location.
  • B. While climate change affects the entire planet, poverty makes certain populations much more vulnerable to its deadly impacts.
  • C. Coastal cities will face the brunt of climate change due to rising sea levels, while inland cities will be safe.
  • D. Only people living in tropical climates are truly at risk of dying from extreme heat.

The Heat Will Kill You First — Full Chapter Overview

The Heat Will Kill You First Summary & Overview

The Heat Will Kill You First (2023) warns that extreme heatwaves are becoming more common and will dramatically alter life as we know it – they’re an existential danger. Rising temperatures are already changing the planet, shortening seasons and intensifying disasters. Drawing on scientific research and reportage, it argues that intensifying heat will expose societal fault lines and threaten our communities in dire new ways. Extreme heat may be the most serious threat humanity has ever faced.

Who Should Listen to The Heat Will Kill You First?

  • Concerned citizens who want to know more about the effects of climate change
  • Policymakers who need to understand the social implications of intensifying heatwaves
  • Environmental activists seeking evidence to convey the urgency of climate action

About the Author: Jeff Goodell

Jeff Goodell is an award-winning journalist and author. His previous book, The Water Will Come, was named a New York Times Critics Top Book in 2017. He’s covered climate issues for over two decades at Rolling Stone where he’s a contributing editor. He’s also appeared on major media outlets such as NPR, CNN, and MSNBC. His other works include Big Coal and How to Cool the Planet.

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