Title: The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
Author: Elizabeth Kolbert
First published February 11, 2014
336 pages, Hardcover
ISBN: 9780805092998 (ISBN10: 0805092994)
Rating: 4.15
Overview
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert is a timely and thought-provoking book that explores the devastating impact of human activity on our planet. From the extinction of fascinating species to the history of extinction as a concept, Kolbert provides a comprehensive account of the disappearing world around us.
With research from various disciplines, the book presents a frank, entertaining, and deeply informed narrative that highlights the factors responsible for the sixth extinction. The book compels us to rethink our fundamental understanding of what it means to be human and the role we play in shaping our planet’s future.
A must-read for anyone concerned about the fate of our planet.
About the Author
Elizabeth Kolbert writes for The New Yorker and has authored two books: Field Notes from a Catastrophe, which explores the relationship between humans and the environment, and The Sixth Extinction, which examines the current mass extinction of species caused by human activity. She resides in Williamstown, Massachusetts with her family.
Editoral Review
Elizabeth Kolberts The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History is a compelling and sobering exploration of the Anthropocene age, the current epoch in which human activities have had a profound and irreversible impact on the Earths ecosystems. Published in 2014, the book has won accolades from critics and readers alike for its meticulous research, vivid storytelling, and urgent message about the fate of the planet.
Kolbert, a staff writer for The New Yorker and a recipient of the Pulitzer Prize, is a master of the genre of environmental writing. In The Sixth Extinction, she weaves together a range of scientific disciplines, from paleontology to molecular biology, to trace the history of mass extinction events and to explain how human activities are accelerating the pace of species loss.
With empathy, curiosity, and a keen sense of irony, she brings to life the stories of scientists, conservationists, and ordinary people who are grappling with the implications of a world that is rapidly unraveling. The book is divided into thirteen chapters, each focusing on a different aspect of the crisis.
The opening chapter, The Sixth Extinction, lays out the stakes of the story, describing the massive die-offs that have occurred throughout geological history and the evidence that suggests that we are currently in the midst of a new one. From there, Kolbert delves into the intricate web of life on the planet, examining how the web has been disrupted by climate change, habitat loss, pollution, and the spread of invasive species.
One of the strengths of the book is the way in which Kolbert humanizes the science, showing the ways in which extinction affects real people and communities. One chapter, The Last of the Giants, tells the story of the American mastodon, a once-abundant species that succumbed to a perfect storm of environmental pressures.
The chapter The Great Barrier Reef explores the complex ecosystem of this iconic marine environment and the devastating effects of ocean acidification. Throughout the book, Kolbert maintains a clear-eyed and unflinching perspective on the severity of the crisis.
She deftly balances the urgency of the environmental message with the need for hope and resilience, arguing that there is still time to make a difference. Her prose is by turns lyrical and trenchant, conveying both the awe-inspiring complexity of the natural world and the pressing need for action.
If there is a weakness to the book, it is perhaps that Kolberts focus on the science of extinction can sometimes overwhelm the human story. While she is masterful at explaining complex concepts in accessible language, there are moments when the narrative can feel dry or abstract.
However, this is a minor quibble in the face of the books overall impact. The Sixth Extinction is a powerful and important book that deserves a wide audience.
Its message is urgent and its insights are profound, offering a compelling vision of the world as it is and as it could be. Anyone who cares about the future of the planet should read this book and heed its message.
For its skillful synthesis of science, journalism, and literary storytelling, we give it 4.5 out of 5 stars.
