The World Without Us
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From five minutes to five billion years: an astonishing
vision of Earth without humans
Picture a world from which we all suddenly disappeared.
Tomorrow. Noted journalist and professor Alan Weisman does just this in a book
that is a tour de force of investigative writing and unputdownable reading.
The World Without Us
examines what would happen in both the immediate
and distant future to the land, the animals (guess what? cockroaches would not
survive for long), the oceans, our cities, our art and all manner of things we
take for granted. Would the seas again teem with fish? Would our concrete
jungles crumble into natural ones? How long, if ever, would it take for our
collective footprint to fade away?
Examining the minute, fascinating
details of how things deteriorate (or don’t), Alan Weisman describes how
seemingly indestructible pipes will be pulverized into rock, why some of our
churches may be the last buildings standing and how plastic may be one of our
“gifts” that keeps on giving. Much more than a physical cataloguing, however,
The World Without Us
takes us into places we’ve abandoned, including
Chernobyl, the Korean DMZ and an ancient Polish forest, to see how they’ve fared
since we left. He talks to numerous scientists, engineers, ecologists,
biologists and architects to get a realistic view of our impact on this planet.
And he asks, since we’re imagining, why not think of a way for nature to prosper
that doesn’t depend on our demise?
At a time when we are seriously
examining our impact on the earth, The
World Without Us is essential reading.
With its irresistible premise, intelligent mix of disciplines and candid tone,
this mesmerizing book is a provocative and timely future classic.
Click here to read The World Without Us timeline.
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Author Extras
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Critical Praise for
The World Without Us
"Weisman is a thoroughly engaging and clarion writer fueled by curiosity and determined to cast light rather than spread despair. His superbly well researched and skillfully crafted stop-you-in-your-tracks report stresses the underappreciated fact that humankind’s actions create a ripple effect across the web of life."
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Booklist (starred review)
"If a virulent virus -- or even the Rapture -- depopulated Earth overnight, how long before all trace of humankind vanished? That's the provocative, and occasionally puckish, question posed by Weisman in this imaginative hybrid of solid science reporting and morbid speculation . . . From a patch of primeval forest in Poland to monumental underground villages in Turkey, Weisman's enthralling tour of the world of tomorrow explores what little will remain of ancient times while anticipating, often poetically, what a planet without us would be like."
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Publishers Weekly (starred review)
"This examination of an earth without us is a fascinating blend of the sciences, history, and quite plausible speculation. This engrossing book will enable readers to see humans' place in the planet's natural order in an entirely new light."
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Book Sense
"This book is the very DNA of hope."
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Globe and Mail
"Fascinating. . . readers will soon find their imaginations enthralled."
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Winnipeg Free Press
"Fascinating. . . compulsively readable . . . as safe a bet for the bestseller lists as any book that's crossed my desk this summer. The scope of the exercise is breathtaking . . . An intoxicating read."
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Edmonton Journal
“This is one of the grandest thought experiments of our time,
a tremendous feat of imaginative reporting.”
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Bill McKibb en, author of The End of Nature and Deep Economy
Reader Reviews from First Look
Weisman conjures both a dark and hopeful picture of the world after humans. He writes about the power of nature to regenerate and the endurance of plastics. I particularly enjoyed his exploration of New York City. The idea of Lexington ave returning to a river astounds the imagination. But that is just one of many details that are sure to make the reader ponder the world without us...
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Amy (Saint John, NB)
Weisman conjures both a dark and hopeful picture of the world after humans. He writes about the power of nature to regenerate and the endurance of plastics. I particularly enjoyed his exploration of New York City. The idea of Lexington ave returning to a river astounds the imagination. But that is just one of many details that are sure to make the reader ponder the world without us...
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Amy (Saint John, NB)
Excellent book. Very interesting and thought provoking-i actually read it all in one sitting!
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Susan (Brantford4 Ontario Canada, AK)
An imaginative and sobering book – a science-fictional vision grounded in science fact.
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Natalia (Toronto, ON)
This is an amazing book! You will be captivated from beginning to end. An interesting look at human behaviour and how it affects our planet.
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Kristine (Goulds, NF)
Alan Weisman's The World Without Us is a beautifully written, excellently researched, and extensively referenced study of how and when various parts of our planet might recuperate from the all-too-often devastating effects of Man's activities upon it. A thoughtful, often heartbreaking book which needed to be written, and for which I have only the highest praise.
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Marcie (Gibsons, BC)
Weisman’s tone is sometimes tragic and sometimes hopeful, but always accessible and, in these often tragic and occasionally hopeful times, the questions he raises are relevant and vital. Fascinating and compelling, devastating and heart-breaking: it’s an integrally important work for our times.
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Marcie (Toronto, ON)
The way in which Weisman examines the impact that humans have had on the Earth is compelling and thought-provoking. “The World Without Us” should be on everyone’s reading list as it reveals the scary truths of our existence on this planet which will both awaken and terrify its readers.
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Ally (Chateauguay, QC)
I am so glad I got to read this book.
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Gillian (Brampton, ON)
This book is so thought-provoking, I highly recommend that everyone read it! We can't ignore the signs and proof of deterioration and stop thinking 'it will never happen'.
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Maureen (Windsor, ON)
This book is amazing! Bit by bit , I learned about human history, natural history, constuction and destruction. It is eye-opening to learn how we fight nature every day and how she would fare without us interfering. I absolutely recommend The World Without Us to anyone who cares about this planet.
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Amy (Windsor, ON)
This work is not about an environmental 'doomsday' scenario, but rather how humans have learned from past mistakes and successes, and how we can continue to do so in the future.
"The World Without Us" is highly recommended for anyone with an interest in environmental issues or history in general, as it will definitely appeal to a wide-ranging audience.
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Don (Scarborough, ON)
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