Fragile Earth: Views of a Changing World

by HarperCollins, Ranulph Fiennes (foreword)

Natural disasters, climate change, resource exploitation, and human development are all changing our planet at a relentless pace.

Turn on the television, read any newspaper—one cannot avoid stories of the major changes that are taking place on Earth. Hurricanes and tornados in the Midwest, flooding along the coasts, melting of polar ice caps. What's going on?

This book is an attempt to answer some of those questions. Written by leading experts, and using unique before-and-after satellite imagery to document what's taking place, Fragile Earth presents all of the changes that are occurring and what the likely outcomes for our planet will be.

Different phenomena pose different risks. Natural phenomena, like earthquakes, volcanoes, tsunamis, landslides, and avalanches, and wild weather, like tropical storms, tornadoes, and massive dust storms, pose risks to local populations who cannot safely escape these sudden cataclysms. But there are also more subtle changes happening that can be just as destructive in the long run.

Take, for instance, the parched earth—places where desertification, shrinking lakes and drying rivers, and drought are becoming prevalent. What are the long-term effects of these phenomena on human populations? Or the so-called "Big Thaw"—dwindling glaciers, polar ice cap changes, rising sea levels: what are the effects of these ever-increasing conditions?

The question this book poses is simple: What is to be done? There are answers to these problems, if we become more focused on solving them. The expert contributors give some of those answers, including conservation of current resources as just one of many.

Genres: Nonfiction

272 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

HarperCollins Publishers LLC is one of the Big Five English-language publishing companies. Founded 1989.

Reviews

[Tamara Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Fragile Earth” provides the reader with photographs showing the effects of nature and man-made changes on Earth. The book begins with a forward by Sir Ralph Fiennes followed by a image location map then provides nine chapters on Earth’s changing landscape.

I liked that each chapter of the book begins with important terms corresponding to the chapter followed by charts of deadliest disasters and concluding with images of areas before and after natural or man-made changes. The book is extremely informative in that it covers a multitude of topics including earthquakes, tropical storms, deforestation, expanding cities, shrinking glaciers, advancing deserts, and changing coastlines.

Although the editors provide the reader with a wealth of knowledge through this book, to me, the stand out feature are the photographs of life before and after various natural and man-made events. Although one can say that the Earth isn’t changing and global warming isn’t real, the reality of Earth’s dire situation can be seen in side by side photos of an area once vibrant with life which is now completely barren.

The book concludes with each of the book editors presenting their view of the future based on current experiences as well as projected futures predictions by supercomputers. Although this book was published in. 2006, I feel that the information presented in this book is a timely reminder that volcanos or ice ages are no longer the most important factors changing the Earth, it’s humans.

[Page Birmingham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sad and gorgeous

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lots of statistics/number/pictures. Big heavy hardcover! High quality pages!

[Matthew Bulkeley · Rating 3 out of 5]

That Earth It do be looking different, I wouldn't say its fragile. We're fragile.

[Last Ranger · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before and After!

Change is what life is all about! The world around us is physically changing all the time; climate, sea level, landscapes, the Earth it self and, yes, our cities too. This marvelous coffee-table book documents many of those changes with historic and modern photos as well as satellite images. There is no one author for Fragile Earth, instead we have a foreword by renowned explorer Sir Ranulph Fiennes and a series of essays by seven different journalist some of whom you may or may not recognize. There are also many maps and charts to help clarify some of the issues. The book is broken up into 9 chapters under various headings; Restless Earth, Big Thaw and Water's Power are three examples. Each chapter is also broken to several sub-categories that cover a wide range of subjects. You will see stunning photos of volcanoes, shrinking glaciers, advancing deserts, acts of terrorism and urban sprawl as well a deforestation and poor farming practices resulting in degraded landscapes. Urban growth, is also documented, such as the incredible changes to Hong Kong harbor from 1920 to the present day. One series of photos of a New Zealand glacier from 1951 through 1964 show its slow retreat till it's almost out of sight. But then, in a present day shot, we see the glacier now advancing back to about its 1956 point. So while change can be bad on a global scale it can also be, locally, good in some parts of the world. Not all of these changes are destructive. Some, like volcanos, create new land and new havens for life such as Surtsay, Iceland. Advancing sand dunes can threaten large urban cities like Beijing, China; and the extraordinary steps taken by the government to protect the city, the local people and their homes. The 1988 Yellowstone fire was one of the most destructive wild fires on record but it led to new policies for fire fighting and Yellowstone National Park has bounced back healthier than ever. The list goes on; New York City-before and after 09/2011, the "Dust Bowl" 1935- Kansas City. The book closes out with "Future Views", a series of essays on what the future holds for mankind. In some respects the outlook is bleak. But there are beacons of hope, if only humans can get their act together on several issues; land usage, population control, clean energy, the list goes on. If your curious about the planet you live on and what tomorrow may hold for us then let this book take you on a journey from the past, through the present and into the future as change, both natural and man made, sets the stage on this: our "Fragile Earth".

Last Ranger

[Tim Gannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Through photographs and data, it shows us how we are impacting the world. It looks at the changes in water, temperature, building, agriculture, land, loss of glaciers/polar ice, etc. It was written to make us compare the past and current pictures of our planet, to prompt use to question our choices and how they impact the world.

[Thomas Edmund · Rating 5 out of 5]

What is there that can be said of such awesome images? Fragile Earth covers the changes of the world ranging from climate change to natural disasters and natural cycles. The images will both terrify and entertain a reader. The info snuck in between chapters will inform but not overwhelm.

[Sofie · Rating 5 out of 5]

AMAZING! The photos in this book were so fabulous, and wonderful to look at. Before and after shots of instant disasters and longer lasting impacts of climate change and deforestation. It shows the real effects man kind can cause as well as the powerful forces of Mother Nature

[Deyara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting, lots of information and pictures. Recommended.