The Aliens Among Us: How Invasive Species Are Transforming the Planet―and Ourselves

by Leslie Anthony

A thoughtful, accessible look at the rapidly growing issue of invasive plants, animals, and microbes around the globe with a focus on the scientific issues and ecological, health, and other challenges

From an award-winning adventure and science journalist comes an eye-opening exploration of a burgeoning environmental phenomenon and the science coalescing around it. Leslie Anthony leads readers on adventures physical and philosophical as he explores how and why invasive species are hijacking ecosystems around the globe. Weaving science, travel, history, and humor with diverse examples to chart and describe the phases of species invasion and human response, Anthony introduces field researchers and managers who seek to understand the biological, social, and economic aspects of this complex issue, and whose work collectively suggests the emergence of a global shadow economy centered on invasives.
 
With tales of pythons in the Everglades, Asian carp and lamprey in the Great Lakes, Japanese knotweed seemingly everywhere, and the invasive organisms we don’t see—pathogens and microbes such as the Zika virus—this book rivets attention on a new ecological reality. 

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Ecology, Animals

400 pages, Hardcover

Published October 24, 2017

Reviews

[Turtleman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Invasive species are one of the greatest threats to the natural world. Various species of rats have become established on islands around the world, generally eradicating the ground-nesting birds that live there. Zebra Mussels have invaded the Great Lakes. And thousands of Burmese Pythons are devouring everything that moves in the Florida Everglades. In The Aliens Among Us, biologist and author Leslie Anthony provides a front row seat to the research on, the battle against, and the politics of invasive species. The effects are not limited to the natural world, as the economic cost is also enormous. It is estimated that invasive species cost Canada’s agriculture and forestry sectors over $7 billion annually.

The Aliens Among Us is a lively and thought-provoking read, with Anthony taking the reader to the front lines. A few eradication projects succeed, but too often, by the time the proper authorities know about the invasive species it is already too late. For example the Canadian government spends about $8 million annually on Sea Lamprey control. These efforts aren’t designed to eliminate the exotic species, merely reduce their numbers, in a never-ending battle. As Anthony writes “if you need to have a meeting about an invasive species, it’s already too late.” Prevention is always a better, and cheaper, option. One of the few impressive prevention projects (so far) is the campaign to keep Asian Carp out of the Great Lakes.

While the topic can be depressing at times, the success stories are encouraging. And Anthony’s writing is sharp and clever. When describing Burmese Pythons as another exotic species that has become established in Florida, Anthony writes “in a state where gators swallow golfers, hurricanes swallow towns, and hanging chads on presidential ballots swallow democracy, what was another beckoning maw?” From Giant Hogweed to the Zika Virus, and from Emerald Ash Borer to the Black Spiny-tailed Iguana (a species possibly more destructive than Burmese Pythons), The Aliens Among Us is a fascinating and cautionary read about our destructive ways.

[Judith · Rating 5 out of 5]

An important, but distressing book. While Anthony has some optimism that some of the alien invasions can be rolled back (some) or prevented given enough personal and political will and determination, the examples cited do not provide much hope. By the time such invasions are noted, the species are well-established; most people are not keen observers of biological phenomena, and so valuable time is lost. Then too some alien species become economically important, in general or even in niches (the harvesting of Chinese catfish by some Americans to see back to mainland China) there is resistance to doing anything to "kill the goose that lays the golden egg." I learned much about alien species all over the world, for by no means is this solely or primarily a USA problem (though if we allow an alien species to become widespread it certainly can spread to Canada or Mexico however effective their preventions may be as such preventions are mostly at "ports of entry"). Thus this is an important book to read and internalize. Fishers, do wash your boats to avoid spreading invasive water plants. Lovers of reptiles, etc: don't import them! And don't release them live if you can no longer feed and care for them!

[Danielle T · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually am going to write a review, but not at the moment because I need to leave for work in 5 hours- previous books I've read are namechecked and I want to mention them in context (especially because I gave The New Wild: Why Invasive Species Will Be Nature's Salvation four stars and Anthony is like "This is a journalist out of his lane"). Although this took me a while (three months is unusually long for me), a worthwhile look at how invasives terraform our planet. This also checked my nationality privilege, as Anthony is a Canadian author and therefore starts his investigations with what the Canadian government is doing- I feel like most of what I read is from American authors, and that's something to be conscious of in the future.

[Rebecca Watts · Rating 5 out of 5]

I believe this is an important book on a dizzying topic. While it can be a bit depressing to read about so many kinds of invasives in one book, it was a good introduction to the proliferation of plants and animals that disrupt natural systems. (I had no idea there are invasive earthworms!) I am very much a lay reader without a science background. So, thank you, Leslie Anthony for the injections of humor just when I needed them most.

It took Leslie Anthony a lot longer to write this book than it did for me to read it, I appreciate the work that went into it and appreciate even more the scientists and ecologists and others who are working to understand and mitigate the problems of "the aliens among us."

[Melissa Mannon · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was eye-opening. It provided a fascinating insight into the diversity and problems with invasive species. I greatly enjoyed the first couple hundred pages, but I thought the ending dragged. Still, I am very glad that I read it. I learned so much and will pull out wonderful pieces to share with my colleagues and students.

[Adam Vantellingen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book did a solid job explaining the background of where invasive species arose and attempts to combat the problem arising. In particular, I found the areas involving the great lakes to be particularly interesting. I rather enjoyed this reading.

[Chiara · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book had the potential to be super interesting. Invasive species is an interesting topic that have some really interesting implications for our world. I was put off almost straight away by the author smugly apologising for puns he was making that were definitely not puns, and writing in that descriptive, flowery way that tends to characterise fantasy novels, rather than science non-fiction. To be fair to Anthony, it did get a bit better and more informative in later sections, but I was extremely close to giving up near the start.
I'm not sure how I felt about the structure, either. I understand that he was trying to break it up into different stages of the prevention/management process, but it felt a bit like we were jumping back and forth to different locations and back again, without one story ever being quite completed.
If you're particularly interested in the topic, it's worth a quick read for some of the anecdotes and stories, but there are better science books around.

[Ietrio · Rating 1 out of 5]

Like others before him, Anthony brings biology into politics. Invasive. Alien.

And the dry writing does not help much.

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Blake Blaskowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read! I am a PhD student studying invasive species interactions, and this got me even more jazzed about my field. And at the same time really worried and desperate for solutions. Loved the spotlight on Florida as well since this is a major hotspot of invasion. It was a somewhat dense read, however, and it jumped around a lot, but I think that makes sense for a book about the complexity of invasive relationships, and timelines of invasion.

[Elentarri]

DNF

Too disorganized and too much irrelevant, social chitchat for a science book.