Scan barcode
savaging's review against another edition
4.0
This book shaped my sense of the world I move through. It helped me feel out the vastness of time behind and ahead, and reminded me that my species is so small. This is a bracing tonic.
I think that Brannen did a very good job of telling this deep history, and helping to share why it matters. I also felt myself recoiling a little bit because of his tone. It's a standard science journalism tone, which is clever and detached. Though I guess clever detachment can be useful when discussing so much death.
I think that Brannen did a very good job of telling this deep history, and helping to share why it matters. I also felt myself recoiling a little bit because of his tone. It's a standard science journalism tone, which is clever and detached. Though I guess clever detachment can be useful when discussing so much death.
coltonpugh's review against another edition
challenging
informative
relaxing
medium-paced
4.0
Solid read. Author does a good job exploring past extinctions and discusses the causes. Definitely learned some interesting facts throughout the book. Could see this being a challenging read as the author has an academic background and has done his research. Book ends discussing the odds of a 6th "modern day" mass extinction where I felt he does a good job sharing facts as opposed to opinions.
mythicaltunes's review against another edition
4.0
I haven’t read nonfiction in a very long time, and the last time I did was for school. I found this book in a friend’s Books Read in 2023 List and was drawn by the title and summary. A really good and exhaustive look into the five mass extinction events that have occurred on Earth, and a speculative look into the future. Some of the language felt a little garbled to me in some places, but this book was otherwise very well written. I loved the author’s sense of humor and how he wrapped everything together. Despite the book being about mass deaths of the planet, the book ended on a hopeful note. A very enjoyable read.
codyisreading's review against another edition
4.0
[Me, just minding my own business and trying not think about the absolute nightmare that is the encroaching heat death of the planet and the existential crisis we as a species are propagating yet refuse to acknowledge]
Peter Brannen: Want to learn about geology?
Thanks Pete!
Peter Brannen: Want to learn about geology?
Thanks Pete!