LemuriaBooks

So with Earth Day coming up, I thought I would take the time to write a short review of a book I read some months ago that really impressed me. The book is The World Without Us by Alan Weisman, and it discusses exactly what the title implies: what would happen to the physical trappings of civilization if every human being were to quickly disappear. Mr. Weisman does an excellent job of presenting both the small and big pictures of how the world would recover from humanity; in one chapter he describes how plants, animals, and the weather would reclaim an individual home, while in another chapter he discusses how oceans and deserts would respond to our absence.

Mr. Weisman provides enough detail, both through scientific explanation and interviews with experts in a variety of fields, to paint a clear, incredible picture of an Earth without mankind. What remains of human civilization will surprise you, as will how quickly those things we consider indestructible will fall to the power of Mother Nature.

This book does more than paint a fanciful picture though; by discussing our current relationship with Nature and pointing out what will truly outlast us, Mr. Weisman provides us some ideas on how to minimize our negative impacts on the planet. Neither preachy nor too far out in left field, Mr. Weisman has achieved a great balance between a compelling read and a social critique.