Half-Earth: Our Planet's Fight for Life in Science and Inquiry

Jan 21, 2018 Jimmy rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: science, environment

This book is a terrific journey through the incredible biodiversity of our planet. Or at least what remains of our biodiversity. In this Anthropocene Age we live in, humans have sacrificed the earth's species on the altar of "economic development" and "freedom" and "the accumulation of material wealth." The result is a blind trip toward oblivion.

But for a few brief hours, I could enjoy the world's species and wild areas vicariously through the writing of Edward O. Wilson.

There are solutions pr ...more

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Mar 22, 2017 Charlene rated it liked it

Shelves: ecology

I hate to give E.O. Wilson anything less than 5 stars. However, his writing has really gone downhill, which makes me truly sad. The first book in this trilogy, Social Conquest of Earth, was great until the last chapter. He kept politics out of the whole book and then went on a rant about his political views. I actually agreed with those views but it was off-putting even to me. The rant came out of nowhere. If he had sprinkled his views throughout the book, as if they were not something he was tr I hate to give E.O. Wilson anything less than 5 stars. However, his writing has really gone downhill, which makes me truly sad. The first book in this trilogy, Social Conquest of Earth, was great until the last chapter. He kept politics out of the whole book and then went on a rant about his political views. I actually agreed with those views but it was off-putting even to me. The rant came out of nowhere. If he had sprinkled his views throughout the book, as if they were not something he was trying to hide, it would not have felt to the reader like they were getting hit by a truck of political beliefs at the end of what was a truly fantastic book. The second book, Meaning of Life, showed that Wilson still excelled in gathering data and updating his views, but that it was a little more difficult for him to convey those views to a general audience. There was a marked difference in his writing from Book One to Book Two of the trilogy. This last book showed an even steeper decline in writing. Maybe it's just that he was too busy to write all three?

This is a shame because the deck is already stacked against Wilson, who is a brilliant scientist with important things to say. For example, with comments like, 'Just throw out Wilson's book. Don't even read it!," Dawkins has been on a campaign to destroy Wilson for years. This is infuriating, since Wilson has updated his understanding of science over the years, while Dawkins has treated science like a religion, refusing to accept any changes since the 1970s, despite the overwhelming evidence presented to him (e.g. epigenetics). However, even though Wilson's critical thinking and scientific investigation is holding up, his writing is not. This book tries to do great and worthwhile things, but it is a chore to read. It would probably be a very good idea for Wilson to collaborate on future books with a younger colleague who excels at writing for the general public. That was his ideas can still make their way to the public but they will be better organized and far more enjoyable to read.

This a 2 star book, but can't bring myself to give it less than 3. ...more

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Apr 22, 2016 Mary rated it really liked it

Shelves: science

Edward O. Wilson, famed scientist, is a favorite author of mine. In his latest book, Half-Earth, he describes what humans need to do to save our planet. He describes the interrelatedness and interdependence, the balance, keeping all varieties of plants and animals thriving or vanishing in certain environments

He also describes the efforts of two wealthy men to return a couple of locations on earth back into a balanced environment. He points out that there are still unspoiled areas of the world. ...more

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