Final answer:
The theme of 'Linked' by Gordon Norman centers on the 'bionarrative' - the interconnected story of life on Earth and humanity's role within it. The book for a general audience explores themes including interconnectedness, the human place in nature, and potential futures of civilization.
Step-by-step explanation:
The theme of the book Linked by Gordon Norman can be understood as the bionarrative — the story of life on Earth, and specifically, the story of humans and their civilization as an integral part of that ongoing narrative. Themes are crucial to literature as they offer a unifying idea behind a story, tying together plot points, conflicts, and characters to a major idea. In Linked, the author explores the theme by discussing the interconnectedness of human civilizations with the natural world and the various directions humanity's future may take.
The book is not written as an academic text but rather for a general audience interested in humankind's role in nature and the trajectory of civilization. Themes, such as interconnectedness, the human place in nature, and the future of humankind, shine through by the exploration of our past, present, and potential futures. The author likely aims to invoke reflection on how we live as part of a larger ecosystem and how our actions shape not only our own lives but the story of life as a whole.