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Unlike the deterioration of the physical environment, which can be halted, the loss of biodiversity is far more complex and not subject to reversal. Five enormous extinctions have struck the planet over the past 500 million years; they have required 20 to 100 million years of evolutionary repair. The sixty great spasm of extinction—the disappearance of species—is occurring now, caused this time entirely by humans.

The Diversity of Life defines a new environmental ethic: it recognizes that we must rescue whole ecosystems, not only individual species; it calls for an end to conservation/development arguments; and it heralds the massive shift in priorities needed to address this frightening, and at the same time inspiring, challenge. No writer, no scientist, is more qualified than Edward O. Wilson to describe the grandeur of evolution and what is a stake.

*World Watch magazine]]> 503051 9 491112 1992 The Diversity of Life total:264|5:106|4:94|3:52|2:8|1:4| 264 1082 495 33 31624 4.04 1949 304 20177430 613341 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 214 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 3 false Mon Apr 14 18:32:17 -0700 2008 Sun Apr 20 09:07:45 -0700 2008 more...]]> 7656446 238070 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 4 2 false Sat Jan 19 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Sat Oct 13 01:21:31 -0700 2007 Tue Jan 29 00:34:25 -0800 2008
So, when I found myself amongst...more...]]> 27474128 1083046 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 1 false Wed Jul 16 18:19:57 -0700 2008 Wed Jul 16 18:26:04 -0700 2008 more...]]> 42270872 1879990 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 1 false Tue Dec 16 00:00:00 -0800 2008 Wed Jan 07 16:10:14 -0800 2009 Fri Jan 09 20:33:55 -0800 2009 more...]]> 17287412 128532 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 3 1 false Tue Apr 01 00:00:00 -0700 2008 Fri Mar 07 22:03:14 -0800 2008 Sat Apr 05 19:58:14 -0700 2008
There are some really fascinating, sobering stories about evolution, ecology, and biodiversity here, ...more...]]> 4428748 272653 1082019 0393310477 9780393310474 2 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223631763m/1082019.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223631763s/1082019.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1082019.The_Diversity_of_Life 3.79 14
Unlike the deterioration of the physical environment, which can be halted, the loss of biodiversity is far more complex and not subject to reversal. Five enormous extinctions have struck the planet over the past 500 million years; they have required 20 to 100 million years of evolutionary repair. The sixty great spasm of extinction—the disappearance of species—is occurring now, caused this time entirely by humans.

The Diversity of Life defines a new environmental ethic: it recognizes that we must rescue whole ecosystems, not only individual species; it calls for an end to conservation/development arguments; and it heralds the massive shift in priorities needed to address this frightening, and at the same time inspiring, challenge. No writer, no scientist, is more qualified than Edward O. Wilson to describe the grandeur of evolution and what is a stake.

*World Watch magazine]]> 1992 5 1 false Sun Aug 12 08:55:46 -0700 2007 Thu Dec 17 04:49:59 -0800 2009 more...]]> 3790278 222456 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 1 false Wed Mar 01 00:00:00 -0800 2000 Mon Jul 30 08:57:58 -0700 2007 Thu Dec 17 02:50:40 -0800 2009 15726904 851617 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 4 1 false Mon Feb 18 15:13:47 -0800 2008 Mon Feb 18 15:13:47 -0800 2008 40192218 318324 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 4 0 false Sat Jan 17 00:00:00 -0800 2009 Mon Dec 15 19:46:30 -0800 2008 Tue Jan 20 20:31:14 -0800 2009
Some major points I learned from this book in...more...]]> 13860206 844503 1000843 0393964574 9780393964578 2 http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-111x148.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/images/nocover-60x80.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/1000843.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.11 19 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 0 1 false Mon Jan 28 14:44:26 -0800 2008 Mon Jan 28 14:44:55 -0800 2008 13509254 830322 62581 014029161X 9780140291612 2 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170603994m/62581.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1170603994s/62581.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62581.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.50 10 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 0 false Wed May 06 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Fri Jan 25 08:50:20 -0800 2008 Wed May 06 15:39:59 -0700 2009 more...]]> 39267478 1768003 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 0 false Thu Dec 04 02:29:02 -0800 2008 Fri Dec 12 04:23:26 -0800 2008 more...]]> 80372194 3024354 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 0 false Tue Dec 08 20:50:55 -0800 2009 Tue Dec 08 20:52:40 -0800 2009 68683560 2092082 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 5 0 false Wed Jul 01 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 24 08:46:10 -0700 2009 Mon Aug 24 08:47:47 -0700 2009 47505420 6485 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 0 0 false Wed Feb 25 11:57:13 -0800 2009 Wed Feb 25 11:57:19 -0800 2009 Origins.]]> 51974610 2018174 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 4 0 false Wed Apr 08 14:14:09 -0700 2009 Wed Apr 08 14:15:05 -0700 2009 71017562 1023425 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 4 0 false Sun Jul 19 00:00:00 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 12 20:04:25 -0700 2009 Sat Sep 12 20:05:10 -0700 2009 50402926 2084649 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 3 0 false Wed Mar 25 08:53:43 -0700 2009 Wed Mar 25 08:54:09 -0700 2009 74125738 892400 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 0 0 false Sat Oct 10 19:37:20 -0700 2009 Sat Oct 10 19:38:19 -0700 2009 52381772 1811423 503051 0393319407 9780393319408 26 http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570m/503051.jpg http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1223663570s/503051.jpg http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/503051.The_Diversity_of_Life 4.10 264 The Diversity of Life, Wilson takes a sweeping view of our planet's natural richness, remarking on what on the surface seems a paradox: "almost all the species that ever lived are extinct, and yet more are alive today than at any time in the past." (Wilson's elegant explanation is a scientific education in itself.) This great variety of species is, of course, threatened by habitat destruction, global climate change, and a host of other forces, and Wilson revisits his oft-stated call for the protection of wilderness and undeveloped land, noting that "wilderness has virtue unto itself and needs no extraneous justification." We should, he continues, regard every species, "every scrap of biodiversity," as precious and irreplaceable, without attempting to quantify that regard with utilitarian measures such as "bio-economics." In short, Wilson offers with this book a simple, workable environmental ethic that extends the work of Aldo Leopold and other conservationists. A remarkably productive and influential scientist, Wilson is also a fine writer, and his survey of biodiversity makes for welcome and instructive reading. --Gregory McNamee ]]> 1992 0 0 false Sun Apr 12 08:25:17 -0700 2009 Sun Apr 12 08:25:49 -0700 2009 8 http://www.goodreads.com/book_link/follow/8?book_id=1082019