Harvesting the biosphere : what we have taken from nature /

Some books are simply dry. Others, like Harvesting the Biosphere, are downright tedious. Smil (emer., Univ. of Manitoba, Canada), an author of more than 30 books (e.g., Global Catastrophes and Trends, CH, Dec'08, 46-2039), once again demonstrates his vast knowledge of and expertise in environmental issues. He effectively reviews and evaluates how humans have impacted the biosphere throughout history for "energy, food, and raw materials." In light of an ever-increasing world population and the impact that this has on society's ability to maintain a sustainable environment, the topic is critically important. Smil's encyclopedic writing style, however, with page after page of unrelenting statistics makes for a very slow read that dulls the senses. With over 750 references in this 252-page text, Smil amply documents all of the statistics that he cites. And perhaps that is how this book should be seen, as a source of data that can be used to direct policy makers. For those who crave numbers, this book will prove invaluable. For readers who simply seek to understand the issues involved with continued global productivity and sustainability, this book may prove to be more than what they bargained for. Summing Up: Recommended. With reservations. Graduate students, researchers/faculty, and professionals. F. T. Kuserk Moravian College