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Here On Earth: An Argument For Hope (2010)

by Tim Flannery(Favorite Author)

3.83 of 5 Votes: 1

languge

English

genre

History & Biography

publisher

Text Publishing

review 1: This was a very relevant read for me personally. I was beginning to doubt whether all the hard work to live sustainably could really make a difference. Flannerys history and introduction to Gaia theory was fascinating but the chapters on the future possibilities for the planet were truely inspiring. This is a well written summary of the key issues in the life of our planet and it inspires me to keep doing everything I can to ensure there is a happy, healthy planet for my children's children to enjoy. A wake up call for everyone!
review 2: I gave this book 5 stars not because it is flawless (it isn't) but because of the insights it gives on such a vast topic.'Amazing' indeed...Flannery covers the evolution of the Earth from two perspectives: Charles Darwin, and ... morehis lesser known compatriot, Alfred Russell Wallace. Darwin is, of course, known for his painstakingly derived theory of evolution of species through natural selection, but Wallace came to the same conclusion through a more holistic approach (he could be called the originator of the Gaia hypothesis, as well as the founder of meteorology). Taking the two together, the result is an astonishing journey through time, and the profound ways that life has shaped the development of this planet (eg: primordial algal mats producing deposits of enriched Uranium sufficiently concentrated that they initiated a natural fission reactor.)While covering the Earth as a whole, the emphasis quickly moves to the impact humanity has had. The 'argument for hope' comes from explaining how evolutionary processes might be tailoring the uncontrolled and rapacious aggression of a species capable of wiping out entire ecosystems, even in neolithic times, into a more custodial role. It makes for an interesting, if not entirely convincing argument (its power being sapped by the account of the 2010 Copenhagen summit and the reasons for its collapse). But, after all, this is an ongoing experiment.This might seem like a bit of 'fluffy new age' stuff, but Flannery treats his material in a keen and rigorous manner. Extraordinary forensic proofs are provided for extraordinary claims, and more speculative points are clearly listed as such. For those with a mind to do so, even those holding reservations about anthropogenic climate change, there is much to ponder here. less

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