March 24, 2008

Book Review - The World Without Us

The World Without Us
Alan Weisman
GF 75 .W455 2007

constructs images of what would happen to the world if people were just to disappear. He explains how most human-built infrastructure would be crushed and integrated into geological formations, how nature would Weisman takes a radical approach to answering the questions about the impact of people on the earth: he asks us to envision the world without humanity. Drawing on research and experience of scientists, conservationists, religious and philosophical leaders, historians, and paleontologists, Weismanresurge and revert to a wild state, and how man-made materials such as plastic will be the longest lasting evidence of our existence. Although there is an extensive bibliography of source materials used, this book contains no footnotes connecting facts and ideas to individual works. Nonetheless, this fascinating work suggests that environmental preservation need not be so extreme to be successful.