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A Natural History of the Future
What the Laws of Biology Tell Us About the Destiny of the Human Species
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Format: Paperback / softback
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This book is ideal for readers interested in the natural sciences, ecology, and evolutionary biology, as well as those concerned with environmental issues and humanity’s impact on life on Earth.
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See moreA leading ecologist argues that if humankind is to survive on a fragile planet, we must understand and obey its iron laws.
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Description
Over the past century, our species has made unprecedented technological innovations with which we have sought to control nature. In A Natural History of the Future, biologist Rob Dunn argues that such efforts are futile. We may see ourselves as life's overlords, but we are instead at its mercy.
In the evolution of antibiotic resistance, the power of natural selection to create biodiversity, and even the surprising life of the London Underground, Dunn finds laws of life that no human activity can annul. When we create artificial islands of crops, dump toxic waste, or build communities, we provide new materials for old laws to shape. Life's future flourishing is not in question. Ours is.
A Natural History of the Future sets a new standard for understanding the diversity and destiny of life itself.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Rob Dunn sketches an arresting vision of this relentless natural world, functioning as a helpful crash course in ecology and, as the title implies, an augur of sorts (The New York Times Book Review). His absorbing and stimulating analysis makes for a clear, important, and excellent primer on ecology and evolution (Scientific American, Kirkus Reviews). The book avoids implausible solutions, instead offering an imaginative, sensible education on humanity’s relationship with nature (Kirkus Reviews).
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9781399800143
Publisher: John Murray Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 20 January 2022
Country: United Kingdom
Imprint: Basic Books
Audience: General / adult, Tertiary education, Professional and scholarly
DIMENSIONS
Spine width: 30.0mm
Width: 152.0mm
Height: 232.0mm
Weight: 400g
Pages: 320
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About the Author
Rob Dunn is an ecologist and evolutionary biologist, focusing on the biodiversity of humans. He is a professor in the Department of Applied Ecology at North Carolina State University and in the Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics at the University of Copenhagen. The author of seven books including Never Home Alone (Basic 2018), he also writes for National Geographic, Natural History, Scientific American, BBC Wildlife, and Seed magazine. He lives in Raleigh, North Carolina.
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A Natural History of the Future
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