Our Global Environment : A Health Perspective, 4/E

by Anne Nadakavukaren

This successful volume provides a broad, up-to-date survey of the major environmental issues facing the world today. Its dual approach is to describe the ecological impact of various human activities combined with specific issues of personal and community health, emphasizing the interrelatedness of the two. A great strength is its ability to impart to readers a sense of how these environmental issues directly affect their own lives, as well as too make them aware of opportunities to participate in the decision-making processes that will influence health and environmental quality in years to come. Beginning with a rudimentary discussion of general ecological principles, the book focuses primarily on our present population-resources- pollution crisis and explains why human health and welfare depend on a successful resolution of these challenges. The material is enhanced by 89 photographs and more than 85 maps, charts, and graphs.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Reference, Health, Textbooks

711 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1995

Reviews

[Theresa]

I borrowed this book from my daughter who bought this book as a textbook for a 100-level environmental health class she is taking next semester. Overall an excellent survey book on environmental topics with a focus on impacts to health. I especially enjoyed it data-driven approach that allowed the reader to form his/her own opinion on a given topic. For example, it did a great job showing the global benefits and detriments of DDT usage as opposed to solely vilifying it as many environmental books do. The case studies were entertaining and informative. It read like a news magazine as opposed to a textbook, so it was a quick read and held my attention all the way to the end. (I read it cover to cover in an afternoon.)

[Carly]

I really enjoyed this textbook. I found the information to be interesting and it would hold my attention, throughout the chapters. My favorite chapter focused on family planning, and I feel like I learned new information that was very helpful and thought-provoking. I've had to read the majority of this textbook for my Environmental Health class, because I am taking it online, so it is based primarily out of the text. It is easy to navigate the text when I'm looking for answers and I enjoyed the layout.
My only complaint is there are some sections that were a bit over my head, especially in the air pollution chapter. It was hard to keep track of the different abbreviations, for anyone studying that specific chapter, I would suggest writing a cheat sheet about the different abbreviations and their meanings. Maybe also writing a cheat sheet for which pollutants qualified under which classifications would be helpful as well.
Overall a great textbook. I haven't really enjoyed taking an online class, but it was necessary so I had time to complete my practicum. The textbook really helped make the class easier to understand.

[Ashley]

So dry....

[Aasheeta]

This is fairly engaging for a textbook.

[Funny You Should Say That]

I read the 7th edition of this for a university course in Environmental Health and just finished it. While it had some interesting topics and insightful information it felt slightly disorganized. Each chapter covered a separate topic but sometimes the paragraphs within each would feel repetitive. You would read through, get a few paragraphs further, but then feel like you just read the same information two sections ago. At times the information seemed wordier than necessary as well. But there are small nuggets of surprising detail mixed within. And I can't help but feel that, in many of the environmental dilemmas presented, there is little to be accomplished from the recommended changes. It seems, rather, that any solution taken will lead to more complex or new environmental issues to combat.

[Jenny]

Pretty good as far as textbooks go.

[Tara Basavanhally]

Incredibly interesting and educational. Although this book was a required read for my environmental health class, I found myself fascinated by the information in this book and yearning to learn more.