Next One Hundred Years, The [Paperback]

Jonathan Weiner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 1991

Through interviews with earth scientists and ecologists, Weiner (Planet Earth) takes readers to the forefront of the rapidly evolving field of global ecology. We see how the greenhouse effect, whereby gases and pollutants trapped in the earth's atmosphere contribute to planetary warming, may be linked to the thinning of the ozone shield protecting us and to the extinction of growing numbers of species. Scientists interviewed address population pressures on fragile ecosystems, effects of radioactive wastes, the Gaia hypothesis of earth as a living organism. Weiner guides us up the slopes of a Hawaiian volcano and inside dwindling Brazilian rain forests. His narrative brings a light, colloquial touch to an ominous subject

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Through interviews with earth scientists and ecologists, Weiner ( Planet Earth ) takes readers to the forefront of the rapidly evolving field of global ecology. We see how the greenhouse effect, whereby gases and pollutants trapped in the earth's atmosphere contribute to planetary warming, may be linked to the thinning of the ozone shield protecting us and to the extinction of growing numbers of species. Scientists interviewed address population pressures on fragile ecosystems, effects of radioactive wastes, the Gaia hypothesis of earth as a living organism. Weiner guides us up the slopes of a Hawaiian volcano and inside dwindling Brazilian rain forests. His narrative brings a light, colloquial touch to an ominous subject.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal

This book is one of the recent crop that has rung the alarm about global greenhouse warming. Brief attention is also paid to habitat destruction and the Gaia hypothesis of Earth as a self-adjusting organism. The most striking aspect of this book is the care Weiner takes to outline the inevitable uncertainties in our knowledge about nature, which may undermine needed prevention efforts in the next several decades. The narrative is somewhat choppy, and small errors of fact and emphasis occur, especially on the Gaia hypothesis and the potential for solutions. The latter, despite unavoidable uncertainties, deserves more sustained discussion. But this book's merits far outweigh its flaws; recommended.
-Branden B. Johnson, Columbia
Copyright 1990 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 312 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; book club edition edition (February 1, 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553352288
• ISBN-13: 978-0553352283
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,319,807 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Still outstanding, April 10, 2004

By 

Ole Ole (Beuren) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Next One Hundred Years, The (Paperback)

Even today this book is the best read on the subject, I found so far. Concise, insightful yet entertaining, as in the hunt for (better: discovery of) the Keiling curve for CO2 concentration in the atmosphere - involving locations around the world and "peaking" in Hawaii. I also found it a fair treatment, giving some of the difficulties that the study of climate change is facing scientifically and politically. The emphasis is on science, thankfully. Jonathan Weiner learnt and teaches a lot through this book. Such as that global warming is a very slow process and manifests itself more in extremes and indeed will take yet another 20, 50 to 100 years until nature will prove the adherents or shock the skeptics of global warming. (Too late then.)
The action film "The Day After Tomorrow" due out in mid 2004 is a simplified, well meant dramatization of this subject. I recommend that you read this book before seeing the film and you will know the facts and then can enjoy the film even more (and smile and shake your head the wiser for it). Will take you a couple of feature film lengths to read this book, and fortunately the book is available via the indirect sellers on amazon.com.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "The Next One Hundred Years..." is Essential, February 8, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: The Next One Hundred Years: Shaping the Fate of Our Living Earth (Hardcover)

Jonathan Weiner's book concerning the Earth and its biosphere and what is imperiled by the major increases in the burning of fossil fuels and the destruction of natural resources is one of the most important books for Ecologists, Environmentalists and leaders from all walks of life to read. This book allows the layman with a rudimentary science background to grasp the fundamental scientific facts supporting global warming. It tries to cover many different indications of global warming, from air bubbles frozen for thousands of years in Antartica to ocean temperatures, ground temperatures, carbon monitoring, and many other points of evidence. It introduces one to the history of the exploration of this phenomenon, giving a kind of personal tour of each major discovery and what its implications are. It incorporates actual weather disasters such as the drought of 1988 and how it affected farmers, people, politicians and news reporting. It takes you on the scene to the places where atmospheric composition is being carefully monitored. It covers the full range of toxic gases and what their build up could mean in the future. Most importantly, it describes the interelationship between toxic gases and air polution. In general, it seems to have a more detailed view of global warming than other books on the same topic.
Finally, it leaves you with little doubt that time is running out, and something must be done, sooner rather than later. This book should not become out of print, and should be read by leaders the world over. It resolves the ambiguities surrounding the global warming controversy.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Provocative and insightful glimpse into earth's future, March 12, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Next One Hundred Years: Shaping the Fate of Our Living Earth (Hardcover)

Although nearly 10 years old this book is a very readable popular science assessment of the plight of our planet. It provides a provocative view of the forces that will shape our environment in the 21st century. I was inspired to begin collecting information on climate change that might one day form the basis of book of my own.