Human Nature: A Blueprint for Managing the Earth--by People, for People

Front Cover
Macmillan, May 1, 2005 - Nature - 272 pages

A radical approach to the environment which argues that by harnessing the power of science for human benefit, we can have a healthier planet

As a prizewinning theoretical physicist and an outspoken advocate for scientific literacy, James Trefil has long been the public's guide to a better understanding of the world. In this provocative book, Trefil looks squarely at our environmental future and finds-contrary to popular wisdom-reason to celebrate.
For too long, Trefil argues, humans have treated nature as something separate from themselves-pristine wilderness to be saved or material resources to be exploited. What we need instead is a scientific approach to the environment that embraces the human transformation of nature for our benefit. In Human Nature, Trefil exposes the benefits of genetically modified species, uncovers vital facts about droughts and global warming, and points to examples of environmental management where catering to humans reaps greater rewards than sheltering other species. By taking advantage of explosive advances in the sciences, we can fruitfully manage the planet, if we rise to the challenge.
Like Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and Paul Ehrlich's Population Bomb, Human Nature promises to fundamentally alter the way we perceive our relationship to the Earth-but with optimism rather than alarm.

 

Selected pages

Contents

Where Do We Fit
2 Nature and Natural Selection
3 Leaving Nature Behind
Lost Eden
5 The Myth of Stability
The Myth of the Pristine Wilderness
The Myth That We Are Poisoning the Earth
The Question of Extinction
Genomics
11 Genetic Modification
The Emergence of Complexity
Experimental Ecosystems
A Matter of Choices
The Managed Planet
ALSO BY JAMES TREFIL
ABOUT THE AUTHOR

The Greenhouse Effect and Global Warming
Copyright

Other editions - View all

Human Nature: A Blueprint for Managing the Earth--by People, for People
James Trefil
Limited preview - 2004
Human Nature: A Blueprint for Managing the Earth--by People, for People
James Trefil
Limited preview - 2005
Human Nature: A Blueprint for Managing the Earth--by People, for People
James Trefil
No preview available - 2004

Common terms and phrases

ability agriculture animals argument atmosphere basic become biodiversity called carbon dioxide carcinogens cell Celsius century changes chapter chemical climate complex systems course crops debate decision developed discussion disease Earth ecosystem management energy environment environmental Everglades example extinction rates fact flood forest fossil record future garden GCMs genes genetic engineering genetically modified genome global warming GMOs greenhouse effect happens human hundred Ice Age important insects involved kind Klamath land Little Ice Age living things look manage the planet managed planet Medieval Warm Period million models modern molecules myth Native Americans natural selection nitrogen number of species ocean organisms paleontologists past percent pesticides Pierrehumbert pollution pop ecology population predict preserve problem produce proteins question revolution risk River scientific scientists simple Skopje Snowball Earth sort talk temperature theory thousand tree understand

About the author (2005)

James Trefil is the Robinson Professor of Physics at George Mason University. A regular contributor to Astronomy magazine and a commentator for National Public Radio, he is the author or editor of more than twenty-five books, including Are We Unique? and the bestselling Dictionary of Cultural Literacy. He lives in northern Virginia.

Bibliographic information

TitleHuman Nature: A Blueprint for Managing the Earth--by People, for People
AuthorJames Trefil
PublisherMacmillan, 2005
ISBN1429934697, 9781429934695
Length272 pages
Subjects › 

Nature / Environmental Conservation & Protection
Science / Environmental Science
  
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