Our Endangered Earth : Our Fragile Environment and What We Can Do to Save It

Discusses the environmental crisis, focusing on such problems as overpopulation, the pollution of water, air and land, ozone depletion, global warming, and disappearing wildlife. Suggests ways to improve life in the twenty-first century.

Grade 9 Up-- In 11 chapters of clear, understandable, documented exposition, Langone presents environmental problems from ``Too Many Chemicals'' to the generation, misuse, and overuse of energy. Each chapter has the same structure: first, a discussion of ``The Problem'' and then ``Some Solutions.'' What distinguishes this volume from many others on the topic is the lack of fictionalizing and ranting (although some readers will wish he'd decked the greedy people who have gotten rich at the expense of the environment). Almost all sources cited are from 1989 and 1990, and almost all are from fairly accessible periodicals and newspapers such as Time, Commonweal, New Scientist, New York Times, and Christian Science Monitor . Langone's work is a much-needed primer on what's happening to poison or destroy our world and ourselves. Every library should have at least one copy. --George Gleason, Department of English, Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield
Copyright 1992 Reed Business Information, Inc.

A sobering attempt to present a more ``balanced'' view of the dangers to life on Earth than environmentalists' accounts: Langone recognizes the seriousness of problems but presents basically industrial-oriented perspectives and partial solutions. His central argument is that ``economic needs and a country's best interests must be balanced with the need to protect the environment.'' He covers most of the big issues: chemicals, noise, air and water pollution, solid waste, nuclear waste, heat pollution, deforestation, threatened wildlife, poverty and overpopulation, energy. In most cases he fairly represents the conflict between economic interests and environmental protection (aside from a few red herrings like environmentalist ``violence''). But the problem here is lack of vision: the suggested solutions derive from the policies that got us where we are, and, given the magnitude of the problems, most of them seem like grasping at straws; few of Langone's proposals involve people living differently in the future. He does recognize vital concepts like the ``web of life'' that makes a forest more than the sum of its parts; reflecting on these may lead readers to come up with more imaginative and effective solutions. The ``Opposing Viewpoints'' series presents the debates better, but this does give an overall view in digestible form. Just be sure to provide more stimulating viewpoints for those who want to know more. Detailed source notes; glossary; index. (Nonfiction. 12+) -- Copyright ©1991, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.