The End of Eden: Wild Nature in the Age of Climate Breakdown

by Adam Welz

A revelatory exploration of climate change from the perspective of wild species and natural ecosystems--an homage to the miraculous, vibrant entity that is life on Earth.

The stories we usually tell ourselves about climate change tend to focus on the damage inflicted on human societies by big storms, severe droughts, and rising sea levels. But the most powerful impacts are being and will be felt by the natural world and its myriad species, which are already in the midst of the sixth great extinction. Rising temperatures are fracturing ecosystems that took millions of years to evolve, disrupting the life forms they sustain--and in many cases driving them towards extinction. The natural Eden that humanity inherited is quickly slipping away.

Although we can never really know what a creature thinks or feels, The End of Eden invites the reader to meet wild species on their own terms in a range of ecosystems that span the globe. Combining classic natural history, firsthand reportage, and insights from cutting-edge research, Adam Welz brings us close to species like the moose of Northern Maine, the parrots of Puerto Rico, Namibia's cheetahs and rare fish in Australia as they struggle to survive. The stories are intimate yet expansive and always dramatic.

An exquisitely written and deeply researched exploration of wild species reacting to climate breakdown, The End of Eden offers a radical new kind of environmental journalism that connects humans to nature in a more empathetic way than ever before and galvanizes us to act in defense of the natural world before it's too late.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Nature, Climate Change, Environment, Animals, Ecology

288 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 26, 2023

Reviews

[Numidica · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Welz says, "Human society is completely reliant on the predictable functioning of ecosystems, and we are pushing those ecosystems into unstable states, driving up uncertainty, pushing ourselves deeper and deeper into the unknown."

The above is his practical-minded point for those who do not care about nature, and rather only care about how "climate breakdown", as he calls it, will affect them directly. But Welz does care deeply about the creatures and ecosystems that the folly of mankind is driving to extinction and destruction, and he makes the case that we all should. I agree. It is likely impossible to put an economic value on the continued existence of the yellow-billed hornbill, or of the Cape ecosystem in southwest Africa, but I'm sorry, there is a moral imperative to care more about the natural world than the profits of Exxon or BP. The stories Welz tells of species that are almost certainly headed for extinction are heartbreaking. People are starting to understand what we are losing, but too slowly, too few, and he fears that we may be too late to avoid real ecological catastrophe, and I agree. As he says, humans are like seagulls, we are generalists, and some of us will survive the coming collapse of the natural world, but the question is, how many? Agriculture around the world will be adversely affected by global warming, and almost certainly many millions will starve as a result. There is still an outside chance we may stop burning fossil fuels fast enough to avoid maximal destruction, but the window of opportunity to save ourselves is closing quickly. This is not doom-spiralling, by the way, or it's not meant to be; we still have a way to avoid the biggest catastrophes, and we should be working as hard as possible to do that (and we are not, yet). Welz wants us to see clearly what we are giving up by our inaction.

In my lifetime I have witnessed first-hand the degradation of the natural world, the most obvious (to me) example being the destruction of coral reefs in the Caribbean by increased water temperatures in summer. Welz gives multiple examples of ecosystems that have lived on the edge for thousands of years that are now being pushed into oblivion by 1.5 degrees C of global warming. The next ten years will be critical to human civilization, and wild creatures are even more vulnerable than we are.

[MacWithBooksonMountains Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

The End of Eden is environmental journalism at its most effective. The author sets a melancholic tone and style, altogether quite suitable. The first pages of this work invite you on a stroll in Central Park during what seems to be Spring and your guide, the author, explains the fauna and a flora in bloom to you. All seems well, apart from the fact that it is still Winter, all seems fine with Magnolia trees blossoming and the scents of Spring in the air. People enjoy the unexpected warmth and the sunshine. But, of course, it is all deceptive, there is a deep confusion in nature, a turmoil even, ready to boil over, and the pointers are there for anybody who knows where to look. Nature relies on a complex system of interactions and is not that easily fooled.
This work manages to be scientific and caring at the same time. Make no mistake, the author blames nobody, there is not an iota of anger to detect; you are taken on a wild journey, if what you see, what you are told angers you, makes you want to blame something, somebody - well go ahead. It is you the reader who observes, it is you who will have to get to terms with what you learn in this book, somehow.
Nevertheless, It is facts and careful observations that are at the core of the book. Yet, because the author tells often the issue from the perspective of the wildlife that is negatively affected by climate change, it just induces a great deal of caring, of empathy in me, and I suspect in most of us. The author uses historical data to contrast and compare fauna and flora conditions as their habitats change over time. The book is non-argumentative, there is rather a sad note to it especially when the author speaks of what has already been lost to the current young generation and following generations and how quickly more will get lost of that near to perfect climate that has evolved together with the earth's inhabitants. Our climate has been equally tailored to us as we have evolved along it. We lived in Eden, so to speak. Now, we have changed the climate into something foreign to lifeforms on this planet. The consequences are enormous.

[MacWithBooksonMountains Marcus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is environmental journalism at its best. The first pages of this work invite you on a stroll in Central Park in Spring that has come early and your guide, the author, shows you around. At first glance, apart from the fact that it should be still Winter all seems fine if it were early Spring, that is. The Magnolia trees are blossoming, the smell of Spring is in the air. People enjoy the unexpected warmth, the sunshine. But, of course, it is all deceptive, there is a deep unrest in nature, ready to boil over, and the pointers are there for anybody who knows where to look. Nature relies on a complex system of interactions and is not that easily fooled.
This work manages to be scientific and caring at the same time. Make no mistake, the author blames nobody, there is not an iota of anger to detect; you are taken on a wild journey, if what you see, what you are told angers you, makes you want to blame something, somebody - well go ahead. It is you the reader who observes, it is you who will have to get to terms with what you learn in this book, somehow.
Nevertheless, It is facts and careful observations that are at the core of the book. Yet, because the author tells often the issue from the perspective of the wildlife that is negatively affected by climate change, it just induces a great deal of caring, of empathy me, and i suspect in most of us. The author uses data to contrast and compare fauna and floras living conditions as their habitats changed over time. The book is non-argumentative, there is rather a sad note to it especially when the author speaks of what has already been lost to the current young generation and following generations and how quickly more will get lost of that near to perfect climate that has evolved together with the earth inhabitants. Our climate has been equally tailored to us as we have evolved along it. We lived in Eden, so to speak. Now, we have changed the climate into something that is foreign to lifeforms on this planet. The consequences are enormous.

[Sally]

This book was phenomenal. It will rend your heart into many sticky pieces but it is so well put together and so accessible to scientists and laypeople (me!) alike. Adam Welz’s decision to focus on a handful of specific species as opposed to the incomprehensibly vast climate crisis in its entirety was brilliant and kept this book compelling all the way through. He gives the reader enough information to see the value and wonder of all of these species before detailing the contributions and consequences of climate breakdown that are leading to their extinction. But never does that formula feel like Welz is using the species dwindling numbers as a cheap device. It simply feels like a tragic truth. Not only does Welz show the reader how these species are faring in an increasingly warm and increasingly dry world, he also shows the reader what efforts are being taken by dedicated researchers and scientists to protect the endangered populations.

He sugarcoats nothing and conveys the urgency and severity of climate breakdown unflinchingly. This book is a digestible, if devastating, account of climate breakdown thus far and Welz lets us know that we should all be frightened. And that we should all take action.

I really think you should read it.

[Nicholas Martens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welz impressively uses language that's at once vivid and scientifically precise. I found this book very helpful in trying to wrap my head around the enormity of the challenges facing us, and the severity of climate breakdown we're already facing in 2023.

[Shanereads · Rating 5 out of 5]

The End of Eden was really a great book! I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book on climate breakdown. One of the reasons I especially loved reading The End of Eden is that it was not a political commentary on climate change. Rather, it gave a specific account of different habitats across the globe that are being impacted, and animals that are becoming extinct due to climate breakdown that quite possibly irreversible.

My favorite examples were those about wildfire, and how by blocking natural wildfires for years and years we have created the "perfect storm" for mega fires to destroy entire habitats.

Booksellers this is a great hand sell with other books such as This is Wildfire, Of Time and Turtles, and An Immense World.

This review copy was provided by the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Zachary Kauffman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a heavy book, but a necessary and enlightening one. Climate change is often such an abstract idea in the media, but this well-researched deep dive into it highlights the real impacts individual species are seeing. It’s hard to read at points but for good reason- I would recommend this book to anyone.

[Ayden Valkenburg · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the most heartbreaking, eye opening and depressing books I’ve ever read. However, I think this is a book everyone should read.

[Jacquelyn Page · Rating 4 out of 5]

very depressing but incredibly well researched, important with a great conclusion.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read in small chunks in the middle to keep the dread at bay, but the conclusion really brought me back to some sort of hope in the future.

[atlas morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

really good!!! just quite sad

[freddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredibly depressing but valuable read. Welz gives real world examples of the impact climate change (or climate breakdown, as he calls it) is already having on animal species, plant species and ecosystems around the globe. Overall, The End of Eden is well-organized, not too dry, and very easy to read.

Points of interest:
- In one of the chapters Welz notes that a bird species is likely to be extinct by 2023 (before the publication of this book) and I was saddened to discover with a quick internet search that, as of 2024, the ‘Akikiki is now believed to be functionally extinct :(
- The sections involving bird migration, especially how birds are able to sense (possibly see, in some way?) the earth’s magnetic field, were fascinating and I’m keen to read more on the subject.
- Australia mentions - and in multiple chapters! That was a pleasant (albeit bleak, considering the subject matter) surprise.

[Kennedy Snead · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very effective book on the climate breakdown. I’m surrounded by people who believe climate change is fake, and for many years, I thought they were purposely being dense, refusing to learn. This book really showed me that it is HARD to notice the effects of climate change.

A lot of the impacts are seen in distant countries, deep in the forests, involving microscopic insects or sea creatures you can’t see. You have to actively research to see connections…warmer waters lead to more evaporation and warmer weather that leads to heavier storms which leads to a higher population of ticks which leads to more ticks sucking the blood of moose in Maine which, ultimately, leads to their death and soon extinction.

Those dots are not easy to connect for average, every day citizens. Weltz’s book pulls back the curtain and makes it more accessible for us citizens to understand the true impacts around us.

[Shain Verow · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a collection a tales highlighting the impact that climate instability has already had on the natural world. These tales are based on a mix of personal field observations, expert interviews, peer reviewed research, and historical data studies.

Let me make one thing clear before you start this book, it’s a very sad read. The author says that he is optimistic about our abilities to mitigate the worst impacts of our rapidly changing and increasingly erratic climate, but that doesn’t make the stories within any less compelling or disturbing. The writing is compelling and well done, avoiding falling into the repetitive patterns that are common to many books like these.

This is a good book if you’re interested in learning about how nature has been faring in response to our impact on the global climate. Spoiler: Not Great.

[Dan Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very sobering read. It’s terrible the mess we’ve made of the world!

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy.

[Elizabeth☮ · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a small book dealing with a big topic. Welz's discussion of the affects of climate breakdown are not overwhelming.

I think what I appreciated about this book is that it takes a very minute change (temperature, migration route, tree line) and explains the impact on the biosphere. It is incredible how one change impacts everything in the area.

For example, birds that typically migrate, no longer migrate thousands of miles for food. They find a food source closer, so the risk of migrating is not worth it. The birds stay put. This means that the food source of the area is impacted. The places the birds nest is impacted. The insects are impacted. The birds themselves adapt for the next generation.

Another example is when the temperatures tick up, it makes it more difficult for animals to cool down. If they can't go into the heat, they can't eat. Bam! The numbers decline.

I guess these are things I just haven't dived into and thought about. Now I know all of the changes do impact all elements of the environment.

Sadly, we are nearing the tipping point.

[Paul Norwood · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book provides a fresh, welcome perspective from the Global South, informed by timely reporting from Puerto Rico, New York, South Africa, Australia, and places between. Also, we get the perspective of a field naturalist, and some solid scientific background.

You're probably wondering if you're about to be admonished at book length, and assaulted with depressing factoids. You probably feel like you need to be informed, but perhaps a vampire romance will help boost your mood a little since you already know things are terrible out there... You will be fine, this book isn't a light read, but it isn't a sermon or a textbook.

Adam Welz loves his subject, the wild Earth all around us, from the ocean to the cities, and he communicates that well. Thanks to his background in environmental journalism (check out his work on https://e360.yale.edu/authors/adam-welz), the chapters are engaging, thorough, concise, and clear. At no point did I feel like I was re-reading anything from a previous chapter. I suspect, in fact, that one could even read them out of order and be fine.

At one point in the book the author describes his feelings when he retrieved banded swallows in South Africa. The birds had been banded behind the iron curtain, in war-torn Israel, and had flown into Apartheid era South Africa. This powerful image conveys perfectly how our "insurmountable" problems are artificial, but also how people everywhere have faith and hope, and work against the odds.

And the odds are steep and the stakes are high, of course. I suspect no climate denier will choose to read this book so if you are reading this review, you are already aware of this. The vignettes and "case studies" presented here reflect not just the author's experiences, but also basic points of physics, biology, and climatology. This is the only area where I think later editions could be improved - I always want more maps and graphs. I do realize that the cost of printing books can go up with graphs, but sometimes they are better than words for conveying results and patterns. The nice thing is that there are great color photos in the middle section, many by the author himself. You will need no advanced knowledge or jargon to grasp the concepts.

All told, this is a great read about a serious topic. No matter how much you travel, you will develop an appreciation for a new place. No matter how much you read about it, you will learn something new.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

i listened to the audiobook because i'm currently on a climate anxiety spiral. while bleak at times, i finished feeling more energized about the resilience of the natural world around us - providing that we as a society face the moral imperative and make small adjustments. this book is well-researched and well-written, with masterful descriptions of the real impact of climate breakdown on micro ecosystems, specific species and then places that into the greater historical context of the environment. many of the climate-focused books i've stumbled upon have their focus on the human impact - the human suffering - the monumental shifts on how climate breakdown is going to disrupt our day to day and year to year expectations for weather and our physical health. i enjoyed this naturalist take on climate change - and the branding of it truly as climate breakdown. the chapter on the microclimates and species that are naturally insulated from greater shifts in temperature and migration patterns was particularly interesting (how currents protect the Galapagos despite invasive species and overtourism, and the shelter western cape of South Africa, and the heat-strong hard coral of the red sea). the story of parrots in puerto rico and penguins in south africa is truly sad, though it is incredible to see how the hard work of conservationists continue to expand and extend their species stories.

this book well balances humanizing plants and animals and nature, within our broader lived experiences - how our own experiences are mirrored at every level in the world around us. the conclusion of this book is a nice wrap-up, explicitly noting those parallels that are drawn within each microsystem we explored together. it is a strong call to awareness of how our global political structure and broader wealth disparities weaken our individual impact to make a change - we must work together to build our collective political power and influence the richest of the rich to make changes in how they live to prevent an unreversible climate breakdown.

4.25/5 stars - great exploration of how the wild has changed since the industrial age began, and just how far it may continue to go with breaching the tipping point.

[Claire Henning · Rating 5 out of 5]

I learned so much from this book that I hadn't expected to learn. We all know what climate change is, we all know that it is causing extinction of species as their habitats change. We know about it in an almost abstract, high-level way. What was so interesting (and sad) about this book was how the author illuminates the concrete details and the small changes. He demonstrates how a change in one part of the world has a knock on effect on species in an entirely different part of the planet. No one can shield themselves from climate change, because everything is connected. A bird species that you particularly love and see each season in your garden might quietly dwindle and then just disappear. You will not know why. They just won't be there anymore and your life will be poorer for it.

The book is full of small, but powerful revelations. Lots of lightbulb moments.

On a practical note - the book is written as a collection of episodes and stories, so if you're a busy person who has to read when they get gaps, then it's easy to read, put down and then pick up again.

[Rachel · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed and also dreaded completing this book. It opened my eyes to the rapid pace of climate change on earth inhabitants. Many examples reminded me of the butterfly effect.

I listened to the audiobook and I found it very dry up until the conclusion when he delved into his background and how it relates to his research work.

Because of the detail and scientific terms used this one might have been better as a sit down book read without distractions.

[Michael Geline · Rating 5 out of 5]

One thing that struck me while reading this book is the way it integrates different time scales into the narrative. There is plenty to contemplate in connecting events of our own lifetimes to the events of tens of thousands, hundreds of millions, or even billions of years ago. It'd be hard to finish this one without enhancing one's appreciation for how things came to be.

[Reggie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. The author explains the chemistry and physics of what is happening during climate change, or as he puts it climate breakdown, in layman’s terms.
Then he proceeds to talk about how and why it’s happening. This gives a thorough explanation.

It’s not just humans being adversely affected. But everyone.

[Laurette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Adam Welz, in his beautifully crafted book The End of Eden: Wild Nature in the Age of Climate Breakdown, is acting as, what Donna Haraway calls a “speaker for the dead”. Offering solace through telling the stories of species on the brink of extinction, many of them on our doorstep. For this effort, this act of care, I am eternally grateful.

[michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Informative and fresh perspective of impacts on flora fauna from climate collapse . On the dry side but solid read.

[Parks · Rating 5 out of 5]

The most depressing book I’ll read all year. It’s devasting to learn about the truly captivating, intricate, magical ways in which the Holocene era of remarkable biodiversity sustains(ed) itself when it is in its final death rattle. As so called “humanity” descends further into greed, mindless consumption of vapid content and cheap material goods, hatred, anti-science “beliefs,” and conservative demagoguery you have to wonder why we as a species evolved in the first place. The further outside of nature we situate ourselves, the further degraded we become.

Welz ends his book on a mildly positive note, imploring those in power to act. But look at who is running this country. My well of optimism is dry and in my view the sixth extinction, which was always inevitable, is a poetic justice.

Favorite quote: “Simple confusion and forgetting are essential ingredients of our current stupidity. For example, we confuse money with wellbeing by running our economies according to theories that forget human societies are not self-sustaining: we are utterly dependent on predictable, functional ecosystems, which create the basic conditions for human life and provide material inputs and waste processing for our economies. As we damage nature, we incur costs that our financial systems usually don't recognize or account for.
Many people confuse influence with control, forgetting that having greater influence over something doesn't always mean that we have more control of it. The more we influence the atmosphere by filling it with energy-trapping pollution, the more chaotic and unpredictable the climate becomes, and the less control we have over the Earth system. As we degrade and destroy more natural habitat, ecosystems become less stable.
This is not a problem only for wild species—it can also be a real problem for us.”

[Laurel · Rating 3 out of 5]

This accessible book looks at the impact cliamte breakdown is having on the wild places we live. Yes, the topic is not the happiest to read about, but Welz did a good job of looking at various species and how they have adpated or perished due to climate breakdown. End of Eden also made me more aware of how climate patterns affect animals (obvious, but not??). It was helpful that Welz focused on various places throughout the world to make his point. Although Welz stops short of offering immediate solutions, he does note we can take action through policies that protect our enviromnment. A good read for those who are curious about how climate change impacts wild species.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was incredible. It made me sad for sure but hopeful too! It was well rounded- very detailed but succinct enough to not feel like it was dragging-and had a ton of fascinating biology that reminded me of a lot of the things I studied in college (I had a flashback when he started explaining the types of photosynthesis). I’ve been really wanting to read something science heavy to scratch my brain and I’m glad this came along when it did.

[Sam Downie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i didn’t finish it i had to bring it back to the library

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I couldn’t write better things about this. I read A LOT. I learn A LOT. And this book stands out for me.
This was powerful and gut wrenching and so important.