Released: July 10th 2007 (Original publication)
Genre: Non-Fiction, Environment, Science, History
Number of Pages: 363
When looking at the Earth’s long history, man has only been present for a small portion of time while having the greatest impact over this shorter period. What would happen to our settlements, art and other creations if we were to vanish? Alan Weisman asks this and other questions in “The World Without Us”.
The author divides the varying topics into four parts with multiple sections; most will open with a history lesson alongside scene-setting with many scholars and professionals in the fields of nature, environmentalism and industry. This is then followed up by hypothetical scenarios backed up by insider knowledge. On the one hand, power plants would fail and collapse without human intervention, but on the other nature would slowly repair itself over time. Weisman makes use of widely recognised locations like New York City to illustrate his points alongside pointing out how our knowledge could live on after our demise.
With these combined chapters, The World Without Us paints a picture and compels the reader to imagine a planet without humans. It does so with a neutral and reflective tone that reminds us of one overarching point; our home has been through multiple extinction events before and will certainly outlast our species. In this way, the sense of intrigue is maintained without tipping into pessimism, making the book more easily accessible. Some of the opening descriptions can be overbearing depending on your interest in each topic; for example, long-winded talks on animal behaviours will be more engaging for those who follow that area of expertise.
Recommended?
YES: Following the Covid-19 pandemic, many went back to The World Without Us as a source of curiosity and with good reason. Even over fifteen years later, Weisman’s book delivers an intricate look at humanity, our effects on the planet and what would we would leave behind. Some chapters are admittedly more long-winded than others but it remains a compelling read.
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