Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth (Speaker's Corner) [Hardcover]

Larry J. Schweiger (Author), Theodore Roosevelt IV (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Speaker's Corner | Publication Date: September 1, 2009

"This is an unabashed call to each and every American to moral duty for the future of life on earth," begins National Wildlife Federation president and CEO Larry J. Schweiger in this stirring exposé and call to action. Speaking to us not just as a conservation leader but also as an outdoor lover and a parent, Schweiger describes the causes and effects of global warming on our wildlife, ecosystems, and human life as we know it.

With an engaging, down-to-earth tone (and a dash of wit; e.g., "What Happens in Greenland Will Not Stay in Greenland"), Schweiger breaks down the science behind our looming environmental catastrophe. Not letting go of hope, he also offers practical solutions and proposes a plan of action for everyday citizens. Last Chance will inspire each of us to take part in restoring the vital connection to our natural world before it's too late.

Larry J. Schweiger is president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, the United States' largest conservation organization. He also serves as co-chair of the board of directors of the Alliance for Climate Protection and has received many awards for his conservation efforts, including the Distinguished Service Award from the National Wildlife Federation and the Conservation Service Award from the Christian Environmental Association.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Americans need to realize that the threat from global warming is real and they need to support green-energy options, the head of a national wildlife organization said Thursday. Larry J. Schweiger, president and chief executive of the National Wildlife Federation with 4 million members, sais that "the world is in a very dangerous place" and too many Americans are unaware of the potential consequences. Schweiger said that he was not trying to be an alarmist but the science of global warming- more than 10,000 studies in all, he said- is "alarming...and a very disturbing trend." "It's not conjecture on my part," he said. "It's real science." If Americans continue to rely heavily on oil and gas, the threat of global warming grows, but those consequences will be less severe if people move toward green-energy options, including solar, wind and geothermal, said Schweiger, author of a new book, "Last Chance: Saving Life on Earth." Global warming will have a big effect on wildlife, too, Schweiger said. Between 20 and 30 percent of animal and plant species are at risk if annual average temperature increases 2.2 to 4 degrees. If the temperature increases by more than 7.2 degrees, the world would lose 40 to 70 percent of its species, he said. Schweiger asks us to support the American Clean Energy Act, which soon will be up for debate in the Senate, and called for American support for an international agreement on climate change in Denmark later this year. --Akron Beacon Journal (August 21, 2009) of Akron, OH by Bob Downing

About the Author

Larry Schweiger is president and CEO of the National Wildlife Federation, America's largest conservation organization. He also serves as co-chair of the board of directors of the Alliance for Climate Protection and has received many awards for his conservation efforts, including the Distinguished Service Award from the National Wildlife Federation, and the Conservation Service Award from the Christian Environmental Association.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Fulcrum Publishing (September 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1555917178
• ISBN-13: 978-1555917173
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #399,605 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent read on the impact of politics on science, September 3, 2009

By 

ForwardProgress - See all my reviews

This review is from: Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth (Speaker's Corner) (Hardcover)

When a friend asked me: "Yes but what can I do? It's *global* warming, after all," I recommended she read "Last Chance, Preserving Life on Earth." Yes, the title is daunting, but I just finished it, and this book is so readable. The author, Larry J. Schweiger, weaves his life journey through the three major parts of his book, and makes the case based on his own ethics. "Global warming will harm children on the right as well as those on the left," he writes. And then he tells readers what to do about it. "Last Chance" is an excellent contemporary read on the impact of politics on science, all in a human-sized proportion. It's about what's going on at levels greater than the reader, but, even more important, the author gives readers a role to play. We know there are problems, but don't quite know how to respond. This book is a great guide to our personal response to climate change. It includes sections called, "What You Can Do," loaded with practical, do-able actions that anyone - a child, parent or grand-parent -- can take.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I recommend this book wholeheartedly!, September 11, 2009

By 

Snack Pup "Snack Pup" (Bethesda, MD) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth (Speaker's Corner) (Hardcover)

Global warming is an issue that is upon us. It is overwhelming, complex, and demands swift and serious responses from every government, business and citizen of the world. Larry Schweiger's book is accessible, informative and personal. If you are interested in learning more about the issue and what you and your family or business can do to help stem the advance of global warming, buy this book and read it. If you want to multiply your impact, but an extra copy and give it to a friend or family member. I've read many books on global warming, and this is one of the most readable and helpful books out there on the topic.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This may really be our Last Chance., September 22, 2009

By 

Craig D. Thompson (Rock Springs, WY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Last Chance: Preserving Life on Earth (Speaker's Corner) (Hardcover)

"It is with our heads that we must think and ponder, while it is with our hearts that we muster courage to act boldly when loved ones are at risk."
Larry Schweiger - LAST CHANCE

Larry Schweiger is a much respected environmental leader. He is known for taking on epic battles. Global climate change is certainly the largest battle of our times. In LAST CHANCE the battle lines are clear - they extend from every human to the systems that sustain life on earth. While the complexity of climatic variables like feedback effects are imperfectly known, climate scientists are overwhelmingly and alarmingly of one mind - humanity is in trouble. Many of my colleagues in the science community believe it is the scientist's job to report the facts and nothing but the facts. But what is the scientist to do when the preponderance of evidence clearly suggests that the planet is in trouble? Schweiger's book provides the answer. It is time for everyone to act - the scientist, the politician, the consumer, the activist, the parent and every person interested in a sustainable future. It may well be our last chance.
I finished reading Larry's book last night. It is the optimum mix of precise science, engaging storytelling, political history, and above all the orbital view required to see the critical interconnections of planetary systems. Lest anyone still believe that global climate change will result in simple sea level rise and more storms in the coastal regions, Larry documents the fundamental disruptions that will rip the ecosystem anchors from their complex moorings. These disruptions will leave no major ecosystem intact.
For years, I have been mystified why the science is so clear and yet 53% of Wyoming citizens [my home state] still don't see the connections between their extravagant energy use and the melting glaciers of the Wind River Range. This book explains the mystery.
What a writer! What a book! Last Chance is not just another pessimistic environmental diatribe but an action guide that conveys optimism and direction. Absent from most of the debate on global climate change is hope for our children. LAST CHANCE heralds the hope for our children and a sustainable biosphere. The denizens of denial will realize the truth and power in this book. It is our responsibility to first spread this message as far and as wide as we can.