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Tim Flannery

Here on Earth: A Natural History of the Planet Hardcover – April 5, 2011

by Tim Flannery (Author)

113 ratings

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Print length

288 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Atlantic Monthly Press
Publication date

April 5, 2011
Dimensions

6.25 x 1.5 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

080211976X
ISBN-13

978-0802119766
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers.

An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and many books. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers, which has been translated into more than 20 languages and in 2006 won the NSW Premier’s Literary Prizes for Best Critical Writing and Book of the Year.

He received a Centenary of Federation Medal for his services to Australian science and in 2002 delivered the Australia Day address. In 2005 he was named Australian Humanist of the Year, and in 2007 honoured as Australian of the Year.

He spent a year teaching at Harvard, and is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the National Geographic Society’s representative in Australasia. He serves on the board of WWF International (London and Gland) and on the sustainability advisory councils of Siemens (Munich) and Tata Power (Mumbai).

In 2007 he co-founded and was appointed Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a coalition of community, business, and political leaders who came together to confront climate change.

Tim Flannery is currently Professor of Science at Maquarie University, Sydney.

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Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Atlantic Monthly Press; First Edition (April 5, 2011)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 080211976X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0802119766
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1.25 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.25 x 1.5 x 9 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #1,795,373 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #67 in Historical Geology
- #1,780 in Environmental Policy
- #1,944 in Natural History (Books)

Customer Reviews:
113 ratings

Customer reviews

5 star		59%
4 star		22%
3 star		7%
2 star		10%
1 star		3%

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Top reviews from the United States

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Reviewer

NOT a natural history of the earth.

Reviewed in the United States on June 24, 2020

Verified Purchase

I rarely write reviews on products or books but I feel compelled to do so here. Perhaps it’s my fault, but the title, subtitle, and description of this book amount to a tremendous bait and switch. This book is not a natural history of the earth (it does briefly touch on that subject, but only lightly), rather it is an argument (at times persuasive, at times naive, at times somewhat divorced from reality) that the earth and all its creatures form a super-organism.

I might have chosen to read such a book... but I didn’t choose to read this one. Easily 80% of this book addresses human impact on the ecosystem since the industrial revolution... a “natural history of the earth” that focuses nearly exclusively on the post-industrial era is no natural history of the earth.

If you want to read an argument for greater sustainability and environmental responsibility (with a little bit of game theory and an all too pervasive and unfortunate level of adulation for Jared Diamond thrown in), this might be the book for you—although it’s acceptance at face value that history is a linear forward progression (the end of history hypothesis) is a bit too much for me.

42 people found this helpful

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Marty G. Price

An inquiry

Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2013

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Five stars may be pushing it, but the book is underrated here due to the input of various reviewers who either: thought it was a book *about* natural history (blame the publisher, that subtitle is bad); or had to toss in their two cents as climate change deniers; or were like the kook who set about denying evolution. I delayed purchasing the book because of that unfortunate low rating.

The book is an inquiry, a great open question -- is humanity becoming a super-organism and finding its place on the planet, or is humanity a cancer eating away at the fabric of the planet? In pursuing this general inquiry, Flannery provides a range of facts -- but they stand as examples or arguments regarding certain specifics of our brief, tumultuous appearance on earth, not as complete claims regarding the state of the planet. It is a small book; it just deals with the human sphere and it scarcely touches on the art and science that provides an aesthetic justification for our existence.

Instead the focus is -- Are we bad for the planet? Yes! at least in the short term. Are we inherently bad for the planet, so bad we will prove the ruin of ourselves and of the planet as a living, life-producing entity? Not necessarily. Elements in ourselves, our ability to form societies, suggest we are capable of the level of cooperation required to make us a symbiotic element of the swirling, changing ecosphere.

The earth is out-of-balance, but the earth is always out-of-balance. The only things 'in-balance' are dead. So what are we, with our recent vast influence on the planet? Dangerous disease? Lethal disease? Or just our changing selves on a live (therefore changing) planet? Flannery provides fodder for rumination, with abundant reminders that we are powerful little creatures -- dangerously powerful -- stumbling through the 'interesting times' we have created.

81 people found this helpful

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Jean in Wisconsin

How and Why We Got This Way

Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2014

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This is a history of early man to present day. It is interesting and easy to read.This is the story of how we have been decimating the planet from the beginning. I thought of our hunter/gatherer days as a time when man was in sync with nature, but no. Even then people were systematic killers/destroyers without a thought for tomorrow. The author wraps up his history lesson with a summary of the wonderful things that technology and science have given us. It is now possible that this knowledge will save us and the planet. It is possible but, in view of what we are, it seems more unlikely than ever that we will use our knowledge to save our world. So in that way the book is a bit of a downer. But if you are interested in some clues as to where we are heading, than you will appreciate this book.

15 people found this helpful

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hunter42

an "all in one" book

Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2013

Verified Purchase

i had read this book from my local library before i ordered it from amazon. i ordered it because i wanted my grandkids to have an opportunity to read it when they get a bit older. it's a great compendium of where the planet and life has been, its current status and prognosis for the generations which lie ahead. it's a discourse on evolution presented in short vignettes and provides insight on our planet's vulnerabilities and presents an outline for responsible actions on the part of the human species....all in one book. what more could a reader ask for? i order books that i think are "keepers" and this one fits that billing. Flannery hit a home run. PK

12 people found this helpful

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Herbert Close, Jr.

It's a great book.

Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2019

Verified Purchase

Very informitive.

3 people found this helpful

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John Rumpf

Not recommended

Reviewed in the United States on September 15, 2011

Verified Purchase

As many have noted, the title is completely misleading. However, since I did read some reviews prior, I bought it knowing this would be the case. I saw him speak on Book TV, so thought it might be interesting.

It wasn't.

I was expecting a science book with objective information leading the author to a logical conclusion. It didn't feel that way. It felt like a personal philosophy. The goal was to convince us that the earth itself is an actual living entity. The science part was references to others work without explaining in sufficient detail, just what that was.

I should have kept notes so I could add examples here, but too many statements seemed, confusing, incorrect, misleading, or just pouring superlatives on one of his favored idols like Wallace. Not interested enough to go back and look up those passages now.

The only redeeming quality is that it did make me think more about just exactly what is life. But overall, the main reason I didn't like it wasn't the message, I just felt it was sloppy. Arguments were not crisp, concise and clear. I don't think he made his point well.

I would say skip this one.

36 people found this helpful

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Kindle Customer

comprehensive

Reviewed in the United States on February 29, 2020

Verified Purchase

Comprehensive and well written.

4 people found this helpful

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ELIZABETH

MUCH TO THINK ABOUT

Reviewed in the United States on September 14, 2016