The Fragile Earth (Earth at Risk)

An examination of the earth's atmosphere and its effects on living things

Well stated current wisdom on the environmental crisis. Effectively answering the question, ``Why be concerned with environmental problems?'', Amdur presents a mainstream scientific/environmentalist perspective on dangers to life on Earth. Devoting more than half the book to theories of how the Earth was formed and how life appeared and evolved, he goes on to show how human industries have ``plundered'' the planet, with now-familiar results: pollution, resource depletion, and the accelerated loss of species now threaten the very lives that were to have been improved by industrialization. Repeatedly emphasizing the fragility of the complex balance of conditions necessary to sustain life as we know it, Amdur also tackles such difficult social problems as rich countries dictating ``solutions'' to poor ones and the continuing menace of nuclear weapons. Pro-business views are scanted, but scientists will appreciate the breadth of coverage and effective inter-relating of issues. Utilitarian b&w photos; list of environmental organizations; metric conversion table; bibliography; glossary; index. (Nonfiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1993, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Gr. 9-12. In 92 densely packed pages, Amdur attempts to present the origin of the universe, an explanation of the interdependence of all life, and the reasons we must be ecologically aware and develop a sound strategy for environmental regulation. The introduction, by Russell Train (former EPA administrator and current chair of the World Wildlife Fund), clearly sketches out our current path toward environmental suicide. From this scenario, Amdur segues into an explanation of the big bang theory, the evolution of life on earth, and the plundering of the earth's natural resources, emphasizing that scientists are only now beginning to understand the delicate balance of life and the ease with which human beings can be the agents of their own extinction. The complex topic is presented in generally understandable terms, but the book's design is intimidating, with large blocks of text and poorly reproduced black-and-white photographs. Even so, this will be a useful addition to large collections as it cogently presents information on a subject sure to be a hot topic for reports and science projects. Janice Del Negro