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7 Billion: How Your World Will Change
Sometime in late October 2011, the 7 billionth citizen of planet Earth will be born. To mark the event, National Geographic magazine commissioned seven articles that explore the fascinating issues—including demographics, food security, climate change, fertility trends, managing biodiversity—surrounding this topic, which are collected for the first time in this special ebook.
Environment editor Robert Kunzig starts by sketching out a natural history of population. The issues associated with population growth seem endless: poverty, food and water supply, world health, climate change, deforestation, fertility rates, and more. In additional chapters Elizabeth Kolbert explores a new era—the “Anthropocene,” or the age of man—defined by our massive impact on the planet, which will endure long after our cities have crumbled; and takes us to the Mediterranean, where she delves into issues associated with increasing ocean acidification. In Bangladesh, Don Belt explores how the people of this crowded region can teach us about adapting to rising sea levels. In “Food Ark” we travel deep within the earth and around the globe to explore the seed banks that are preserving the variety of food species we may need to increase food production on an increasingly crowded planet. In Brazil, Cynthia Gournay explores the phenomenon of “Machisma” and shows how a mix of female empowerment and steamy soap operas helped bring down Brazil’s fertility rate and stoke its vibrant economy. Additionally we explore threats to biodiversity, and the return of cities—which may be the solution to many of our population woes. Join National Geographic on this incredible journey to explore our rapidly growing planet.
Environment editor Robert Kunzig starts by sketching out a natural history of population. The issues associated with population growth seem endless: poverty, food and water supply, world health, climate change, deforestation, fertility rates, and more. In additional chapters Elizabeth Kolbert explores a new era—the “Anthropocene,” or the age of man—defined by our massive impact on the planet, which will endure long after our cities have crumbled; and takes us to the Mediterranean, where she delves into issues associated with increasing ocean acidification. In Bangladesh, Don Belt explores how the people of this crowded region can teach us about adapting to rising sea levels. In “Food Ark” we travel deep within the earth and around the globe to explore the seed banks that are preserving the variety of food species we may need to increase food production on an increasingly crowded planet. In Brazil, Cynthia Gournay explores the phenomenon of “Machisma” and shows how a mix of female empowerment and steamy soap operas helped bring down Brazil’s fertility rate and stoke its vibrant economy. Additionally we explore threats to biodiversity, and the return of cities—which may be the solution to many of our population woes. Join National Geographic on this incredible journey to explore our rapidly growing planet.
88 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 25, 2011
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97 people want to read
About the author
National Geographic Society
4,222 books1,116 followersThe National Geographic Society (NGS), headquartered in Washington, D.C., United States, is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations in the world.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.
Founded in 1888, its interests include geography, archaeology, and natural science, the promotion of environmental and historical conservation, and the study of world culture and history. The National Geographic Society's logo is a yellow portrait frame—rectangular in shape—which appears on the margins surrounding the front covers of its magazines and as its television channel logo. Through National Geographic Partners (a joint venture with The Walt Disney Company), the Society operates the magazine, TV channels, a website, worldwide events, and other media operations.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
June 24, 2013
7 Billion: How Your World Will Change by National Geographic
“7 Billion: How Your World Will Change” is an interesting book of seven essays that cover topics that relate to overpopulation: poverty, food, climate change, demographics, and world health. National Geographic takes the reader on a journey into world overpopulation and provide an appetizer on the future and present of some of the most pressing issues. This stimulating 88-page book is composed of the following seven chapters: 1. Population 7 Billion, 2. Enter the Anthropocene Age of Man, 3. The Acid Sea, 4. Bangladesh: The Coming Storm, 5. Food Ark, 6, Girl power: Machisma, and 7. Rift in Paradise: Africa’s Albertine Rift Valley.
Positives:
1. Well written and even-handed treatment of a very important topic, population growth.
2. Interesting essays covering a wide range of issues related to world population growth.
3. A brief history of world population growth.
4. The issue of poverty and food scarcity. “Close to a billion go hungry each day.”
5. Thomas Malthus’s famous general law of population. Population growth in perspective.
6. The interesting issue of replacement fertility and how it varies.”What’s interesting is that India is going to exceed the population of China by 2030.”
7. The impact of global warming. “Probably the most significant change from a geologic perspective, is one that’s invisible to us – the change in composition of the atmosphere.”
8. Entering the Anthropocene Age a term coined by Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen. Human impact on the world.
9. The acidic sea. “Owing to a quirk of geology, the sea around Castello Aragones provides a window onto the oceans of 2050.” Troubling account.
10. The impact of climate change on Bangladesh. Fascinating insights.
11. Interesting issue on protecting food diversity and its importance.
12. The importance of the empowerment of women in controlling world population and the example of Brazil. “The new Brazilian fertility rate is below the level at which a population replaces itself.”
13. The six-point to controlling fertility rate as it was tweaked for modern Brazil.
14. The impact of overpopulation to African wildlife. A variety of interesting examples, including examples of success.
Negatives:
1. No citations or source notes.
2. No formal bibliography.
3. No charts or illustrations that would have added value.
4. No maps.
In summary, a good collection of seven essays that capture many interesting issues concerning population growth. The authors do a good job of explaining the challenges that the world is facing and will face into the future. A recommended read.
Further recommendations: “The End of Growth” by Richard Heinberg, “The Crash Course” by Chris Martenson, “Clean Break” by Osha Gray Davidson, “Storms of my Grandchildren” by James Hansen, “State of the World 2013” by the Worldwatch Institute, “Creating a World Without Poverty” by Muhammad Yunus, “Half the Sky: Turning Oppressions into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn “Not for Sale” by David Batstone, and “Misogyny” by Jack Holland.
“7 Billion: How Your World Will Change” is an interesting book of seven essays that cover topics that relate to overpopulation: poverty, food, climate change, demographics, and world health. National Geographic takes the reader on a journey into world overpopulation and provide an appetizer on the future and present of some of the most pressing issues. This stimulating 88-page book is composed of the following seven chapters: 1. Population 7 Billion, 2. Enter the Anthropocene Age of Man, 3. The Acid Sea, 4. Bangladesh: The Coming Storm, 5. Food Ark, 6, Girl power: Machisma, and 7. Rift in Paradise: Africa’s Albertine Rift Valley.
Positives:
1. Well written and even-handed treatment of a very important topic, population growth.
2. Interesting essays covering a wide range of issues related to world population growth.
3. A brief history of world population growth.
4. The issue of poverty and food scarcity. “Close to a billion go hungry each day.”
5. Thomas Malthus’s famous general law of population. Population growth in perspective.
6. The interesting issue of replacement fertility and how it varies.”What’s interesting is that India is going to exceed the population of China by 2030.”
7. The impact of global warming. “Probably the most significant change from a geologic perspective, is one that’s invisible to us – the change in composition of the atmosphere.”
8. Entering the Anthropocene Age a term coined by Dutch chemist Paul Crutzen. Human impact on the world.
9. The acidic sea. “Owing to a quirk of geology, the sea around Castello Aragones provides a window onto the oceans of 2050.” Troubling account.
10. The impact of climate change on Bangladesh. Fascinating insights.
11. Interesting issue on protecting food diversity and its importance.
12. The importance of the empowerment of women in controlling world population and the example of Brazil. “The new Brazilian fertility rate is below the level at which a population replaces itself.”
13. The six-point to controlling fertility rate as it was tweaked for modern Brazil.
14. The impact of overpopulation to African wildlife. A variety of interesting examples, including examples of success.
Negatives:
1. No citations or source notes.
2. No formal bibliography.
3. No charts or illustrations that would have added value.
4. No maps.
In summary, a good collection of seven essays that capture many interesting issues concerning population growth. The authors do a good job of explaining the challenges that the world is facing and will face into the future. A recommended read.
Further recommendations: “The End of Growth” by Richard Heinberg, “The Crash Course” by Chris Martenson, “Clean Break” by Osha Gray Davidson, “Storms of my Grandchildren” by James Hansen, “State of the World 2013” by the Worldwatch Institute, “Creating a World Without Poverty” by Muhammad Yunus, “Half the Sky: Turning Oppressions into Opportunity for Women Worldwide” by Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl Wudunn “Not for Sale” by David Batstone, and “Misogyny” by Jack Holland.
April 19, 2012
This is a collection of articles about the world's population hitting 7 billion and beyond. It is a little scary and a little hopeful. It all depends on what we decide to do and how we adapt. Interesting fact, the world's population would fit in a state the size of Texas if it was a densely populated as Manhattan. Never would have thought that. I would have liked to have some more stories that were positive and not just doom and gloom about how we are pretty much destined for destruction which is why I only gave it four stars. However, the view of the world and what is coming down the road for us is not positive and quite worrisome. It almost seems like there is no reason to care because we are in so much trouble.
November 28, 2012
Excellent and accurate. I don't believe it quite stressed the severity and urgency of our global situation as well as my college course of BIO 120 Human Ecology has, but this is not an academic text. I highly recommend everyone learn more about human ecology because the future is dire and the timeline short. There were approximately 1 billion people on the earth in 1800, the human population double time is about 45-50 years, 1 species becomes extinct every day, and... we are a K- selected species (slow population growth rate, like monkeys) yet since the Industrial and Medical Revolutions we, as a species, are behaving more like a r- selected species (rapid population growth, like flies).
January 14, 2012
Informative read about the cause and effects of global overpopulation.
January 14, 2012
Highly depressing but ultimately realistic. Population issues are huge but we have no way to really address them.
February 22, 2012
Each chapter is by a different author and is equally enjoyable. Some good some bad. But educational overall.
February 22, 2012
Frightening and depressing, but important topics to think about as world population grows ever higher.
July 9, 2013
Ironic how I was on a flooded train reading this and one of the articles talked about natural disasters like floods are needed to balance out over population.
September 2, 2012
Pretty good, super depressing. Particularly the part about the acidification of the oceans. I don't want to say that's more depressing than the overcrowding of Africa, but it is for me.
August 29, 2012
really, it was boring.
July 14, 2015
This is more like a magazine than a book, interesting collection of stories though to kill a couple of hours in an airplane terminal.
September 5, 2017
Great and scary.
May 6, 2017
This book was short but seemed long because I thought it was very boring. There were two chapters on the population that focused on the actual number of people, birth rates, etc and I found those chapters very interesting. Based on the title of this book, I thought that was going to be the main focus. The other chapters were varied, one was on geology and another focused on climate change and I think another was basically on plants and agriculture - I didn't find those as interesting. I also didn't realize this book was from 2011 so I'd imagine quite a bit has changed since then. Overall, I wouldn't recommend this book.
January 15, 2023
I love reading National Geographic. I haven’t thought much about overpopulation and how it will effect the food chain process. I am someone who decided not to have children and I had my tubes removed to make sure. I am all for women/men sterilizing and focusing on careers and adopted pets.
May 10, 2017
88pages, 7articles
February 20, 2012
Got this from Destination Download for my Nook. These articles give excellent, if not necessarily new information, surrounding issues with population, infrastructure (or lack thereof), climate change and crop growing, carbon footprints, and education and empowerment of girls, mixed in with a lot of history of demography and shaken with the realities of life for the planet not only in 2012, but also in 2050. Lord, have mercy on us.
November 16, 2011
We now have 7 billion people living on our planet, and the National Geographic Society has gathered quite a nice collection of educational information about our shrinking resources now and in the future. There is a lot to learn in this short book.
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February 1, 2012I feel like this was a collection of articles that had appeared in National Geographic magazines. Many of the essays felt familiar. Not the in-depth coverage I was expecting.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews