num_pages: 528
description: A powerful investigation into the chances for humanitys future from the author of the bestseller The World Without Us.In his bestselling book The World Without Us Alan Weisman considered how the Earth could heal and even refill empty niches if relieved of humanitys constant pressures. Behind that groundbreaking thought experiment was his hope that we would be inspired to find a way to add humans back to this vision of a restored healthy planet-only in harmony not mortal combat with the rest of nature.But with a million more of us every 4 1/2 days on a planet thats not getting any bigger and with our exhaust overheating the atmosphere and altering the chemistry of the oceans prospects for a sustainable human future seem ever more in doubt. For this long awaited follow-up book Weisman traveled to more than 20 countries to ask what experts agreed were probably the most important questions on Earth  and also the hardest: How many humans can the planet hold without capsizing? How robust must the Earths ecosystem be to assure our continued existence? Can we know which other species are essential to our survival? And how might we actually arrive at a stable optimum population and design an economy to allow genuine prosperity without endless growth?Weisman visits an extraordinary range of the worlds cultures religions nationalities tribes and political systems to learn what in their beliefs histories liturgies or current circumstances might suggest that sometimes its in their own best interest to limit their growth. The result is a landmark work of reporting: devastating urgent and ultimately deeply hopeful.By vividly detailing the burgeoning effects of our cumulative presence Countdown reveals what may be the fastest most acceptable practical and affordable way of returning our planet and our presence on it to balance. Weisman again shows that he is one of the most provocative journalists at work today with a book whose message is so compelling that it will change how we see our lives and our destiny.
language: English
title: Countdown: Our Last Best Hope for a Future on Earth?
publisher: Little, Brown and Company