Edward O. Wilson

The Diversity of Life

Monika says:

Extinction has recently become a catchword. Every day entire species of plants and animals become extinct, and for the first time in history this is due to the actions of just one species: humans. We already know about five mass extinctions, and now a sixth seems to be under way. This one is different, because it is man-made. Deforestation of the rain forests is just one aspect of the phenomenon. Most people will have heard about that, but few people know that most of the species existing in the rain forests have never been described by science. Often they become extinct before we ever knew they existed. Nobody can tell what treasures we lose, perhaps a cure for cancer or other modern day diseases.

World-famous Harvard professor and Pulitzer award winner Edward O. Wilson takes stock of life on our planet in his book from 1992. He doesn’t lecture his readers, but soberly states what is known about the impact of mankind on the biosphere and Earth’s past. Wilson first names the known disasters in Earth’s early history and an environmental catastrophe of recent times, namely the eruption of the vulcano Krakatau 1883.

Then the reader learns about the big questions of life and the emergence of new species. The driving forces of evolution are described, the creation of ecosystems and the developement of biodiversity. The third part of the book deals with the impact man has on his environment and Wilson suggests solutions for the present crisis.

If you are interested in the future of planet Earth and want to learn to see the bigger picture this is the book for you. This is no contemplative bedtime reading and will probably leave you feeling uneasy. However, it’s important on the threshold of the 21st century to think about how we can pass at least part of this diversity on to our children. Recent research shows that Earth needs ca. 10 million years to recover after a great crisis and to restore the lost diversity of species. 10 million years are not much in terms of the life of a planet, but the period is way too long for mankind. Wilson’s book should help us to start a process of reconsideration.

Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1992

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Monika Hübner

Last changes: März 17, 2003

Copyright 2000 Christina Gross & Monika Hübner