THE BIG RATCHET: How Humanity Thrives in the Face of Natural Crisis: A Biography of an Ingenious Species.
Language: English
Published by Basic Books / Perseus, New York, 2014
- First Edition
- Hardcover
- Used
Seller: Bookfever, IOBA (Volk & Iiams), Ione, CA, U.S.A.Bookfever, IOBA (Volk & Iiams)
AbeBooks seller since November 6, 1997
Condition: Used - Fine
US$ 25.00
Quantity: 1 available
Add to basketItem description from seller
First printing. A provocative look at the forces that have enabled man to move from being just another mammal to the dominant force on earth by this MacArthur award winning environmental biologist. The change has been rapid - "In 1950, there were 2.5 billion of us, only 30 percent of which lived in cities. Today there are nearly 7 billion of us, and more than 50 percent of us live in cities. By 2050, there will be 9 billion humans, with 70 percent of us in cities. Yet humanity's footprint on the planet has expanded exponentially in the last century. Each manipulation of nature increased the amount of food our species could produce. The result is the Big Ratchet of the twentieth century, and today's explosion of mouths to feed, meat-laden diets, overcrowded cities, and the irony of overweight populations with too much food in some countries, while others starve." Illustrated with small drawings and graphs. Notes, references, index. xii, 273 pp. Fine in fine dust jacket (a new copy.).
Seller Inventory # 72719
- Title
- THE BIG RATCHET: How Humanity Thrives in the Face of Natural Crisis: A Biography of an Ingenious Species.
- Author
- DeFries, Ruth
- Publisher
- Basic Books / Perseus, New York
- Publication year
- 2014
- Condition
- FINE
- Dust jacket
- Dust Jacket Included
- Binding
- Hardcover
- Language
- English
- ISBN 10
- 0465044972
- ISBN 13
- 9780465044979
- Edition
- 1st Edition
- Seller catalogs
- Nature and the Environment
Our species long lived on the edge of starvation. Now we produce enough food for all 7 billion of us to eat nearly 3,000 calories every day. This is such an astonishing thing in the history of life as to verge on the miraculous. The Big Ratchet is the story of how it happened, of the ratchets -- the technologies and innovations, big and small -- that propelled our species from hunters and gatherers on the savannahs of Africa to shoppers in the aisles of the supermarket.
The Big Ratchet itself came in the twentieth century, when a range of technologies -- from fossil fuels to scientific plant breeding to nitrogen fertilizers -- combined to nearly quadruple our population in a century, and to grow our food supply even faster. To some, these technologies are a sign of our greatness; to others, of our hubris. MacArthur fellow and Columbia University professor Ruth DeFries argues that the debate is the wrong one to have. Limits do exist, but every limit that has confronted us, we have surpassed. That cycle of crisis and growth is the story of our history; indeed, it is the essence of The Big Ratchet. Understanding it will reveal not just how we reached this point in our history, but how we might survive it.
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About the Author
"About the title" may belong to another edition of this title.
Bookfever, IOBA (Volk & Iiams)
Ione, CA, U.S.A.
Shipping rates within U.S.A.
| Item | 5 to 13 business days | 2 to 6 business days |
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Bookfever.com - the name used by Volk and Iiams, Booksellers- specializes in first editions of twentieth century literature, with an emphasis on women authors, African American, Native American and Latin American authors - plus mystery & detective fiction, science fiction & fantasy, poetry and children's & illustrated books. We try to offer many uncommon books, and have a large selection of first books, and books by authors who are less frequently collected. Of the approximately 60,000 volumes in stock, the majority are hardcover first editions, although we also stock vintage science fiction paperbacks as well as sf digests and pulps. We also have a large selection of books signed by the author and uncorrected proof copies. Only about 50% of our stock is catalogued, so please inquire if you are searching for specific titles. We have been selling books by mail order and on the internet since 1993. We have a large booth dedicated to books (called Books Upstairs) at the Antiques Upstairs Mall, 5 Main Street, Jackson, CA. (open every day from 10-5) The emphasis there is on Western Americana, children¿s books and inexpensive reading copies. In 1998 we relocated our main business from Sacramento to the Sierra foothills of Amador County, about 35 miles east of downtown Sacramento and between Ione & Sutter Creek. There, on 10 acres of rolling oak-covered hills, we built a "bookhouse" for our books. Call us at 209-274-6960 or contact us by email heyyou@bookfever.com) Our web page is https://bookfever.com/ Traditional bookseller grading used - fine is our highest grade (an "A"), very good is above average (a "B), good is average (a "C"). All significant flaws are described; dust jackets are protected by archival covers, and books are packed carefully for shipping. We welcome questions by email or phone.…
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children's, magazines, pulps, sf digests, poetry, Asian American & Native American literature, Latin American, African American lit & history, horror, fantasy, science fiction, detective fiction, mysteries, women authors, modern firsts, signed booksAssociation member
Seller's business information
Bookfever.com
6638 Tonzi Rd
Ione, CA U.S.A. 95640
Terms of sale
Bookfever.com is a partnership between Christine Volk and Eugene Iiams, Booksellers. Our mailing address is PO Box 696, Ione CA 95640 USA. Our store - Books Upstairs - is located at 5 Main Street, Jackson, CA 95642 USA. Email: chris@bookfever.com. Phone: 209-274-6960. All dustjackets are in archival mylar covers, and books are packed carefully for shipping. We do not use stock photos. All pictures accompanying our listings are of our books. We accept Mastercard, Visa AMEX, Discover, checks or Paypal, whichever is most convenient for customers. Please contact us if you have any questions, or want to confirm availability. If you are not satisfied with your purchase, books in same condition as shipped may be returned for any reason within 10 days (please notify us first for approval.) Member of IOBA, CALIBA. Booksellers since 1993, on ABE since 1997! Libraries and other institutions may be invoiced, upon request. Reciprocal courtesy trade discounts extended and institutional discounts offered. Sales tax is charged on orders shipped to California addresses.
Shipping terms
Low cost media mail shipping in the US with delivery confirmation and insurance when appropriate. ALL dust jackets are covered with archival protectors. All books are PACKED CAREFULLY; we are also happy to gift wrap books (FREE) upon request, and to ship them with just a card. An online bookseller since 1993, on ABE since 1997! While occasionally a book sells out, we only list books which we have in stock, and ready to ship. NOTE our low PRIORITY and INTERNATIONAL RATES - Please do not hesitate to contact us to confirm availability or with any questions - we can be reached at heyyou@bookfever.com or at 209*274*6960. Reciprocal terms offered to the trade on direct orders only. Libraries and other institutions may request to be invoiced.