RACING TO EXTINCTION

Lewis offers a gloomy take on the inevitable end of humanity.

The author, a former endangered species biologist, has an alarming prediction for the future (or lack of one) for humankind: “We’ve now reached the palliative care phase of our existence on Earth,” he writes. That’s just the beginning of a treatise on our planet’s woes that’s as blunt as it is informative and well written. Lewis argues that, as with the end of the dinosaurs 66 million years ago, Earth is experiencing a mass extinction. The author explores this thesis both historically and in the present with a sweeping scope that covers population growth, natural disasters, disease, international conflicts, the water crisis in Flint, Michigan, and many other factors that, per Lewis, herald our impending doom. Even human ingenuity and intelligence is a cause for concern, the author argues, as “our transformation has sown the seeds of catastrophe.” “The consequences will be dire. Our accomplishments have come at the cost of our planet’s biodiversity.” This is not a book about saving the planet—it’s a warning that the end is relatively near. Despite the dreadful tone, the book offers some captivating reading, delving into biology and ecology; in one particularly engaging section, Lewis explores the relationship between humans and leopards throughout the ages (the two species probably shared the same caves occasionally). In the end, there’s not much hope on offer, but there’s a lot of compellingly presented information. But riveting writing can only go so far when the message is so grim; there’s something to be said for hammering home a point, but 250 pages of doom and gloom can wear on a reader. For those into considering extinction, though, this book will scratch the itch.

A distressing but informative look at mass extinction and how Earth is headed there.