Journal of Anthropological Research, Spring 2018 “…..The book is set up in three parts. The first, ‘A No-Analog State,’ outlines the argument that what we are seeing today is a ‘new and unprecedented state’ on Earth. Angus’s account of the Anthropocene clearly shows that its recognition is a synthesis of decades of work—and data—compiled by a multitude of scientists across the world. He continues with a discussion of ‘The Great Acceleration,’ the point in the mid-twentieth century when humanity’s impact on earth’s systems dramatically in- creased. Next comes the concept of “tipping points,” which is the idea that climate change may be gradual for an extended period of time but reaches certain points where rapid, chaotic changes occur. Whereas the Holocene has been relatively stable, as Angus points out, the 2.6-million-year Pleistocene epoch was extremely variable (p. 68). His point here is that instability may be the norm for our global climate.