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A VINTAGE PAPERBACK ORIGINAL
Just 10,000 years ago, there were only one million humans on Earth.
By 1800, just over two hundred years ago, there were one billion of us.
By 1960, there were three billion.
There are now over seven billion of us.
By 2050, there will be at least nine billion other people—and, sometime near the end of this century, there will be at least ten billion of us.
There is simply no known way to provide this many people with clothes, food, and fresh water. And any action we take to address these issues will turn up the thermostat on global warming.
Stephen Emmott has dedicated his career to researching the effects of humans on the Earth’s natural systems. This is his call to arms, an urgent plea to re-imagine the interconnected web of our global problems in a new light.
Just 10,000 years ago, there were only one million humans on Earth.
By 1800, just over two hundred years ago, there were one billion of us.
By 1960, there were three billion.
There are now over seven billion of us.
By 2050, there will be at least nine billion other people—and, sometime near the end of this century, there will be at least ten billion of us.
There is simply no known way to provide this many people with clothes, food, and fresh water. And any action we take to address these issues will turn up the thermostat on global warming.
Stephen Emmott has dedicated his career to researching the effects of humans on the Earth’s natural systems. This is his call to arms, an urgent plea to re-imagine the interconnected web of our global problems in a new light.
207 pages, Paperback
First published October 1, 2013
37 people are currently reading
1039 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 293 reviews
August 2, 2013
Don't have kids.
October 21, 2013
First things first: this guy works for microsoft, and half of the book is empty pages, yet he says the solution is to diminuish consumption? OK guy, how about giving an example before selling your book?
Then, there is almost no mention to the fact that the major responsible for the current state of affairs are government policies and corporations actions, and he mixes that with the single consumer. I guess that has got nothing to do with the fact that he works for microsoft.
How about the fact that the discovery of fire was as important as the development of agriculture? And the fact that processed foods were determinant in increasing pollution and health problems, not in satisfying food demands? And what about the fact that one third of world food is wasted everyhere? Oh, and yeah, if this keeps up millions of people will go hungry, because there aren't any starving people anywhere in the world right now.
I guess everyone should consume less, but still consume the same useless garbage so that microsoft and all the other corporations keep existing the way they do?
The only good thing is the end, and also, the fact that it ends.
Then, there is almost no mention to the fact that the major responsible for the current state of affairs are government policies and corporations actions, and he mixes that with the single consumer. I guess that has got nothing to do with the fact that he works for microsoft.
How about the fact that the discovery of fire was as important as the development of agriculture? And the fact that processed foods were determinant in increasing pollution and health problems, not in satisfying food demands? And what about the fact that one third of world food is wasted everyhere? Oh, and yeah, if this keeps up millions of people will go hungry, because there aren't any starving people anywhere in the world right now.
I guess everyone should consume less, but still consume the same useless garbage so that microsoft and all the other corporations keep existing the way they do?
The only good thing is the end, and also, the fact that it ends.
August 23, 2016
Tis book is written by a scientist whoe lab is at the forefront of research into complex natural systems.
Is a sort of scientific SOS about human supervivence yet in some way hopeless ,is a really depressing book.
After read the book one have the sensation of awake and meet oneself in the nightmare of the incredible anticipation environemental movie Soylent Green by Richard Fleischer and with Charlton Heston as the main character.
Is a book of real facts and indestructible logical silogisms built with those facts,is a book concise that one reads in a few hours.Is a rather unique book because has a lot of data and graps normally spread in several books.
I only as a sample will copy some of these facts and silogisms.
Just over 10000 years ago there were one million of us.
By 1800 two hundred years ago there were one billion of us.
By 1960 fifty years ago there were three billion of us.
There are now seven billion of us.
By 2050 our children will live in a planet with nine billion of us.
Near the end of the century there will be at least ten billion of us ,probabilly much many.
In 1960 there were 100 million cars,by 1980 were 300 million of cars,now there are 1200 millions of cars.
In 1800 the carbon dioxide concentration was 280 ppm,in 1960 was 320 ppm,in 2013 was 400 ppm and raising with even more speed.
To day 40 pecent of the entire ice free land of our planet is used for agriculture.
The 50 percent of cereals produced are used for make meat.
The meat industry is resposable of 50 percent of greenhouse gases emisions and rainforest destruction especially in Amazonas to plant soy to feed herds
As our numbers continue to grow we continue to increase our need of far more cereals,far more land,far more transportation,far more water,far more energy mainly of fossil fuels speeding the global warming.
What does a car cost?. 13000 dollars or euros.
This is not true.
The iron ore of the steel of the car has to be mined in for example Australia.It is then transported on a very large and very contaminat ship to for example Indonesia to made into steel.
The steel is then transported in a very large and contaminant ship to for example Germany.
The rubber of the roads has to be produced in for example Indonesia and again shipped to other country to make tyres.
The plastic for the dashboard is made using oil in the ground that has to be extracted and carried in a enormous ship and so on.
What is the cost of the car? A absolute fortune.
We have to paid the environement cost (the externalities) ,paid maybe for us or for our children.
In 1960 we flew 62 billion pasanger miles.
In 1980 we flew 620 billion pasanger miles.
Imagine today with the low cost companys.
The data of rainforest destruction,overexploted seas,overexploted acuifers and so on equally depressing.
For the first time ,over a hundred plumes of methane,many of them a half mile in diameter,has been observed raising from previous frozen methane stores in east Siberia sea,probably there are many others.
This could be a big trouble on a big scale.
A rise in 4-6 celsius degrees,probably more, in mean global temperatures seems inevitable
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,whose job it has been for twenty years to ensure stabilice greenhouse gases on earths athmosfere : failed
In reality this gases emisions are growing near exponentially.
If the current rate of reproduction continues,at the end of the century there will be twenty-eight billion of us.
CERN physicists tell us that they are conducting the most important experiment on Earth.
It isnt
The biggest and more important experiment on Earth is the one we are all conducting,right now,on Earth itself
Only a idiot would deny that thre is a limit to how many people our Earth can support..
We urgently need to do,actually to do,something radical to avert a global catastrophe.
But we dont.
In my opinion a strongly recomended book to everybody including schools along the entire world
Is a sort of scientific SOS about human supervivence yet in some way hopeless ,is a really depressing book.
After read the book one have the sensation of awake and meet oneself in the nightmare of the incredible anticipation environemental movie Soylent Green by Richard Fleischer and with Charlton Heston as the main character.
Is a book of real facts and indestructible logical silogisms built with those facts,is a book concise that one reads in a few hours.Is a rather unique book because has a lot of data and graps normally spread in several books.
I only as a sample will copy some of these facts and silogisms.
Just over 10000 years ago there were one million of us.
By 1800 two hundred years ago there were one billion of us.
By 1960 fifty years ago there were three billion of us.
There are now seven billion of us.
By 2050 our children will live in a planet with nine billion of us.
Near the end of the century there will be at least ten billion of us ,probabilly much many.
In 1960 there were 100 million cars,by 1980 were 300 million of cars,now there are 1200 millions of cars.
In 1800 the carbon dioxide concentration was 280 ppm,in 1960 was 320 ppm,in 2013 was 400 ppm and raising with even more speed.
To day 40 pecent of the entire ice free land of our planet is used for agriculture.
The 50 percent of cereals produced are used for make meat.
The meat industry is resposable of 50 percent of greenhouse gases emisions and rainforest destruction especially in Amazonas to plant soy to feed herds
As our numbers continue to grow we continue to increase our need of far more cereals,far more land,far more transportation,far more water,far more energy mainly of fossil fuels speeding the global warming.
What does a car cost?. 13000 dollars or euros.
This is not true.
The iron ore of the steel of the car has to be mined in for example Australia.It is then transported on a very large and very contaminat ship to for example Indonesia to made into steel.
The steel is then transported in a very large and contaminant ship to for example Germany.
The rubber of the roads has to be produced in for example Indonesia and again shipped to other country to make tyres.
The plastic for the dashboard is made using oil in the ground that has to be extracted and carried in a enormous ship and so on.
What is the cost of the car? A absolute fortune.
We have to paid the environement cost (the externalities) ,paid maybe for us or for our children.
In 1960 we flew 62 billion pasanger miles.
In 1980 we flew 620 billion pasanger miles.
Imagine today with the low cost companys.
The data of rainforest destruction,overexploted seas,overexploted acuifers and so on equally depressing.
For the first time ,over a hundred plumes of methane,many of them a half mile in diameter,has been observed raising from previous frozen methane stores in east Siberia sea,probably there are many others.
This could be a big trouble on a big scale.
A rise in 4-6 celsius degrees,probably more, in mean global temperatures seems inevitable
The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change,whose job it has been for twenty years to ensure stabilice greenhouse gases on earths athmosfere : failed
In reality this gases emisions are growing near exponentially.
If the current rate of reproduction continues,at the end of the century there will be twenty-eight billion of us.
CERN physicists tell us that they are conducting the most important experiment on Earth.
It isnt
The biggest and more important experiment on Earth is the one we are all conducting,right now,on Earth itself
Only a idiot would deny that thre is a limit to how many people our Earth can support..
We urgently need to do,actually to do,something radical to avert a global catastrophe.
But we dont.
In my opinion a strongly recomended book to everybody including schools along the entire world
August 2, 2015
Content wise, I'm 100% behind this book. I really wanted to love it so I could recommend it to people, because I want everyone to know about these issues. BUT turns out I spent the whole time reading it borderline pissed off. One obvious issue is that for a book that's entirely about our total lack of sustainable use of resources, each page has about 10% usage. A significant amount of pages have only 1-2 sentences on them, which also just felt like a cheap DRAMA trick. The arguments often dropped off without support, the serious tone felt mostly like heavy handed schtick, and overall I was pretty disappointed that a very important issue was not served well through this book. There are a lot of other books out there making this argument with much more supported writing and way less ego.
July 11, 2013
This is the most phenomenal, hard hitting, profound books I've read in a very long time. It's a quick, punchy read that really drives home the real costs of the unsustainable decadence of the human race at the expense of this planet's fragile ecosystems.
I feel genuinely guilty for what I can only view as a "debauched" lifestyle (intensified more so perhaps by the fact that tomorrow I will be flying 4,000 miles to the USA...)
I already want to do something to alleviate the issues identified in this book, to reverse the catastrophic discrepancies in our attitude to global warming and so on.
But Emmott sums it all up pretty clearly: "I think we're fucked", he writes. And that is why this book is terrific. Emmott does not care for namby-pamby reassurances and hopefulness. He is blunt, and to the point, and that is what makes this a simply enlightening read.
Everybody should read this book, especially anybody with an interest in (international) politics, ecologism and so on.
I feel genuinely guilty for what I can only view as a "debauched" lifestyle (intensified more so perhaps by the fact that tomorrow I will be flying 4,000 miles to the USA...)
I already want to do something to alleviate the issues identified in this book, to reverse the catastrophic discrepancies in our attitude to global warming and so on.
But Emmott sums it all up pretty clearly: "I think we're fucked", he writes. And that is why this book is terrific. Emmott does not care for namby-pamby reassurances and hopefulness. He is blunt, and to the point, and that is what makes this a simply enlightening read.
Everybody should read this book, especially anybody with an interest in (international) politics, ecologism and so on.
September 15, 2013
There are many important books that must be read. However, I think I just read the most important book of our time, written by an active scientist involved in the science of which he writes. The book is beautiful. Short, to the point, but each point and arrow to the very heart of our most critical problems. Thank you Stephen Emmott for caring enough to write about these facts and put the difficult question out there, with such simplistic clarity. Now everyone just needs to read this.
July 1, 2014
After reading this book, I was confused. Very, very confused. I needed time to think. I've been thinking about this book for a couple of weeks, and my confusion has now changed to anger. I'm incapable of understanding how people can live their lives, not knowing about the fact that we're slowly destroying our world. Not only are we destroying it for ourselves, but for all life on Earth.
In some way, I'm glad to have earned all this knowledge, but it also makes me sad that so many people walk around, happily unknowing. Everyone should know. Everyone.
In some way, I'm glad to have earned all this knowledge, but it also makes me sad that so many people walk around, happily unknowing. Everyone should know. Everyone.
August 3, 2013
This is the most life-changing book I have ever read in my short, but entire life. It left me stunned, unable to actually understand, what exactly I had just read. It made me afraid. Really afraid. It made me doubt so many of my beliefs in life. I don't know if life will ever be the same again, but my deep interest in getting knowledge, getting to know the truth, makes me happy about all this. I'm glad, that I've read this book. I believe everyone should. On the other hand, I'll never be able to think the same way again. No one should feel this way; but it's necessary. I'm blown away by the way Stephen Emmott writes.
November 23, 2013
The premise of this book, horrible stuff is happening to the earth due to overpopulation, is sound. And the design of the book is pleasing - just one or two horrific facts per page to increase their impact. However, the scientific facts stated on every page are done so without citations and references. This blows my mind, and undermines the book's credibility. I really want to believe everything Emmott purports, but I don't want to have to search the web to fact check every single assertion. That being said, if even half of what he says is true, we need to start training our children to be very creative thinkers, because the proverbial shit will be hitting the fan some time later this century. This book has information every human should be aware of; I just wish he had cited relevant and credible sources.
July 2, 2013
I read the Guardian article which was supposedly an "extract" of this book, seemed interesting so I paid a fiver for it. Turns out "extract" actually means 90% of the book. It's basically a short essay, half an hour's reading.
December 24, 2017
This book is another bitter reminder of the direction of our future. Climate change is happening with more devastations than ever. Population is increasing and food sources are decreasing. Moreover the pure water scarcity is another global phenomenon. We may increase our energy resources to deal with many problems but we won't be able to control the climate change like this ,ever. The author has shown the alarming statistics with citations and proved that increase in population, climate change, energy production , food crisis ,etc are all interlinked global phenomena and we need to act ASAP to conserve as much as possible. There are two options for a better future. First is technologizing our way out of it and second is radical behavior change. Author has reasoned that former is not so possible but latter is possible. If we change our attitude and waste less resources, we may help in creating a better future for us and for our kids .
December 6, 2013
Short and devastating. I don't entirely agree with some of the facts presented – embedded water is more complex than stated; ice sheet melt is a little incorrect as written; no allowance is made for recyclability; renewable energy holds far more promise than suggested; and frankly I cannot see how we'll possibly get to 10 billion with all of these enormous systemic limits we're crashing headlong into – yet ultimately these only affect the rate of looming cataclysm, not the underlying conclusions. I hope and try to act as if we aren't, but it is so very hard not to believe we aren't indeed totally, utterly fucked.
August 6, 2013
This is a moving read. Emmott is completely honest about the state of the world and his honesty is chilling and worrying. I've always cared about what we're doing to the world and I echo Emmott's thoughts "Why are we not doing more about the situation we're in - given the scale of the problem and the urgency needed- I simply cannot understand." There is no excuse for blindly destroying the world. Educate yourself and read this book and if you still want to kepp on the same I guess we deserve it.
July 5, 2014
"Pregunté a un científico, de los más racionales y brillantes que he conocido, un científico que trabaja en este campo, un científico joven, un científico de mi laboratorio, qué haría sí sólo pudiera hacer una cosa para remediar la situación en la que estamos.
¿Saben qué respondió?
Enseñar a mi hijo a usar una pistola"
¿Saben qué respondió?
Enseñar a mi hijo a usar una pistola"
May 15, 2019
Very basic book on understanding how population growth could and probably will exacerbate climate change, food security and water availability. Within the paragraph exploring challenges we might face, I feel it misses out on soil as a keep component of agriculture. Still it’s a comprehensive beginner to the likely outcome over the next few decades.
September 22, 2013
every fricken person living on earth needs to read and process this book
August 20, 2021
Bu kitap sayesinde bir sürü yeni şey öğrendim ve bazı olaylara bakış açım tamamen değişti. Sayfaların çoğunun boş olmasından yakınan insanlar gördüm ve başta bana da garip gelmişti ama daha sonra yazarın bilerek, anlatmaya çalıştığı şeylere vurgu yapmak için sayfaları böyle kullandığını düşündüm. İnsanların bunu fark edip bundan yakınması da güzel bir şey bence ki büyük ihtimalle yazarın amacı da buydu. Tek sorun şu an çok ümitsiz hissediyorum dünyayı kurtarma ihtimalimiz yokmuş gibi ki bu kadar umursamaz insan varken büyük ihtimalle yok da. Yine de bazı şeylere daha çok özen göstermeye, daha az israf yapmaya özen göstermeyi planlıyorum unarım okuyan herkes bunu düşünmüştür. Sonu üzücü maalesef:(
October 18, 2014
Se trata de un ensayo sobre los peligros y las consecuencias de la sobrepoblación, el agotamiento de los recursos y la economía globalizada que todo el mundo debería leer. Y no sólo leerlo, sino releerlo periódicamente para que no se nos olvide lo que hacemos con este planeta.
''Necesitamos mirar más de cerca lo que sucede en la actualidad -lo que sucede hoy- en este sistema densamente interconectado del que dependemos y que estamos cambiando a gran velocidad. Es imprescindible hacerlo para entender adónde nos dirigimos.''
''Necesitamos mirar más de cerca lo que sucede en la actualidad -lo que sucede hoy- en este sistema densamente interconectado del que dependemos y que estamos cambiando a gran velocidad. Es imprescindible hacerlo para entender adónde nos dirigimos.''
August 11, 2013
Humankind is growing and strip-mining and polluting the earth -stop the bus I want to get off.A staggeringly depressing book - 7000 litres of water to make a hamburger? can't get my head around that one.
If everything stated is 100% accurate - than really really worry for your grandchildren. I felt the book presentation was over stylised with many pages containing only a small paragraph - given the ecological statements presented, this irritated me.
If everything stated is 100% accurate - than really really worry for your grandchildren. I felt the book presentation was over stylised with many pages containing only a small paragraph - given the ecological statements presented, this irritated me.
July 14, 2013
Scary - which it needs to be - but its audience will be those already scared.
January 24, 2018
Post completo em www.folhasdepapel.wordpress.com
Apreciação
Não tenham filhos.
Consumam menos.
Não consumam de todo.
Aprendam a produzir a vossa própria comida.
Comecem a aquecer as armas.
O objectivo de Stephen Emmot é um único: chocar. Assentando nos dados actuais (de 2013) sobre a sobrepopulação, o cientista enumera ao longo de 200 curtas páginas as consequências da industrialização, da globalização e do crescimento populacional na biosfera, na ecosfera, na hidrosfera, e muito mais.
Páginas brancas com duas linhas cerradas de texto. Palavras negras e carregadas. Gráficos lineares com linhas que prevêem um futuro arrasador. Uma irritação crescente na voz do escritor, que grita contra o mundo, a História, a indústria, o consumidor e com a (sua própria) comunidade científica.
Dez Mil Milhões, ou como os Humanos Estão a Tentar Destruir a Terra, segundo Mário Soares no Diário de Notícias:
Numa palavra: a Terra, como um todo, está a ser destruída pelos humanos, que acabarão por ser as principais vítimas do desastre, provocado pelos próprios e pela ganância dos interesses. Porque os grandes Estados e a própria ONU deixaram de se interessar pelo ambiente. Desde a reunião frustrada da Dinamarca. O que é de uma irresponsabilidade inaceitável. Tenho já, nesta mesma coluna, chamado a atenção para esta tão grave – e urgente – questão.
A irresponsabilidade política (que não é mais do que um jogo de interesses políticos), a apatia e negação do aquecimento global e das suas consequências, a importância das associações ambientalistas, as prioridades industriais. Dinheiro, dinheiro, dinheiro, em prol de um futuro que não existe. Porque não o vemos. Não é preocupação nossa.
Diz-se que, desde que a História é escrita, nunca se viveram tempos com tanta qualidade de vida. Falta dizer que estamos a falar de países de primeiro mundo. Então, se olharmos para a realidade neste países, não precisamos de ir longe, porque a verdade está aqui mesmo: consumir é ser. Quem não consome, não é. É possível analisar campanhas publicitárias actuais e encontrar barbaridades como I want it all and I want it know, numa campanha indescritível da Media Markt que diz que “TODOS queremos TUDO” (já não falando da imbecilidade da utilização da música dos Queen, na qual Freddie Mercury falava de alcançar sonhos e aqui é colocado a vender torradeiras).
A informação é uma arma. E é com este tipo de livros que é possível abrir os olhos e começar a fazer alguma coisa. Leiam-no. Mesmo.
February 3, 2025
This book was well written and made me, someone who likes to think they know a bit about climate change, think about it on a whole other level. It makes me think what more can I do and what I can change. Also since this was written in 2013, and there was a whole point of with the rise of population there will be a rise of pandemics… sounds a lot like covid, and this was just one of the many things mentioned that you were like wow this has already happened in not even 10 years. Definitely worth a read. Only negative is I find it contradicting with the amount of half empty pages when it’s talking about wasted resources.
July 28, 2023
Þessi bók var bara ekki neitt að hjálpa með loftslagakvíðan. Og hún er frá 2013.
"Our existing oil, coal and gas reserves alone are worth trillions of dollars. Are governments and the world's major oil, coal and gas companies - some of the most influential corporations on Earth - really going to decide to leave the money in the ground, as demand for energy increases relentlessly?"
"It looks like twenty years of words and inaction is set to continue with another twenty years of words and inaction. All the while, we are heading into deeper and deeper trouble."
"Our existing oil, coal and gas reserves alone are worth trillions of dollars. Are governments and the world's major oil, coal and gas companies - some of the most influential corporations on Earth - really going to decide to leave the money in the ground, as demand for energy increases relentlessly?"
"It looks like twenty years of words and inaction is set to continue with another twenty years of words and inaction. All the while, we are heading into deeper and deeper trouble."
July 27, 2019
Yeşil Devrim bir mittir.
Cambridge'de konumlanan Microsoft Research'un computational science bölümünün başında bulunan yazar Stephen Emmott, insanlığın biricik dünyamıza verdiği ve her geçen saniye logaritmik olarak artan tahribatı gayet basite indirgeyerek, herkesin anlayabileceği bir dilde anlatmış. Kitabın kendine has, 36 punto yazılara sahip tasarımını beğendim. Kitapta anlatılanlara ait bir kaynakça bulunmaması kitabın hanesine eksi olarak yazılabilecek olsa da, insanların biyolojik dengeyi sarsması gibi mühim bir konu hakkında başarılı bir kitap olarak buldum ben 10 Milyar'ı.
Cambridge'de konumlanan Microsoft Research'un computational science bölümünün başında bulunan yazar Stephen Emmott, insanlığın biricik dünyamıza verdiği ve her geçen saniye logaritmik olarak artan tahribatı gayet basite indirgeyerek, herkesin anlayabileceği bir dilde anlatmış. Kitabın kendine has, 36 punto yazılara sahip tasarımını beğendim. Kitapta anlatılanlara ait bir kaynakça bulunmaması kitabın hanesine eksi olarak yazılabilecek olsa da, insanların biyolojik dengeyi sarsması gibi mühim bir konu hakkında başarılı bir kitap olarak buldum ben 10 Milyar'ı.
September 12, 2016
A hybrid work of nonfiction and graphic novel that could do with more left-justification and less hyphenation but that's being picky. Ten Billion is a quick read. But don't do what I did which is read it in bed before going to sleep. You will have nightmares. The author, Stephen Emmott, is an eminent scientist writing about the prospect of the Earth sustaining a population of 10 billion people. His conclusion? We're all fucked. Chart after chart punctuates the book where the line goes skyward within the last few years. There's nothing optimistic here. There's nothing to look forward to. There are no answers here. Other than: consume less. Do everything less. Which isn't going to happen. We're selfish and greedy. There's no magic technological solution to climate change, environmental degradation, voracious consumerism, population growth, soil depletion, and so on. Factory farming comes in for some stick. And so it should. As it contributes so much to everything that's wrong with us and our place in the world. So, what's to be done? Don't look for answers here. But if you want to take the real bucket of ice challenge, read this book. It could wake you up, as we're all going to hell in a hand basket. And not enough of us cares. As we're too busy consuming. And thinking about what's for dinner tonight.
April 22, 2014
This book is more of an outline / overview of the problem of global warming, global patterns of human consumption and human over-population. There is not much text in the book (more like a picture/comic book), what there is, is very simple - (seems like it could be read easily by junior high kids) - accompanied by several scary charts and photographs. Therefore, it is light reading in the sense of quantity of text. Perhaps the author intended this book to be an introduction to this huge problem which mankind now faces.
Warning however, although the book brings out some interesting facts - like global water use/scarcity and the problem of solar panels being made by using a potent greenhouse gas - it concludes pessimistically. The author does not believe that any technological fix is on the horizon; that we - even many scientists (physicists at CERN, for example) - do not take the problem seriously enough, and that we - us - are the problem, and 10 billion of us just makes the problem that much worse.
I agree what the author is implying, that we have entered the anthropocene, we dominate and alter the earth that much..
Quoting from the book, "Saying “Don’t have children” is utterly ridiculous. It contradicts every genetically coded piece of information we contain, and (at least in their conception) one of the most important (and fun) impulses we have. That said, the worst thing we can continue to do —globally—is have children at the current rate."
Warning however, although the book brings out some interesting facts - like global water use/scarcity and the problem of solar panels being made by using a potent greenhouse gas - it concludes pessimistically. The author does not believe that any technological fix is on the horizon; that we - even many scientists (physicists at CERN, for example) - do not take the problem seriously enough, and that we - us - are the problem, and 10 billion of us just makes the problem that much worse.
I agree what the author is implying, that we have entered the anthropocene, we dominate and alter the earth that much..
Quoting from the book, "Saying “Don’t have children” is utterly ridiculous. It contradicts every genetically coded piece of information we contain, and (at least in their conception) one of the most important (and fun) impulses we have. That said, the worst thing we can continue to do —globally—is have children at the current rate."
February 17, 2014
I'll start by saying that I get some of the dislike for the book, its tone, and the author. It's hard to like a book when the last words say we're screwed -- only in stronger, less civil language. I also sympathize with those who suggest the author is hypocritical in complaining about waste and rampant consumerism but then goes on to publish a book in such an inefficient way.
Still, as a primer into the effects of climate change spurred by capitalism, the book is effective. Its very visual approach, I think, will work for those who are usually turned off by heavier reads of a topic that simply needs to be addressed.
I have some other complaints, though. Transitions could be more effective in places, and I think a graph/chart or two could have been better contextualized.
Finally, a world to all future climate scientists and authors who want to "get the word out." MAKE YOUR CITATIONS CLEAR. You know there are powerful voices out there trying to discredit the movement entirely, claiming (despite overwhelming evidence) that the science is unclear. In a book like this, a book that makes bold claims with few references, it's too easy for skeptics to simply cast it aside, call it hyperbolic, and move on. Emmott really should have cited sources on each and every page -- making his book as unimpeachable as possible.
Still, as a primer into the effects of climate change spurred by capitalism, the book is effective. Its very visual approach, I think, will work for those who are usually turned off by heavier reads of a topic that simply needs to be addressed.
I have some other complaints, though. Transitions could be more effective in places, and I think a graph/chart or two could have been better contextualized.
Finally, a world to all future climate scientists and authors who want to "get the word out." MAKE YOUR CITATIONS CLEAR. You know there are powerful voices out there trying to discredit the movement entirely, claiming (despite overwhelming evidence) that the science is unclear. In a book like this, a book that makes bold claims with few references, it's too easy for skeptics to simply cast it aside, call it hyperbolic, and move on. Emmott really should have cited sources on each and every page -- making his book as unimpeachable as possible.
February 16, 2014
My quick 'just-read-it-gut-reaction' review is as follows: I have read extracts of Ehrlich's Population Bomb (1968) and this book seems to be a modern synopsis of the population issue. Nothing new is being told. The layout makes for fast reading with immediate impact - yes - I checked if printed on recycled paper - I presume too much water would have been required perhaps? I read this in preparation for a class I will be teaching on fashion sustainability and it served to highlight that environmental issues can not be isolated from one another. However, I gave it 2 stars because it is a good general synopsis of the current environmental crisis and it's well presented and easy to read. Three stars lost because (a) authors lack of faith in the kindness of humanity "teach my son how to use a gun" being the authors final words, quoting someone else, (b) extreme lack of depth [few references and no suggestions for further reading] and (c) no tangible and practical suggestions for radical behavioural change, just negativity and flippancy. All that said, I read it in less then two hours and it's been a good spring board to get researching.
June 13, 2018
Last week Dh and I were watching the news and had a conversation that we both agree on... we don't care how "green" you are, unless you get rid of the humans it really doesn't matter.
Later that week I was talking to kid 2's teacher and he thinks that same thing.
Hence, this book he recommended. Now you're saying... then why only 3 stars when you agree with most of the information in it... kids and consumption... it's the format. It's written as someone's power point presentation and stuck into a book. Pages with just a handful of words, a few graphs, a few pictures and voila... you have a book without any follow up reading, biography, appendix, footnotes etc.
If you have 1 to 2 hours to read a book and a library like mine that has it... read it. If not, just think about what you buy, how often, what's in it, how much you throw out... if you wish to save the world it's not pipelines you need to stop... it's stopping spending... Which gov'ts don't want to discuss because that way lies... recessions.
Later that week I was talking to kid 2's teacher and he thinks that same thing.
Hence, this book he recommended. Now you're saying... then why only 3 stars when you agree with most of the information in it... kids and consumption... it's the format. It's written as someone's power point presentation and stuck into a book. Pages with just a handful of words, a few graphs, a few pictures and voila... you have a book without any follow up reading, biography, appendix, footnotes etc.
If you have 1 to 2 hours to read a book and a library like mine that has it... read it. If not, just think about what you buy, how often, what's in it, how much you throw out... if you wish to save the world it's not pipelines you need to stop... it's stopping spending... Which gov'ts don't want to discuss because that way lies... recessions.
August 4, 2013
I read a couple of pieces in The Guardian about this book within the last month and it's publication has caused a lot of discussion and debate. I finally read it this afternoon in an hour or so. It's pretty bloody terrifying and eye opening. It confirms all of my worst fears about our collective ability to deal with the existential threat we are creating for ourselves as a species.
It's very short, clear and accessible. It would be a very good thing if as many people as possible read it. It particularly needs to be read by politicians and business leaders, and I would welcome it being read in schools.
It's very short, clear and accessible. It would be a very good thing if as many people as possible read it. It particularly needs to be read by politicians and business leaders, and I would welcome it being read in schools.
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