Book Thoughts: The Human Age

The Human Age: The World Shaped by Us by Diane Ackerman

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The second book I've read by Ackerman ("The Zookeeper's Wife"), and I really enjoyed this book as well. In "The Human Age," Ackerman argues for calling the modern age we live in the Anthropocene Era, in recognition of the profound impact, both good and bad, that human kind has had on the planet. The effects of climate change, the current mass extinction, and the massive changes that human civilization causes to the planet, Ackerman argues, is a reason for suggesting that this age should be considered a new geological age.

But while Ackerman doesn't hold any punches when talking about humankind's failure as it regards the planet (hello industrial revolution and climate change), she also presents a persuasive case for how the same terrible powers of humanity in creating these crises can be brought to bear in solving them, and shares many stories of exciting innovations to try and balance our species' impact on the planet. Despite the amount of scientific knowledge that Ackerman provides, the book is nothing like a textbook, as Ackerman's writing is clear, descriptive, and at times, captivating.

Ackerman's conclusion, in which she states that, ". . . our mistakes are legion, but our imagination is immeasurable," summarizes well her thesis throughout the work. Informative read, without being cumbersome or draining, which is difficult to accomplish.



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