North to the Future
In a nutshell
Narrative nonfiction book by Ben Weissenbach following years of fieldwork with Arctic scientists in Alaska, exploring climate change, permafrost thaw, wildfires, and ecosystem shifts in the American Arctic. While not a startup handbook, it offers founders deep insight into long-term thinking, climate risk, and scientific exploration—useful context for climate- and impact-focused startups.
North to the Future
Category: Social Entrepreneurship
Tags: climate, impact, long-term
Author / Brand: Ben Weissenbach
Overview
“North to the Future” is a narrative nonfiction book by Ben Weissenbach based on years of fieldwork with Arctic scientists in Alaska. It examines climate change and its cascading effects in the American Arctic, providing context that’s particularly relevant for climate- and impact-focused startup founders.
Features
- Narrative nonfiction format – Story-driven account grounded in real scientific fieldwork rather than a traditional business or startup framework.
- Focus on Arctic fieldwork – Draws from multi-year, on-the-ground research with scientists working in Alaska’s Arctic environments.
- Climate change exploration – Explores how a warming climate is altering the American Arctic, with detailed attention to physical and ecological processes.
- Permafrost thaw – Discusses the dynamics and consequences of thawing permafrost, including landscape, infrastructure, and climate feedback implications.
- Wildfires in the Arctic – Covers the increasing frequency and intensity of wildfires and their impact on Arctic ecosystems.
- Ecosystem shifts – Examines changes in flora, fauna, and broader ecosystem behavior driven by rising temperatures and altered seasons.
- Long-term thinking – Offers lessons in thinking on multi-decade and multi-generational timescales, useful for founders designing durable, resilient organizations.
- Climate risk awareness – Provides a grounded view of climate risk that can inform strategy for climate-tech and impact-oriented ventures.
- Insight into scientific exploration – Illuminates how scientific inquiry works in practice (field methods, uncertainty, iteration), which can parallel experimental approaches in startups.
- Context for impact-focused startups – While not a “how-to” startup manual, it helps founders understand the real-world systems and stakes their solutions aim to affect.
Ideal Audience
- Founders and operators building climate, resilience, or impact-focused startups.
- Investors and ecosystem builders seeking a deeper understanding of climate risk in high-latitude regions.
- Readers interested in the intersection of science, environment, and long-term societal planning.
- Not specified in the provided content. Pricing will depend on retailer, format (print/ebook/audiobook), and region.
Reference
North to the Future — publisher / official page. Summary adapted from the Awesome Startup Books collection.
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