The big ratchet : how humanity thrives in the face of natural crisis : a biography of an ingenious species /
DeFries, Ruth S.author.
"Our species' pervasive presence on the planet is the combined result of two powerful forces: earth's rich natural endowments and humanity's ability to manipulate nature. From our ability to control fire to our expertise in breeding palatable plants, from our capacity to ship fertilizer across the Atlantic to our skill in selectively tinkering with plant genomes, DeFries describes the ingenious manipulations of nature that have enabled humankind to nourish and flourish"--
Includes bibliographical references (pages 151-168) and index.
Online resource; title from digital title page (EBL platform, viewed March 6, 2015).
A bird's-eye view -- Planetary beginnings -- Enter human ingenuity -- Conundrums of settled life -- Ratchets from afar -- Smash open the bottlenecks -- Monocultures march across the Midwest -- Competition for the bounty -- The revolution goes global -- Farmer to urbanite.
"Our species' pervasive presence on the planet is the combined result of two powerful forces: earth's rich natural endowments and humanity's ability to manipulate nature. From our ability to control fire to our expertise in breeding palatable plants, from our capacity to ship fertilizer across the Atlantic to our skill in selectively tinkering with plant genomes, DeFries describes the ingenious manipulations of nature that have enabled humankind to nourish and flourish"--
Nature
Human ecology.
Physical anthropology.
Human evolution.
Social evolution.
Survival.
Human ecology.
Human evolution.
Nature
Physical anthropology.
Social evolution.
Survival.

Requires login; please use your NLS login details provided to you at customer registration