Quammen's writing style is exceptional in that, admist intriguing scientific proofs, he interjects philosophy that stirs the conscience. It deals with the free-will determinism argument and its spiritual rammifications. It's happening right now, in weed patches all over the planet. I'm not presuming to alert you to the end of the world, the end of evolution, or the end of nature. What I've tried to describe here is not an absolute end but a very deep dip, a repeat point within a long, violent cycle.
Species die, species arise.
The relative pace of those two processes is what matters. And speciation brings new diversity. That's the good news. If science is my prime passion, then music and movies are a close second. And, not too surprisingly, my favorite movies have strong soundtracks.