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 Illumanist bootlicker Jan 02, 2009
I loved Weisman's "Gaviotas," as a story of hope and possibilities, but romanticizing the Illumanist agenda of killing off all or all but 500,000 (closely-related) humans is hardly laudable. True, humanity has utterly lost its way. The planet is a mess. We're a mess. Read the Ringing Cedars series (Anastasia) if you want to see the path out of the dark wood and glimpse a shining collective future.
 I Should Have Just Read The Essay Jan 01, 2009
The World Without us is a fascinating concept book. Looking at how the earth would reclaim the urban sprawl is utterly compelling and fairly depressing. Through exploring this concept the book also deals with deep environmental issues and how we attempt to control the forces of nature in order to exist on the planet.
All this is utterly engaging for a while, and then it just gets old. The book was based on an essay and that's where I think it would be strongest. The book feels bloated and overly fleshed out. Midway through I felt I had gotten everything I would get out of the book, and when I finished I realized I had.
Still a worth wile read if the concept is one which engages you, although I wish I had just read the essay.
Great concept, mediocre execution Dec 22, 2008
PROS:
- Tackles a fascinating thought experiment: what would happen to the planet if humans vanished overnight?
- Excellent research.
- It's hopeful in that it shows just how fast nature will take over, that life goes on and few will really miss our species. Often environmentalists like to think that humans are the worst thing that has ever happened to this planet, but they forget that far more devastation happened when a few asteroids blasted this planet.
- Reaches the correct, but unpopular, conclusion: if you want humans to have less impact on the planet, limit our population growth. Environmentalists who dream of minimizing human impact rarely talk about reversing human's growth rate. We can all live a low-impact existence, but that doesn't help if there are 100 billion of us. With the population doubling every 70 years, we'll get there in just 280 years. Most of the environmental change that we cause is not because we're evil, it's just because we want to live a decent life, just like every other living wants to do.
CONS:
- Lackluster writing. It's tedious, sluggish, and a bit academic. The sentences don't flow and they have awkward construction. It wasn't painful to read, but it wasn't a pleasure either.
- Needs more photos and illustrations. There are a couple of photos, but they're poor quality. To help envision a planet without us, illustrations and photos would have helped.
- Needs more headers and a better layout. It would help make the text more attractive.
CONCLUSION: Although I read many books, I usually buy only one book per year. This was that one book. I was so excited that I wanted this in my library. Although I'd like to re-read it someday, it's not as great as I hoped it would be. I wasn't bad either. If you're interested in this subject, then buy this book despite the criticism. You'll end up learning something, guaranteed. If you're not that interested, then skip it. I gave it four stars because of the conclusion and because it offers an outstanding perspective on this planet and our role in it.
 An eye opener Dec 16, 2008
When I read this book, it reminded me of another book I enjoyed, "Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed" by Jared Diamond. Yet this book put you at a distance as if you were a post-human-era visitor, interested but not panic, leaving room for your rationality to digest the discoveries, while feeling a faint sense of sadness. This was exactly the author had intended. In this aspect, Weisman is very successful and will serve as a good model for others to follow.
Can the World Go On Without Us? Yes, and Easily. Dec 14, 2008
Answering a question that many have asked themselves, "What would happen to the planet if humans were suddenly gone?," Weisman creates a provocative image of the Earth and nature. Noting how the Earth would slowly reclaim everything that we Humans have taken from it, he sets the stage for us to come to the realization that we have such a dramatic affect on this magnificent, swirling blue ball that's full of energy and life that without checking ourselves, we could ultimately stop it in its tracks.
Specifying methods that we can put into use in order to hinder our negative impact on the Earth, and ways that we can become more in tune, as a race, with the song that nature constantly sings, The World Without Us offers up a hopeful vibe that everyone can feel. Regardless of political affiliation or stance, something that we can all agree upon is that we are dependent on this planet, and therefore harming it is not a wise course of action. Weisman shows us that we are doing just that, but shows that passing judgment would be both counterproductive and way too soon, for the fat lady is not yet singing. There is still time, there is still hope, and Weisman shows us just how to embrace both.
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