Book Report #2

Yes, it really does take me this long to finish a book, especially when you throw in the holidays. Yet another reason that I've never activated my library card. Too much pressure.


I've probably mentioned that my friend James has two blogs, the normal family one, and then the cool green-techie blog, Insource/Outsource. One post on that blog inspired me to read "The World Without Us" by Alan Weisman.

Let's set a couple of things straight at the beginning. I do not consider myself to be a very "green" person. I don't recycle, I use plastic bags at the grocery store, and I pretty much avoid anything organic. There are lots of reasons for all of these things, but I just bring it up so you know this isn't a preachy "save the world" kind of post. And "The World Without Us" isn't a preachy kind of book, either. Here's the premise for the entire book: Tomorrow, all humans are gone. It doesn't matter why, whether it's global warming, the second coming of Jesus Christ, or an alien invasion. We're just gone. What happens then?

Weisman's approach to answering this question is very scientific and journalistic, which is one of the reasons that I liked the book. He considers everything from our transportation network, to our architecture, to the oceans, to our art, down to the way we're buried. He interviews experts in these areas, and then paints excellent pictures of exactly what the world would be like without us.

So what's the prognosis? To sum it up, we do a lot of things that have changed the earth forever. Many of our plastics will never break down, and our nuclear waste buried around the world will be one of our longest lasting legacies. But you know what? Our ancestors left legacies that have lasted just as long, like hunting "super-mammals" to extinction and migrating around the earth. I'm not saying these actions are equal, but I think it's important to remember that we're not the first generation to have an impact on the earth. Has anything on Earth ever stayed the same for very long, geologically speaking? No. Change is inevitable, and we all adapt.

The thing that struck me most after reading this book is just how insignificant we are. Mother Nature doesn't really care about us that much. If we go away, she'll keep on trucking. Plants and animals will adapt to survive to whatever we've left behind. Some animals, like birds, will probably be better off. There are some striking examples, such as nature's reclamation of the dead zone around Chernobyl, that left me in awe of the power of different species to evolve. Will every species survive? No. But that's evolution and the way nature works. Should we do what we can to make life easier for the planet? Yes. Is that always practical and easy? No.

If you're thinking of reading this book, be ready for some sections of heavy scientific text. It's not your traditional page-turner, but a great book if you're looking for something to stimulate your brain and really make you think about your surroundings and your actions. Weisman also has a cool website with some great graphics and animations to complement the book.

Next on deck: not sure yet. I'm still reading "The Ultimate Question," but that's more of a work book so I'm not going to bore you with the details of that one. I've ordered a couple books based on recommendations from Artie Isaac, the head of an ad agency I did business with at Nationwide. We'll see how those go...