Dead Mars, Dying Earth (Hardcover)

~ John E. Brandenberg (Author), Monica Rix Paxson (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Is our planet's condition terminal? Whether or not you have faith in the mounting scientific evidence pointing toward potentially catastrophic effects of our atmospheric meddling, you must admit that if the prophets are right, we'd better learn to breathe carbon dioxide in a hurry. Physicist John E. Brandenburg and science writer Monica Rix Paxson warn that our big blue marble might become just another cold dead rock in Dead Mars, Dying Earth, a parallel study of our history and our neighbor's, drawing on the information amassed over decades of scientific research and exploration. The writing is florid, even a bit messianic at times, but the writers believe that our time is limited and that we must immediately stop deforestation and dependence on fossil fuel if we want our species to make it more than a few generations. Despite bringing in some unnecessary and controversial "evidence" (did they really need to tout the face on Mars to make their case for global warming?), they still make a compelling case that life did exist on Mars but was extinguished by an out-of-control greenhouse effect. Refreshingly, they suggest that we fight science with science, arguing that fusion power and space exploration are crucial to our continuing survival. This may be the argument that sways the nervous conservatives who fear economic recession or worse if we heed the environmentalists' call to action. If so, Dead Mars, Dying Earth could be the 21st century's Silent Spring. --Rob Lightner

Review

"Is Dead Mars, Dying Earth another one of those books that pokes a finger right in your chest on the first page and then, ...pushes you, the reader, into a corner of helplessness? Absolutely not. ...On the contrary... after a well reasoned, captivating and expansive discussion of Mars, the dilemma on Earth becomes chillingly clear: the history of Mars and Earth is "the history...of two planets, one dead, one dying."

..."These are thought processes that shake you up and illuminate the connections, dependencies and consequences of our actions. It is also the case that only rethinking can produce the transformation we must make, but rethinking cannot be accomplished with sledgehammer tactics; so instead the authors have very sensibly and carefully crafted this urgent scenario of Earths peril to read in parts like an engaging novel and a science fiction thriller--wild and just a bit other worldly... (Barbara Wegmann, reviewer Amazon.de (Germany)) -- Barbara Wegmann, reviewer Amazon.de, Germany

"This is ecological siren sounding on a cosmological scale, pitched at the non-scientist...[If] it is a writers job to inquire about the world, then Brandenburg and Paxson have a considerable success on their hands: a timely and very frightening book, but one so engaging, it is more likely to inspire us to help save the planet than sink usas more sober works too often dointo a cynical and useless despair."(Simon Ings, reviewer, Amazon.co.uk (United Kingdom)) -- (Simon Ings, reviewer, Amazon.co.uk, UK)

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 311 pages
• Publisher: Crossing Press; 1st edition (March 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580910661
• ISBN-13: 978-1580910668
• Product Dimensions: 9.7 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,416,435 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book of hope, June 27, 2000

By A Customer

Both authors have good credentials for writing this book.Brandeburg is a physicist, rocket scientist and Mars expert.Paxson is a writer and scientific editor.The book reads like a detective story, is well written and utterly engrossing.We follow the activities and ideas of Brandeburg as he puts together pieces of a disturbing jigsaw puzzle that is our greenhouse predicament.He has strong evidence that there was once life on Mars, and some castrophe caused all life there to be obliterated.He presents this as a warning to us here on Earth.The level of oxygen in our atmosphere is falling, while carbon dioxide is rising.Since 1750 carbon dioxide has risen 20%, half of this rise being in the last 50 years! Some people want to pump excess carbon dioxide into the oceans, but this is like sweeping your rubbish under the carpet.In 1986 a cloud of carbon dioxide rose from a lake in Cameroon, killing 1700 people."The signs are everywhere that things are out of balance.The hurricanes are stronger, the winters milder, the summers more ferocious, and the zones of human habitation are shrinking as the deserts spread." Parts of Africa are a sign of the times and of things to come, where ecological breakdown has led to social breakdown in many countries.The book paints a grim but realistic picture, with lots of hard hitting evidence of the dangers we face.But the authors have a positive message.We don't have to revert to a Stone Age primitive existence.We can replace the use of oil and coal with energy based on solar, wind and water power, and also fusion.More resources have to be directed to these areas.Trees are our life-line, and we need many more of them.The book puts forward practical and sensible solutions, being cause for hope and not despair.

27 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Destination: Space Reviews "Dead Mars, Dying Earth", March 22, 2000

By	"dianab93" (United States) - See all my reviews

Space exploration is often seen as the red headed step child by those in charge of the government's purse strings. Dead Mars, Dying Earth brings astute clarity to the needs for space science and why our current fascination with our neighboring planet is a worthwhile venture. For planet Earth to survive, we need only look next door to see how fragile our home world has become and how necessary it is for us to wake up and become responsible inhabitants.

If you only have time for one book this spring, read Dead Mars, Dying Earth. Not only does it shed light on the controversy surrounding the elusive red planet, but it also provides an inspiring plan -- through engaging tales as well as scientific fact -- on how to make the best of Earth in the years ahead.

Diana Botsford Producer/Host Destination: Space

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Great Book, May 2, 2000

By A Customer

Dead Mars, Dying Earth is one of the most inspiring, scary and, ultimately, energizing books I've ever read--a sort of boot camp for planetary transformation.

Also, it's not just another serious, boring science book. Even though the book's science is authoritative, it reads like a Hollywood script: One remarkable, true story after another draws you further and further into the recognition of how planets live and die and of just how much trouble our Earth is in. Then, after the plunge into the dark night of Earth's possible future, authors Brandenburg and Paxson pick you back up, tell you a couple wonderful stories and leave you stoked to manifest its eminently sensible solutions-- solutions which show how we can reverse our current global warming crisis with both planet AND economy intact.

So pick up Dead Mars, Dying Earth and get on with the great work ahead. After all, what could be more satisfying than safeguarding this beautiful, living planet as the haven for all you know and love?