The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind Paperback - 1996
by Richard E. Leakey; Contribution by Roger Lewin
Written by the world's foremost paleoanthropologist and former head of Kenya's wildlife preservation program and an award-winning science writer, The Sixth Extinction shows readers that, for the sixth time in history, the Earth is on the verge of a mass extinction--unless humankind mends its destructive ways. 18 photos. 20 line drawings.
First line
NO ONE WAS MORE SURPRISED than I was when, one April afternoon in 1989, a colleague burst into my office at the museum, in Nairobi, and exclaimed excitedly, "Congratulations!"
From the jacket flap
"Richard Leakey, One Of The World's Foremost Experts On Man's Evolutionary Past, Now Turns His Eye To The Future And Doesn't Like What He Sees.
To the philosophical the earth is eternal, while the human race -- presumptive keeper of the world's history -- is a mere speck in the rich stream of life. It is known that nothing upon Earth is forever; geography, climate, and plant and animal life are all subject to radical change. On five occasions in the past, catastrophic natural events have caused mass extinctions on Earth. But today humans stand alone, in dubious distinction, among Earth's species: "Homo Sapiens possesses the ability to destroy entire species at will, to trigger the sixth extinction in the history of life. In "The Sixth Extinction, Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin consider how the grand sprawl of human life is inexorably wreaking havoc around the world. The authors of "Origins and "Origins Reconsidered, unimpeachable authorities on the human fossil record, turn their attention to the most uncharted anthropological territory of all: the future, and man's role in defining it. According to Leakey and Lewin, man and his surrounding species are end products of history and chance. Now, however, humans have the unique opportunity to recognize their influence on the global ecosystem, and consciously steer the outcome in order to avoid triggering an unimaginable upheaval.
"From the Hardcover edition.
Details
- Title The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
- Author Richard E. Leakey; Contribution by Roger Lewin
- Binding Paperback
- Edition Reprint
- Pages 271
- Volumes 1
- Language ENG
- Publisher Anchor Books, New York
- Date October 1, 1996
- Illustrated Yes
- ISBN 9780385468091 / 0385468091
- Weight 0.47 lbs (0.21 kg)
- Dimensions 8.24 x 4.97 x 0.61 in (20.93 x 12.62 x 1.55 cm)
- Library of Congress subjects Evolution (Biology), Nature - Effect of human beings on
- Library of Congress Catalog Number 95018286
- Dewey Decimal Code 304.2
Media reviews
Citations
- New York Times, 11/10/1996, Page 68
- Publishers Weekly, 10/07/1996, Page 0
More Copies for Sale
The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
- Used
- Condition
- UsedGood
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Annandale, New Jersey, United States
- Item Price
-
$2.99$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
THE SIXTH EXTINCTION Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Leakey, Richard E.
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good; No markings
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Hobe Sound, Florida, United States
- Item Price
-
$3.52$4.95 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Leakey, Richard E.
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Frederick, Maryland, United States
- Item Price
-
$4.09$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Leakey, Richard E.; Lewin, Roger
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States
- Item Price
-
$4.99$3.99 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Leakey, Richard E and Roger Lewin
- Used
- near fine
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Upper Chichester, Pennsylvania, United States
- Item Price
-
$5.00$4.95 shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction : Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Richard E. Leakey
- Used
- very good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.26FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction : Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Richard E. Leakey
- Used
- good
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used - Good
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Seattle, Washington, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.26FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction : Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Leakey, Richard E
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Good
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 3
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.66FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction : Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Leakey, Richard E
- Used
- Condition
- Used - Very Good
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
Mishawaka, Indiana, United States
- Item Price
-
$6.66FREE shipping to USA
Show Details
The Sixth Extinction: Patterns of Life and the Future of Humankind
by Leakey, Richard E
- Used
- Paperback
- Condition
- Used: Good
- Edition
- Reprint
- Binding
- Paperback
- ISBN 13
- 9780385468091
- ISBN 10
- 0385468091
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Seller
-
HOUSTON, Texas, United States
- Item Price
-
$9.50FREE shipping to USA