natetheworld's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.5
A thought provoking journey through our world, the impact we've had on it, and what it will take for the Earth to heal after we are gone. 4/5 Stars
mikecross's review against another edition
4.0
A very good what-if that is more than just what the earth would be without us. Goes deep into history and many environmental issues. Very enjoyable read and great compliment to "Islands of Abandonment".
rmgebhardt's review against another edition
4.0
I've wondered at many points in time what it would be like when humans no longer populate this earth. Usually these thoughts venture into the sci-fi doomsday scenarios that play out in so many bad B-movies, but at times I truly wondered what it would be like, here on Earth, if man suddenly disappeared. As a kid, working in the fields as a farmhand, I saw a piece of garbage half buried in the dirt, maybe a Doritos bag or other plastic sack and think nothing of it... until I was in the same field a year or two later and noticed the exact same piece of garbage--it was still there, 100% intact, after a couple of years of weathering the elements. This was really the first time I realized the human impact on this world will last so much longer than our species ever will.
Weisman runs with the premise of exploring our world after humans were to vacate it and, despite it being a bit dry and clinical at points, it is a fascinating look at how there is really no way to make our impact disappear. What we've created, changed, and destroyed will not instantaneously change back to how nature made it. In fact, certain changes will last for millennium.
Knowing that we've had such an impact made this book a bit depressing to read. Obviously this wasn't the intention or tone of the writing, but as you read about the speculative individual cases, augmented by partial real-world examples, you're left with an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach that we, as a species, don't really give much of a care to what we do to this planet in the long run.
I never really considered myself a staunch environmentalist. You won't see me tied to a tree or only using hemp-sewn reusable bags as I shop exclusively at local farmers' markets. I try to do my part by limiting the garbage I create, conserving water when I can, and treating my surroundings with respect... but that's not really what's doing the damage, or that would have the long-lasting impact on nature if we were whisked away tomorrow. No, it's the bigger things--nuclear power plants, the invention of polymers that do not decompose, the transplantation of species to new habitats... there's so much on a macro level that our species has changed it boggles the mind to actually think about it.
What's most disheartening is knowing that, for all intents and purposes, it's already too late to undo or counteract the changes we've made to this planet. When we eventually are not present, nature will have to deal with what our machinations have done to this planet. I think this is the most distressing point the book makes. For as many great achievements we have made as a species, we have made equally as many horrible changes to our planet and home.
Weisman runs with the premise of exploring our world after humans were to vacate it and, despite it being a bit dry and clinical at points, it is a fascinating look at how there is really no way to make our impact disappear. What we've created, changed, and destroyed will not instantaneously change back to how nature made it. In fact, certain changes will last for millennium.
Knowing that we've had such an impact made this book a bit depressing to read. Obviously this wasn't the intention or tone of the writing, but as you read about the speculative individual cases, augmented by partial real-world examples, you're left with an uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach that we, as a species, don't really give much of a care to what we do to this planet in the long run.
I never really considered myself a staunch environmentalist. You won't see me tied to a tree or only using hemp-sewn reusable bags as I shop exclusively at local farmers' markets. I try to do my part by limiting the garbage I create, conserving water when I can, and treating my surroundings with respect... but that's not really what's doing the damage, or that would have the long-lasting impact on nature if we were whisked away tomorrow. No, it's the bigger things--nuclear power plants, the invention of polymers that do not decompose, the transplantation of species to new habitats... there's so much on a macro level that our species has changed it boggles the mind to actually think about it.
What's most disheartening is knowing that, for all intents and purposes, it's already too late to undo or counteract the changes we've made to this planet. When we eventually are not present, nature will have to deal with what our machinations have done to this planet. I think this is the most distressing point the book makes. For as many great achievements we have made as a species, we have made equally as many horrible changes to our planet and home.
canadajanes's review against another edition
5.0
Very enjoyable book that sets my imagination flying...
minty's review against another edition
5.0
Phenomenal. Terrifying. Riveting.
Really not thrilled to ride the subway anymore after hearing about the very tenuous grasp it has on not becoming completely submerged in water, ha.
Really not thrilled to ride the subway anymore after hearing about the very tenuous grasp it has on not becoming completely submerged in water, ha.
glitterbomb47's review against another edition
3.0
The first half of the book is very interesting. Explores how a house, a city, the subway system would all gradually "return to the earth" if humans suddenly disappeared. The author then broadens his focus to look at what could happen to nuclear reactors, oil refineries, and the Panama Canal, among others. It's all quite intriguing and full of useful tidbits.
The chapter on plastics has really inspired me to be more conscientious about recycling plastic!
You pick up the author's feeling that humans should stop spreading, but it still doesn't prepare you for his proposed solution to humans harming the earth: each woman on earth only has one baby. He proceeds to paint in rosy colors a future world in which our descendants can look out their windows and see the good they are doing to the earth by limiting themselves to one kid per woman, and then ends the book. That's it. Absolutely no discussion of the catastrophic impact of a world population halving itself every generation. No discussion of the complete collapse of every economy on the planet. How very likely our descendants would not be able to look out windows peacefully, because civilization would have collapsed under a disastrous reproductive policy. But no matter to the author. He clearly feels that is a small price to pay for having a lovely unsullied earth. Personally I would like to find a way to have a lovely earth without resorting to what even the author admits is a draconian measure.
The chapter on plastics has really inspired me to be more conscientious about recycling plastic!
You pick up the author's feeling that humans should stop spreading, but it still doesn't prepare you for his proposed solution to humans harming the earth: each woman on earth only has one baby. He proceeds to paint in rosy colors a future world in which our descendants can look out their windows and see the good they are doing to the earth by limiting themselves to one kid per woman, and then ends the book. That's it. Absolutely no discussion of the catastrophic impact of a world population halving itself every generation. No discussion of the complete collapse of every economy on the planet. How very likely our descendants would not be able to look out windows peacefully, because civilization would have collapsed under a disastrous reproductive policy. But no matter to the author. He clearly feels that is a small price to pay for having a lovely unsullied earth. Personally I would like to find a way to have a lovely earth without resorting to what even the author admits is a draconian measure.
jinwooooo's review against another edition
slow-paced
2.5
It wasn't the book I expected. How can every human be wiped out in a single moment? Thought this book would either be like what if humans never existed or what if humans slowly wiped out. Additionally, it describes so many specific places and culture, it's hard for me to understand even though it tries to summarize what the place and culture is...