The State of Humanity

by Julian L. Simon

This book provides a comprehensive and balanced assessment of the state of the Earth and its inhabitants at the close of the twentieth century. More than fifty scholars from all over the world present new, concise and accessible accounts of the present state of humanity and the prospects for its social and natural environment. The subjects range from deforestation, water pollution and ozone layer depletion to poverty, homelessness, mortality and murder. Each contributor considers the present situation, historical trends, likely future prospects, and the efficacy or otherwise of current activity and policy. The coverage is worldwide, with a particular emphasis on North America. The State of Humanity is a magnificent and eye-opening synthesis of cultural, social, economic and environmental perspectives. It will interest all those - including geographers, economists, sociologists and policy makers - concerned to understand some of the most pressing problems of our time.

Genres: Economics, Nonfiction, Philosophy, Sociology, Science

694 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1994

Reviews

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great introductory book for any person engaging with contemporary environmentalism. Though it was published in 1995, it has valuable research that can help propel you to investigate more recent literature with clarity and care. The chapters are short and topic specific, allowing for a quick read, if you just want one-topic-specific information.

[Lucas]

I'm currently reading this book in an on-again/ off-again kind of way.