The Future of the Earth: An Introduction to Sustainable Development for Young Readers

by Yann Arthus-Bertrand

An attention-grabbing primer on mankind's direct and indirect effects on the natural world explains how such topics as global trends, economic disparity, and invasive species, among others, have changed the world in which we live.

76 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2003

About the author

Yann Arthus-Bertrand was born in a renowned jewellers' family founded by Claude Arthus-Bertrand and Michel-Ange Marion. His sister Catherine is one of his closest collaborators. He's been interested in nature and wildlife from an early age.
From the age of 17 he became involved in the movie industry. He gave up the movie industry in 1967 to run the Château de Saint Augustin wildlife park in Château sur Allier (centre of France). He then left the country with his wife Anne when he was 30 (1976) to live in Kenya in the Massai Mara national park. He lived amongst the Massai tribe for 3 years to study the behaviour of a lions’ family and took daily pictures of them during those years. He thus discovered a new passion for photography and the beauty of landscapes when observed from above in hot air balloons. He understood the power of a picture and how to communicate using this means.
He came back to France in 1981, published a photography book Lions in 1983, and became an international journalist, reporter and photographer specialising in documentaries on sports, wildlife and aerial photography for French magazines such as Paris Match and Geo. He photographed ten Paris-Dakar rallies. Every year he published a book on Rolland Garros, the tennis French open. He also took pictures every year at the Paris International Agricultural Show, and of Dian Fossey and gorillas in Rwanda.
In 1994 Arthus-Bertrand started a thorough study on the state of the Earth sponsored by UNESCO. Therefore he made a picture inventory of the world’s most beautiful landscapes taken from helicopters and balloons. The book from this project, Earth from Above (‘la Terre vue du ciel’) sold over 3 million copies and was translated into 24 languages.

Reviews

[Roberto Bovina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aperta la prima pagina si trova un immagine Molto significativa è un mappamondo con le aree più popolate della terra gli agglomerati urbani con più di 5 milioni di abitanti e segnati con tanti pallini rossi le zone del pianeta dove c'è maggiore densità è un libro raccontato ai bambini facile da leggere anche per gli adulti mi piace sia perché conosco l'autore all'interno ci sono le sue fotografie con delle vedute spettacolari della campagna dal cielo e poi mi piace perché ogni pagina contiene un argomento inerente alla sostenibilità ambientale i cambiamenti climatici ehm l'invadenza dell'uomo delle attività umane le crisi umanitarie Insomma tanti temi descritti appunto dalle tra queste meravigliose fotografie una raccolta da ogni parte della terra

[Whole And · Rating 5 out of 5]

EXCELLENT series of books from an incredible high in the sky perspective as Yann Arthus-Bertrand goes to great lengths to research, visit, ask permission, order planes/helicopters to take these breath taking photos of areas of the earth that need our attention.

This books with short text as not to be overwhelming creates an intimate relationship with our common home. Sure to plant the seeds of caring for our planet, young readers will be captivated and want to know more about, everything!

I deeply appreciate this work and the message imparted to both young and old.

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thirty six eye-popping photos representing ecological, environmental and social issues of the times.

The Dogon people of Mali, Africa have no words for orphan or poverty because they don't need such words while in Ecuador in South America you have "barrios miserias". What makes the difference? What could we do to eliminate the need for the words orphan and poverty?

[Ardith · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of unique photographs on the theme of sustainable development. Strangely, even though these photos are supposed to provoke thoughts about how we're trashing the planet, they're also works of art. Some are beautiful in an eerie way. Well worth a look.