The allied themes of wildness and wilderness have long been debated, analyzed and discussed, but they take on new meaning in the Anthropocene where nature is often no longer "natural." This book brings together a distinguished group of scientists, philosophers and writers to examine the status of wildness today and its path forward in a world where human expansion threatens ever more of it; where unrestricted nature is diminished and anthropogenic modification becomes daily more pervasive. Nature now exists on our terms. How we treat it, how we conserve it, how we maintain "the heart of the wild" will depend on our evolving attitudes and values.
We cannot count on the vicissitudes of politics where one ideology overturns another in a regular game of musical chairs. To establish universally cherished, respected and upheld standards, however, is a daunting task.
E. O. Wilson's advocacy for half the Earth allocated to wilderness represents the ultimate solution for many, yet it is an ephemeral dream for most. Our political "leaders" belie the very term and visionaries are in short supply. Human population continues to expand on a trajectory to plateau at somewhere around eleven billion by mid century.
Faced with this calamitous prospect and the demands upon remaining resources that it will engender, it is hard to be optimistic about our future. Yet optimism is the only acceptable option according to some of our authors.
It may be that the bar will have to be set lower than we might like, perhaps even a moving bar that descends lower with each passing year. Small packages of modified wilderness may be all that most people will experience, but maybe that is better than nothing, and that will have to do.
Surely, however, we cannot permit ourselves the luxury of surrender, succumbing to an attitude of defeatism that admits that the die has been cast and cemented in place. We have the right (and the responsibility) to envisage a reconciliation with nature, a return to what we had and what might be again - not absolutely let it be said, but close to it. I cannot bring myself to accept that the status quo - poisoned air, water and soil, and mass extinction of species - represents inevitability.
The varying opinions, acceptances, justifications and prescriptions of the thinkers who have contributed to this book provide a stimulus for all of us to do what we can in our own short lives. We owe to the future and to those who will come after us, human and otherwise, no less.
Factual error: In Peter Raven's essay, it states on page 60, "Neanderthals and Denisovians, exclusively North American in distribution......" Clearly this is editorial ineptitude. One cannot image Dr. Raven making this statement.
Princeton University Press
Edited by Ben A. Minteer and Jonathan B. Losos
Hardcover - US$26.95
ISBN: 9780691228624
280 pages - 6.125 x 9.25 inches (15.31 x 23.125 cm)
26 black-and-white illustrations
Publishing date: 12 August, 2024
- Contributions by
- Bill Adams,
- Joel Berger,
- Susan Clayton,
- Eileen Crist,
- Martha L. Crump,
- Thomas Lowe Fleischner,
- Harry W. Greene,
- Hal Herzog,
- Emma Marris,
- Kathleen Dean Moore,
- Gary Paul Nabhan,
- Peter H. Raven,
- Christopher J. Schell,
- Richard Shine and
- Kyle Whyte
I wish I could find it in me to be optimistic. I cannot - though I have not yet surrendered.
ReplyDeleteI can only agree, Sue. We can hope but to be optimistic is a bit of a stretch. Once again here in North America, especially in the west, our forests are burning again, in what has become a terrifying annual event.
DeleteImportant thoughts written by you, David, and the book sounds interesting indeed. Thinking of the future of our planet, I try to be optimistic but as a mother I sometimes feel guilty and very worried.
ReplyDeleteThe book cover is beautiful. Do you know where the photo was taken?
Hi, Sara: There is nothing in the book to indicate the location of the cover picture, but I will try to find out, and post the answer here, so be sure to check back in a day or two.
DeleteHello, Sara: I hav been advised that it is the Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming.
DeleteThank you very much, David! I'll look for more information and photos.
DeleteHave a nice day!
Siempre nos ofrece una buena información, de excelentes libros. Se nota la pasión, que sientes por la Naturaleza.
ReplyDeleteQue tengas un buen día.
Hello,
ReplyDeleteGreat book and review. I always feel you should take care of all the nature and wilderness that we love. Take care, have a great day!
Seems an interesting book. Down here many people hug trees and protect the environment which is good.
ReplyDeleteWell said, David! We all can do something to protect our nature...however small. I always reuse, and recycle, use public transport or bike...etc.
ReplyDeleteNow if only you could encourage your readers to stop eating beef, Angie.
Delete...every day, there is less wild!
ReplyDeletewell said words at the beginning, and I find it very hard to be optimistic about this subject and the entire condition of the world. there are less people every day that care about nature. the book cover is perfect for the subject matter and I think it is photoshopped, using a photo of trees and someone added the road. I could do this in about 10 minutes including finding the two photos to use.. that is what I do when unable to get out in nature.
ReplyDeleteThat’s an interesting comment, Sandra. It is of course quite possible that this is what has occurred. We’ll see if we can find out!
DeleteI've said it before David, and I'll say it again. I am very pessimistic on behalf of our dear planet, and I am very worried about what life will be like for our descendants. Here in Norway, more and more untouched forest is being cut down, and it's just absolutely horrible. Rare plant species are disappearing, and insects, animals and birds are losing their natural habitat. This is happening all over the world, and what follows from this can only be guessed at.
ReplyDeleteIt is certainly an interesting book.
Hugs and kisses, Marit
We know that role that trees play in carbon storage, yet still we cut them down. We certainly contribute willingly to our own demise. Hugs and kisses - David
DeleteThanks for sharing such an interesting book. People in both developed and developing countries can't continue to take everything for granted. With relation to the expansion of human population, scientists and philosophers agree on the fact that infinite growth is not possible on a finite planet.
ReplyDeleteIndeed infinite growth is not possible on a finite planet, and I wonder how unending growth became desirable in the first place. In many societies it’s almost a mantra.
DeleteTrue: policy-makers should listen to scientists and philosophers on this hot topic.
DeleteA very necessary reflection. Although we are not entirely optimistic, we have to continue, at least, taking care of our environment as much as we can.
ReplyDeleteThanks David
I think it is a beautiful interesting book.
ReplyDeleteGood review, David, it sounds like a very interesting book.
ReplyDelete'Reconciliation with nature.' Well said.
ReplyDeleteI feel more and more dejected when I think of the future of the earth and it's inhabitants- I hope there will be a solution. Hugs xxxxxxx
ReplyDeleteNature is there for us to nurture not destroy. This is the only planet we have and we really should be looking after it or else we are screwed. I think too many people take it for granted and it is quite preposterous really. We must save our Pale Blue Dot at all costs.
ReplyDeleteWhat I find slightly reassuring. During the heights of Lockdown in 2020, the Earth was fighting back, certainly here there was no litter for starters. Another thing reassuring is there are lots of people out there like you and me. Sadly though, I wish there were more people in power like us! That would really help.
I find this really upsetting and heartbreaking that our world is nearing an end, sooner than we'd like.
On a lighter note, if aliens were to invade, they'd wipe us out and leave everything else! We are the ones destroying our home.
I am sure if I read this book, I would be crying a lot.
This book sounds sad, much like so many environmental issues. And that editorial "mistake" is a really bad one. I like the cover illustration though. Hope your having a good week.
ReplyDeleteHi, what´up David!
ReplyDeleteI believe that there is nature and a blue planet for another billion years, i also believe that there is more and more awareness about natural resources, look favorably on the future, solutions always appear. What I had no idea was about the existence of the Denisovians. i learn something new every day, cool!
Many kisses and hugs, dear friend David,
have a pleasant and beautiful starry night .⋆｡⋆˚｡⋆｡˚｡⋆. .⋆｡⋆˚｡⋆｡˚｡⋆.
Seems like an interesting book David.
ReplyDeleteWe are already too late, man is destroying himself and we have already come a long way.
Greetings Irma
Temperature records seem to be set one day and broken the next - routinely - and wildfires are destroying much of North America’s forests - yet still we are slow to respond, and there are many who are in outright denial.
DeleteDear David,
ReplyDeleteI also cannot and will not accept that the world and its wonderful nature are going to go downhill as much as is predicted. But I don't know what would have to happen to stop it. (Or rather, I have an idea of what SHOULD happen, but I can't think of a REALISTIC solution to the problem that requires the entire human race to "go along" with it to the necessary extent… Sigh.
Thank you for your comment on my last two posts! I can understand that Miriam is not enthusiastic about some of the problems associated with flying, I feel the same way. But making an exception for Costa Rica is definitely a good idea. (Although I really can imagine that you would both like New Zealand and its birdlife sooo much. I don't think it's as expensive now as it was when you and your friends were thinking about it. We found the prices there to be acceptable and comparable to the Central European level.)
We also don't plan on making such long trips for many years to come. I think there will be two more, three at most - and then we'll probably stay in Europe and then even later in our own country. There is still a lot here that we haven't discovered and that we have "preserved" for later in life...
The wine we drank in NZ was Australian, not New Zealand. We usually prefer wines from the region. But we like Shiraz the most and in the small liquor store we only found Australian wine made from this grape variety. Well, we were in Australia recently and it's not that far from NZ - and the Shiraz was really good. I have never drunk Argentinian wine, in Austria we of course mostly drink local wines, there are enough of them growing here ;-)
All the best, Traude
Everywhere you look the bar is being lowered and has been for quite some time.... Along with the bar go our standards....so very disturbing... More and more I find myself saying "I'm glad I'm old!"
ReplyDeleteThis one sounds interesting and yes, important. What a good collection of contributors. But oh, so sad.
ReplyDeleteJust this morning I read that over the past few years temperatures have climbed much faster than anticipated and that this year will be the hottest year on record (I think all the past years have been the hottest ones, the trend goes on) even though La Niña should slow down the heating (but not enough). Last year's summer was moderate in my region, this year not so much. I'm losing hope that this trend will and can be stopped since no one is willing to change anything. Convenience is more important and of course the ever constant money and profit greed. I do fear that it is already too late. All I can do is trying to be as careful as possible, re-use and recycle as much as possible, avoid plastic (that is really difficult), buying local, eat much much less meat etc. - but will it accomplish anything except having the feeling of actually doing something, even if it is miniscule? Thank you for this review, this sounds like a very interesting read (except for this very bad editorial mistake) albeit very sad. - Carola
ReplyDeleteI think it is really important to do whatever one can, Carola. My hope always is that my habits will spur others to exercise a little more care of the environment.
DeleteUn libro interesante, querido amigo. Me encanta cuidar la naturaleza. Besos mil.
ReplyDeleteHi David - if it's occurring outside our door - we'll blame 'anyone' ... if it's further away and out of sight and mind for most people ... then that's it ... no thought about the future - it's the now.
ReplyDeleteOne chap in our election said I want whoever gets into power to clear this debris up - dropped paper, rubbish etc ... I could only think - blame the population please, not the government, council etc - they've enough to sort out! People ... cheers Hilary