Dan Brown’s latest
I’m a fan of Dan Brown. His books and movies are pure entertainment, blending mystery with intrigue in a fast moving (somewhat repetitive) plot. I also admire his ability to question commonly held religious and cultural beliefs in both a creative and provocative manner. And let’s not forget the travel opportunities. His novels usually include captivating descriptions of exotic locations, illustrious properties, renowned art and unique insights into history around the world. His new book Inferno, similarly offers mystery and plot twists on a global scale—but this time he tackles hell, world population and the end of life on earth. Is this Dan Brown novel better, worse, or just more of the same? More importantly, does this novel introduce ideas that should be part of our ongoing global conversation and not just because they make for a thrilling novel?
Don’t worry. I’m not going to give away the story in case you are planning to read the book or see the movie. Is there a movie planned? I’m only guessing, but the book reads like a script with dozens of actions sequences so be prepared. From a review perspective I will say that I enjoyed the book and appreciated the action—although it seemed about 15% longer than it needed to be. Overall I was surprised several times by certain plot twists and revelations, and for fans of Dan Brown you will definitely enjoy the ride.
However, the main reason I’m writing this is to explore a couple of themes in the book that intrigued me and see whether they fit into ideas of living SMART 365. First off I’ve never been a big fan of Dante’s Divine Comedy (the actual name of the text). Its bleak portrayal of a Christian hell obviously comes from someone who struggled with the concept most of his life. And while I haven’t read it in it’s entirety, and am only familiar with the more famous passages and now with explanations offered by so Dan Brown, it still doesn’t appeal to me as modern version of what happens when we die.
Instead, what I gleam when reading bits and pieces of it, is a creative and allegorical description of a hard and disappointing life as well as a revengeful and unforgiving deity. And while its label as a comedy was chosen to depict a plot that flows from an unhappy beginning to a happy ending, far too many characters were obliviously unable to enjoy the trip. In fact, the idea that anyone would be required to show his/her faith by enduring the trials and tribulations of such an horrendous decent into hell in order to witness the rewards of heaven seems like a lose-lose proposition from the onset. And while it’s clear that Dante’s poetic depiction of the religious, philosophical and political issues facing most people in medieval Europe at that time is a brilliant work of literature, those of us in the 21st century could use a new story about what follows death of our physical bodies.
The next question raised by Dan Brown is the problem of over-population of our planet. Not since the blockbuster 1970s movie, Soylent Green has the topic been given such a prominent role in fiction. For those of you who may be too young to remember, Soylent Green portrayed a dystopian future with overpopulation, pollution, poverty, depleted natural resources, dying oceans and climate change. Unfortunately most humans are forced to consume processed food rations called Soylent Green. The shocking conclusion eventually reveals that the food source is simply recycled humans.
There have been a few other stories and movies that have touched on the topic in the last few decades, but Inferno addresses overpopulation straight on by making it a convincing motivation for the bad guy in the book, Bertrand Zobrist. Zobrist is a brilliant geneticist with passion and endless resources who is convinced that the only way to save the world is to create an epidemic to counteract the growing population. That Zobrist is also obsessed with the work of Dante and The Black Death (bubonic plague) only adds to the drama. Zobrist is convinced that the only way to save the human race is to quickly and dramatically limit population and has devised a plot to accomplish that goal unless of course our hero Robert Langdon can stop him.
What makes the drama most compelling is the questions raised by the dilemma surrounding the issues of overpopulation. According to several sources, most environmental biologists or statistician believe that humankinds’ best chance of long term survival occurs with a global population of around 4 billion. That’s what Zobrist suggests in the Brown’s book too. The big problem is of course that current estimates put present population at just over 7 billion with estimates that it will be 8 billion by 2025 and 9 billion by 2050. Anyone who doubts that our exploding population is a potentially dangerous catastrophe needs to only consider the real world issues of artificial food production (GMOs?), accelerated weather extremes, debilitating pollution, increased demand for natural resources and shrinking supplies of drinkable water. Other reports continue to affirm that if everyone in the world lived like typical Americans it would take 4 planet Earths to sustain us.
But what’s the best way to handle it all? Pretend it isn’t happening and then let our children and grandchildren be forced to eat Soylent Green? Allow a geneticist like Zobrist to create a vaccine that eliminates certain portions of the population (yes, that sounds a lot like ethic cleansing.) Or what about sterilizing criminals, the poor, or minority citizens? What about making it a law that couples can only have one child? Or what about the hope that an epidemic comes along that wipes out a huge amount of the population without touching us or anyone we love?
While I’m not going to reveal any more of the plot, I do believe that these are important questions we all need to be asking ourselves. Most everyone reading this article exists in world where we live relatively comfortable lives. We have enough to eat, don’t have to worry about finding clean water to drink, our sanitation needs are met and we live in relatively safe neighborhoods. But as our world becomes increasingly more global we cannot build a wall big enough or strong enough to hold back the tide of an exploding population forever. Something needs to be done or as scientist David Pimentel wrote in 1994, “to do nothing to control population numbers is to condemn future humans to a lifetime of absolute poverty, suffering, starvation, disease, and associated violent conflicts.” When considered from this perspective maybe Dante’s Inferno isn’t too far off.
So what happens? Maybe it’s time to take the issue of overpopulation out of the closet and decide which way to go, or not go, as a species. Remember, your life and my life is not a novel with one good guy who will save the day—and there is not one among us who wants to travel through an Inferno to get to paradise.
Every single day we either make choices and decisions that put the focus of our lives on maintaining the status quo for ourselves and loved ones—or we make a choice that considers our expanded world. Every time we vote, attend particular organizations or spend our money we are effectively choosing either a sustainable world that will last far into the future or recklessly gambling with what could happen. Much as we would like to believe that we are insulated from any such calamity, the SMART response is always to remember that we are in this together and that there is no Planet B.
I like your thinking about population growth. Years ago I read what seems to me to be a stunning insight, namely that the most effective curb to population growth is economic development. In less developed economies children are an economic benefit. When the economies grow, children are economic liabilities and birth rates decline.
By the way, give Dante another chance. As T. S. Eliot said, “Dante and Shakespeare divide the world between them; there is no third.”
Hi Hope! Thanks for stopping by SMART Living and joining the conversation. I too am a big Dan Brown fan and enjoy his books. I hope you enjoyed my perspective. ~Kathy
It’s vey scary to think about and I assume that is why we try to ignore it. I did stopped at two kids, but I know even that was selfish.
Hi Jodi….while I do think it is a huge issue that needs to be discussed, I don’t believe that having children is necessarily selfish…any more than i believe not having them is selfish. There are clearly selfish people on both sides of the equation. I just think that it is in the best interests of both parents and non parents for us all to recognize that the world doesn’t need any more unwanted or unloved children. If every child born into the world were loved and nurtured and directed to be self-actualized…then perhaps many of the problems of the world could be resolved. And oh yes, I’m definitely an optimist. Thanks for joining the conversation. Thanks for stopping by. ~Kathy
Kathy, I have never made it all the way through Dante’s Divine Comedy. While I enjoy other historical writing this never interested me enough to finish. My son recently purchased Dan Brown’s new book and as soon as his wife finishes it I will have my opportunity to read it. So at this point I have nothing to contribute to the discussion of the book.
But on the subject of population control I do have strong feelings. I had two children and would have stopped at one had the situation been different. Each of my children seem to be stopping at 2. As I came from a family of 6 children and between my siblings and myself we have raised a total of 7 children which is pretty close to maintaining population rather than increasing it.
Hi Lois! Nice to hear from you! I know you’ve read some of my other posts about kids and overpopulation so I think you know that I tend to believe that having the right number of children isn’t really the problem. What I do believe is that it is more about the ability of the parent or parents to be able to psychologically, spiritually, financially and responsibility take care of those children in today’s world until they are able to take care of themselves. If every child that was born was received into that kind of a family, then I don’t really believe population would be nearly as big a problem. But from what I’ve observed is that people have children for all sorts of reasons that don’t equate to what good for the child and is more about their needs than the child’s. Obviously population in other countries has much to do with their culture, religion, education (or lack of it) and access to birth control. It is such a deep subject that there is no simple way to address it. But we do need to talk about it more.
And from what I have read on your blog I believe that you raised both your children, and are now contributing to the lives of your grandchildren, in a way that will help them live sustainable and happy lives without overburdening the planet. That has to be a good thing. Let’s just keep keep talking about the issue while we can. ~Kathy
Wow Kathy,
After reading your blog, I guess I can’t ignore a problem that would “condemn future humans to a lifetime of absolute poverty, suffering, starvation, disease, and associated violent conflicts.”
Another wake up call!
Hi Gary! Thank you for stopping by and joining the conversation! I know that quote was a rather harsh one but I do believe that it’s time that we all started taking the issue more seriously. I am so open to sharing ideas and options so if you or anyone else you know comes across some ideas about how we can address this on an individual basis be sure and tell me and I will spread the world. As you know, I love the quote by Margaret Mead that says, “Never doubt that a small group of people can change the world. Indeed it is the only thing that ever has.” ~Kathy
Sony has the film rights, with Ron Howard directing and Tom Hanks starring…same team as the other Brown books. They’ve announced a 2015 release date, if the world still exists by then.
Hi Judy! Like I said in the post I’m not at ALL surprised. Is it too much to ask for them to leave out one or two of the chase scenes and stay with a little of the more meaningful dialogue? One can only hope. ~Kathy
Over population is such an issue. A few couples I know have chosen not to have children, which I find amazing. I can’t imagine life without raising children, because for me, it seems the purpose of life, and the source of so much joy. But to these friends, in addition to other reasons, I’m sure, do cite over population as a reason.
Education leads to people having less children (ie developed nations) and poorer countries continue to have children as an insurance policy/retirement scheme. It’s very hard to change that in a way that isn’t genocide, and particularly when our economy as a world is driven by growth. Without more people, the growth will slow. It’s a tough problem, for sure!
Hi Sarah…glad to hear from you. Yes I think that overpopulation is a HUGE issue that we are ALL going to have to face sooner or later. And actually I’m one of those people who by choice decided not to have children. Of course I didn’t really do it because of over population–but instead did it out of an awareness that not everyone is cut out to be parents. I am positive that some people can’t imagine life without them, but clearly there are plenty who never should have been given the job in the first place. Fortunately I knew that up front and can only hope that others that don’t feel the “call” or accept the responsibility feel the same. Plus, there are so, so many children on the planet already that could really use a good mom or dad, maybe they should be given more consideration too. Did you ever read my blog post about having kids here on SMART Living? You might find it interesting. http://smartliving365.com/the-big-minimalist-question-kids-or-no-kids/
There is no easy answer but I think it would be SMART for us all to be considering other options. Thanks again for stopping by Sarah! ~Kathy
Just finished this one about a month ago, Kathy, and I thought Brown’s solution was quite clever. I think you bring up some very good points about addressing population control and what will happen if we don’t.
Hi Melinda! Thanks for stopping by SMART Living and joining the conversation. Yes, Dan is very talented with coming up with clever plot developments…unfortunately I don’t think most people would like his solution–part of me did–part of me didn’t! I’m really of two or three minds about the topic and just hope that we start talking about it and stop ignoring the issue. Thanks again for coming by! ~Kathy
This book has been sitting on my bookshelf for months. I’m going to read it now!
Hi Sharon! A fast reader like you should be able to whip through this one pretty fast….and I would definitely like to hear what your thoughts are on some of his provocative topics when you’re done! ~Kathy
I love mysteries and the topic sounds intriguing. Thanks for calling my attention to this book which seems to be dealing with real life issues in an entertaining and fictional format!
Hi Nancy. Yes the book has a lot of action and suspense so it makes for a fast read. I think for me there was at least one action sequence too many–but the nice thing about a book is you can skim through to the good parts. Don’t miss the ending. It has several good twists that made me think! ~Kathy
This is fascinating stuff. I’m motivated to read the book now to see what additional food for thought it may spur. Thanks Kathy for urging us to think about these important issues.
Hi Nancy! This is classic Dan Brown so if you like him you’ll enjoy the ride. And I would very much like to hear what YOU think of it when you get it done. Oh…and it should be a fun read why you are hanging out and cleaning out all that stuff in your refrigerator in Vegas! 🙂 ~Kathy
Hi Kathy – I finished Inferno recently and agree that the topics discussed in this “fiction” struck a nerve when it came to the overpopulation dilema the world faces. The population is simply growing faster than our limited resources can sustain. And there is no easy answer although Dan Brown’s idea is rather novel. With all the references to the Black Death, I then read The Great Mortality from which you can quickly see Dan took most of his information regarding the Plague. Truly eye opening in it’s vast destructiveness. Although conditions may be more sanitary today (not everywhere), how scary is it to imagine a new virulent deadly disease with the potential to quickly spread to the far corners of the planet. I digress…I enjoyed the book as well! 🙂
Hi Dave! Happy New Year! Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. Yes, Dan usually picks provocative subjects and this one is no exception. I just find it interesting how little we hear about the issue of overpopulation and yet it has such far reaching effects for us all. Every time some one complains about the traffic or crowds or even taxes and what they are used for–if you think about it you can find direct connections between the fact that population has more than doubled just in the time I’ve been alive. And if we think it’s crowded now???? Even if those of us in middle age miss any BIG problems as a result–what about children and grand children? I sure don’t have the answer but I sincerely believe we need to be talking about this! ~Kathy