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yaydonna's review
5.0
If you find data and scientific research exciting and even romantic at times this book is for you. It makes environmental questions into dreamy prose and dances about with science to bring you into a world where humans disappear. It's written in a way where the chapters aren't connected so it's easy to approach it like a book of short stories. I loved this and have picked it up a few times over the years to reread my favorites.
soythesauce's review
dark
hopeful
informative
reflective
sad
slow-paced
4.0
A realistic pessimistic view on how human hubris has slowly set up the dominoes for our demise. At the same time, Weisman speculates how nature will take back what we leave behind and whether there will be any evidence that we ever inhabited the earth.
momototato's review
challenging
hopeful
reflective
slow-paced
3.5
An ambitious glimpse into what the world would possibly look like if all humans vanished from earth, which really dives into the science behind certain ecological functions and accounts for how manmade creations would possibly impact this future. It's also a gentle reminder that the world moves on and evolves even with all the irrevocable changes that humans have made. It's a little beautiful, honestly.
mrswhite's review
5.0
This book was engrossing, terrifying, important and strangely hopeful. It should be required reading for everyone.
rsr143's review
5.0
Thought provoking!
I have often daydreamed about what life was like before we as humans were here, and what life would be like once we as a species are gone. When I was a kid I used to think about this. What would happen to the cities? What would happen to the towns? What would happen to my childhood home?
This book seeks to answer that question. I found it visually evocative. It has me thinking very differently around what it could be like to live in harmony with the environment, instead of in dominion over it.
I will never think of plastics, nuclear power, or the industrial complex the same again. Also, is “growth” and accumulation of stuff really as important as we make it out to be?
I have often daydreamed about what life was like before we as humans were here, and what life would be like once we as a species are gone. When I was a kid I used to think about this. What would happen to the cities? What would happen to the towns? What would happen to my childhood home?
This book seeks to answer that question. I found it visually evocative. It has me thinking very differently around what it could be like to live in harmony with the environment, instead of in dominion over it.
I will never think of plastics, nuclear power, or the industrial complex the same again. Also, is “growth” and accumulation of stuff really as important as we make it out to be?
sunrays118's review
4.0
If you are someone who likes to learn this book is a great read. The book reads like a novel yet delves into tons of facts ranging from herding practices to the ways homes are built. Do you know which part of your home will last the longest? The book is thoroughly engaging and a pleasure to read. The words fly off the page. It is fascinating to go through the steps of the planet after we have all perished. What will happen to the sewer lines and the animals in the zoo? How many years will it take to fix the ozone? The book has a broad spectrum answering countless questions in an entertaining way. I highly recommend this book. It is fun and fresh. I never would have given some of these issues a second thought till I came across the work. If you like Under the Banner of Heaven this book will be a new favorite. Excellent book!