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A Moment on the Earth: The Coming Age of Environmental Optimism [Paperback]

Gregg Easterbrook
3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)


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Book Description

March 1, 1996
Greg Easterbrook's "A Moment on the Earth" proclaims a revolution in environmental thinking. Instead of the dogged pessimism of the past, the author charts a new course towards the positive in environmental events.

One of the most striking features of "A Moment on the Earth" is Easterbrook's sense that nature's perspective is the essential ingredient missing from modern environmental thought. In the first section of the book Easterbrook draws upon biology, geology, and environmental theory to show how the flow of life appears from nature's point of view.

Part Two of the book analyzes, persuasive detail, every major environmental issue of our time - from energy, forests, and population, to radiation, toxic waste, and water-separating. Those environmental alarms that have been genuine from those that have been exaggerated.


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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

This is a well-documented examination of the effects of human society on the global environment. Easterbrook's conclusion: Things are getting better, not worse. Not surprisingly, this book has generated considerable controversy in many circles of environmentalists and ecologists, and many of his arguments only apply to overly-developed nations. For example, he stumbles badly when dealing with tropical rainforests, completely ignoring the fact that clearcutting in tropical environments leads to essentially irreversible loss of soils and a sterile clay pan. But all in all, I recommend this book highly to everyone interested in the proper interpretation of long-term ecological trends. In my opinion, he is as often right as wrong, and habitual doomsday-sayers would do well to seriously consider and possibly adopt some of his positions on ecorealism.

From Publishers Weekly

Journalist Easterbrook's optimistic account of humanity's impact on the environment, in which he argues against ecological doomsayers.
Copyright 1996 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 768 pages
  • Publisher: Penguin Books (March 1, 1996)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0140154515
  • ISBN-13: 978-0140154511
  • Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 1.5 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
  • Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,860,280 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I was born in Buffalo, New York, to parents who were naturalized Canadians. I'm a graduate of Colorado College and a lover of the Rocky Mountains region throughout North America. Because my wife was until recently as U.S. foreign service officer, I've lived in countries including Pakistan and Belgium. I wish there was still a little family-owned patisserie in walking distance from my house like there was in Brussels. My character flaw is that I watch too much football.

Customer Reviews

3.6 out of 5 stars
(12)
3.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 6 people found the following review helpful
3.0 out of 5 stars educational, yet uneven November 3, 2008
Format:Paperback
Easterbrook was a journalist who covered environmental topics. He grouped many together into 38 chapters within a sprawling 700 page book. This must have entailed a great deal of work. As a journalist, he writes in an accessible style. He likes to surprise; Easterbrook likes to argue real risks are often less compelling than made out to be. His generally optimistic outlook is sure to be disliked by some, because environmental issues rely at root on alarm.
Overall, the book contains some valuable perspectives and insights, though is of mixed quality. For instance, chapter 14 discusses chemical risks. Easterbrook mentions Alice Ottoboni's view that dose and exposure determine the body's responses to chemicals, regardless of whether the substance is synthetic or natural. He mentions the insights of Bruce Ames and Lois Gold that thousands of chemicals, natural and synthetic, are carcinogens. "Cancer risks from common foods are much greater than from synthetic chemicals for the simple reason that exposure to common foods and everyday activities is higher." Nonetheless Easterbrook offers his opinion that "zero toxic discharge will be the standard for developed nations." If all molecules are toxic at some dose, as they are, this prophecy seems odd,at variance with the cited teachings of Gold and Ottoboni. The environment is chemically complex, abounding with detectable pollutants at ultra low levels. In an eco-realistic vision, Easterbrook suggests "almost every pollution issue will be resolved." This optimistic prophecy is as implausible as it is unexplained.
Nonetheless, this is a useful book, because of breadth, accessibility, and some provocative perspectives. One such perspective is the humbling enormities of time and Natural forces. Set against these, our moments on earth are brief and our environmental impacts are sometimes less consequential than some fear them to be.
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39 of 57 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Ignore Paul Ehrlich January 17, 2000
By A Customer
Format:Paperback
I saw an earlier review that quoted Paul Ehrlich as saying that this book is filled with bad science and shoddy writing. Not that Ehrlich is in any position to talk. He predicted that widespread famine due to overpopulation would occur in 1975. Did it? No. In fact, Ehrlich made a bet with Julian Simon about 10 years ago that the price of every raw material would skyrocket within ten years. Paul Ehrlich lost the bet, as prices in almost every area went down. Folks, don't listen to Ehrlich. Get this. This is a good read.
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1 of 2 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing insight July 14, 2010
By Buck
Format:Paperback
This book is a real eye opener and puts the entire environmental debate into a new perspective - that of nature. It is only man's conceit that leads us to believe the doom and gloomers who would have us running from our own shadows.

While constantly advising to do no harm, Easterbrook makes it clear, man is not the environment-destroying, earth-wrecking machine we have been told. Highly recommend if you want to be informed about global warming, CO2, species extinction and other eco issues.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars The Case that the Environment is getting better
Highly recommended for serious students of environmental policy. Easterbrook is one of the recognized experts - and founding thinkers - on environmental optimism. Read more
Published on February 2, 2004
4.0 out of 5 stars great for me
I can see how those who are wrapped up in conservationism dislike this book, it shows them in a terrible light. Read more
Published on December 1, 2003 by Eric Falkenstein
2.0 out of 5 stars Generally very silly and misguided
My sense from reading this book is neither that Easterbrook is a purposefully misleading, nor that he is particularly insightful. Read more
Published on November 30, 2003
4.0 out of 5 stars Finally some relief...
Finally, there is a realistic view of the world. No longer does society have to feel "guilty" over all that has transpired since mankind began popluating the Mother... Read more
Published on October 17, 2003 by Fred
4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent large-scale review of environmental issues.
Easterbrook may make a few errors and his writing style may not suit all, but I found this book to be enlightening and an excellent essay on the big picture in environmentalism... Read more
Published on October 9, 2000 by Douglas W. Foster
1.0 out of 5 stars Eco-non realism for beginners
Easterbrooks book, while possessing an upbeat outlook on environmental matters, reveals all the hallmarks of a book written by someone with little insight and knowledge of... Read more
Published on July 6, 1999
5.0 out of 5 stars A diversafied view of environmental conservationism!
I found that this book presented a more well rounded perspective of our environement. It is not writen from a conservationists view, but rather in a more open minded analytical... Read more
Published on December 4, 1998 by Adrian M Anhood
4.0 out of 5 stars Presents very interesting points about environmental thought
Easterbrook, while still maintaing a pro-environmental stance, points out the flaws of modern eco-philosophy. Read more
Published on August 23, 1998
1.0 out of 5 stars More aptly titled, "The Coming Age of Imbecility."


Let me quote Paul Erlich, a Stanford professor who is well-respected in the environmental community:


"A Moment on earth contains so many serious errors... Read more

Published on January 7, 1997
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