The Human Impact on the Natural Environment - 5th Edition [Paperback]

Andrew Goudie (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 4, 2000

The Human Impact on the Natural Environment has become the classic student text on how human activity has changed and continues to change the face of the Earth. The fifth edition maintains the structure of the previous editions as it examines the human role in natural processes and systems. Areas covered include animals, vegetation, soils, landforms, water, the atmosphere, and climate. The book also considers future implications, particularly global warming.The text and references of this edition have been updated throughout. The book includes new or expanded sections on species decline, pollution, sea level, ozone depletion, and climate change, as well as an expanded guide for further reading. It provides a comprehensive view of the major environmental issues facing the world today and gives students of the environment an essential introduction to the impact of humans on the Earth.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" The Human Impact is superb.... While accessible to beginning students, it is both instructive and inspiring to professionals. It is a treasure chest of research ideas." Stanley W. Trimble , University of California, Los Angeles

" The Human Impact is superb.... While accessible to beginning students, it is both instructive and inspiring to professionals. It is a treasure chest of research ideas." Stanley W. Trimble , University of California, Los Angeles

Review

"This is a splendid compendium of what we know and understand about environmental problems. The author is to be congratulated on a work that is suitable as a textbook or a supplementary reader for courses at all university levels." Quarterly Review of Biology (of a previous edition) <!--end-->

"Stimulating reading for geographers and all those interested in this vital aspect of human knowledge, and these are many people in a wide range of disciplines." Progress in Physical Geography (of a previous edition)

"A source of information to students at all levels, and for researchers a powerful inspiration for new research topics." Stanley W. Trimble, UCLA (of a previous edition)

"A well-illustrated textbook, it is a brilliantly concise examinations of just how much we are changing the world around us. A classic. Geography at its best." New Scientist (of a previous edition)

"In its 5th edition it keeps abreast with the exciting, impressive and often daunting issues around the human impact on our environment...It also represents a very good source of up to date visual teaching material in the form of maps, diagrams and tables, which can provides a good foundation for course material...As this book is becoming something of a classic, it has a significant role to play in changing the way in which we perceive our relationship with the natural environment." Frank Eckardt, University of Botswana

"This book, now in its fifth edition, is as fresh as when it first appeared two decades ago, but now much more robust. While it is first and foremost a textbook, it is also a stimulating review of the field... Sometimes friends and colleagues ask us just what is it that geographers do. You could do far worse than just handing them this book." Progress in Human Geography

"For all those who are interested in how humans have and are changing the face of the earth, The Human Impact has become something of a classic text ... Indeed, as a classic, it has an important part to play in colouring our perception of humans' relationship with the natural environment ... altogether readable, stimulating and instructive ... it is an essential textbook for all who are interested in human impacts on the environment." Scottish Geographical Journal<!--end--> --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 18 and up
  
• Paperback: 527 pages
• Publisher: The MIT Press; fifth edition edition (February 4, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0262571382
• ISBN-13: 978-0262571388
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.7 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,334,849 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Textbook coverage that doesn't read like a textbook, July 1, 2001

By 

silica2 "silica2" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Human Impact on the Natural Environment (Hardcover)

Goudie's book covers both past and present human impacts on every conceivable component of the Earth -- on vegetation, animals, landforms, soil, water, climate, and the atmosphere. One of the strengths of this book is, of course, the great breadth of the topics it covers. Another strength is the use of clear concrete examples, with plenty of maps, graphs, and other visual presentations of relevant information. And finally, and most importantly, this book stands out because of the clarity of the writing, which is straight-forward and devoid of both technical jargon and judgmental phrasing.

This would make a great textbook for a college course, and yet would also make a wonderful reference or pleasure reading book for the curious. Not many books can make such a claim!