Name: The Sixth Extinction
Rating: 4.220338983050848 (118 reviews)
ISBN: 9780805092998

Elizabeth Kolbert

Draws on the work of geologists, botanists, marine biologists, and other researchers to discuss the five devastating mass extinctions on Earth and predicts the coming of a sixth.

An Unnatural History

The Sixth Extinction

Patrick Book

Abhimat Gautam

This book was scary and fascinating. Fascinating because I learned a lot about the history of extinctions and our understanding of it. I was particularly surprised by how recent the overall idea of extinctions is, and further, how recent the idea of mass extinctions is. (For example, the asteroid impact at the end of the Cretaceous period leading to the extinction of dinosaurs was only discovered in the 70s, and first published in the 80s, and became widely accepted much later!) And the discoveries of the different ways humanity has affected global ecology and climate was also fascinating.

But ultimately, this book was a scary wake up call. Before reading this book, I had felt that I largely and broadly understood the severity of climate change. But I hadn’t quite realized the extent to which humanity now (and in the past over the entire course of human history) has been changing global ecology. And the current speed of decline is terrifying. Particularly learning about the number of extinctions recently in the tropics has been saddening.

The science, and the fascinating processes that led towards these discoveries, is very well laid out by Kolbert. It’s one of the best written general audience science books I’ve read; mixing in real science with fascinating backstory of current scientists in the field and the history of the discoveries. But the book also highlights how far humans have broken the environment, and I found that absolutely infuriating, saddening, and awakening.

Rohit Arondekar

Though it might be nice to imagine there once was a time when man lived in harmony with nature, it's not clear that he ever really did.

A beautifully written book weaving history, biology, palaeontology, geology and other natural sciences to present a grim picture of what we, humans, are doing to our planet and its inhabitants. 

Building on the discovery of the idea that extinctions of organisms took place, leading to the realization that we have entered the Anthropocene, Elizabeth Kolbert expertly accomplishes the goals she sets out in the beggining―“...to reveal both the excitement of what's being learned and the horror of it."

I recommend everybody to read this book.

rumbledethumps

Elizabeth Kolbert travelled around the world, interviewing and studying with scientists from a variety of disciplines. Geologists, ornithologists, climatologists, marine biologists, all led her to the conclusion of this book: the earth is changing on a massive scale at an unprecedented speed, and humans are the cause.

Well-researched, well-written, *The Sixth Extinction* delves into the effects of humanity on the climate and ecology of the entire globe, effects so significant that geologists have started to refer to the current epoch as the Anthropocene.

Each chapter focuses on a different species or area, but all are tied into a cohesive narrative that leads the reader to Kolbert's haunting conclusion: we are heading for a mass extinction event not seen since the end of the dinosaurs.

Though the subject matter is a bit depressing, Kolbert does an excellent job of engaging the reader, telling the story in a way that is compelling, informative, and entertaining.

Wynter

Becky A

Oh man, I love accessible science books. I almost didn't pick this up, because reading too much about climate catastrophe makes my anxiety skyrocket, but I *am* fascinated by the interplay between environment and biology (and extinction), so I gave this a read regardless. (Note: while it certainly isn't *about* climate change or ocean acidification, it does tackle those topics.)

It was interesting! One thing that gives me hope when I get overwhelmed by climate anxiety is remembering the Jurassic Park line - "life finds a way" - and this book reinforces that, despite being about times when life *didn't* find a way. Except ... we're here, on a planet with millions of other species, so clearly life *does* survive even when individual species don't. ANYWAY. My real takeaway from the book is in thinking about humans as just another invasive species, that does that every invasive species does - consume what it needs, inadvertently changing the world around it, albeit on a scale no other species could manage.

Basically, this was an easy read on a heavy subject with lots of neat science. I liked it.

Janice Hopper

Well done, but SO depressing. I despair for the future of humanity. Heck, Humanity makes me despair. So stupid, so short-sighted. :(

Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions of life on earth. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. Elizabeth Kolbert combines brilliant field reporting, the history of ideas and the work of geologists, botanists and marine biologists to tell the gripping stories of a dozen species - including the Panamanian golden frog and the Sumatran rhino - some already gone, others at the point of vanishing. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy and Elizabeth Kolbert's book urgently compels us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human.

Very fascinating and eye-opening. An easy, and hard to put down, read for an evidence-based, journal-like book. Chapter one is a compelling chapter that would do well as being taught in school systems regarding extinction.  

Alexandria Ausmus

l.h.

objectively, very good; subjectively, if i have to annotate another page for the rest of my life it'll be too soon

WINNER OF THE PULITZER PRIZE ONE OF THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOK REVIEW'S 10 BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR A NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A NATIONAL BOOK CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD FINALIST A major book about the future of the world, blending intellectual and natural history and field reporting into a powerful account of the mass extinction unfolding before our eyes Over the last half-billion years, there have been Five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us. In prose that is at once frank, entertaining, and deeply informed, New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert tells us why and how human beings have altered life on the planet in a way no species has before. Interweaving research in half a dozen disciplines, descriptions of the fascinating species that have already been lost, and the history of extinction as a concept, Kolbert provides a moving and comprehensive account of the disappearances occurring before our very eyes. She shows that the sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy, compelling us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human.

Riah Forbes 

Parts of this dragged for me and I read it very intermittently, but 5 stars even just for the last 3-4 chapters. I’ll be thinking about this book for a while.

Kayce Champion 

I had to read this book for my honor's seminar last semester. It was a really thought provoking read about the world's shift of anthropogenic factors. As someone who cares about the planet but had limited knowledge on the subject and the world's past mass extinctions, this book delivers a subjective insight on such an objectively terrifying reality.

Kolbert speaks of her own personal experiences of traveling around the world, encountering people who deeply care about the world and give a close hand view to the damage that is continuing on our planet. I remember reading a book about the environment a semester before and this enhances the hardships that are happening and will continue to happen in what is deemed as a potential sixth mass extinction caused by humanity.

I think this book is for anyone. I think it is especially important for people with limited knowledge on the Earth's ultimately downfall should take a look. It examines the extinction of various animals, current fights that environmentalists and conservationists face to hold onto some of the endangered and threatened species of the planet. Someone who may not be aware of this would benefit from this read. It's easy to follow but it's descriptive and real. Kolbert makes it easy to transcend the emotional component of caring about Earth. 

I really enjoyed it despite it being a book for my class, I found myself purchasing it as an audiobook as well because the stories told are some that really need to be engrained in one's mind.

Luca Conti

Aaron Lewis

Far more entertaining and engaging that a book on such a depressing subject has any right to be, this is an absolutely essential and incredibly sobering read. This one will stick with you.

The Sixth Extinction An Unnatural History

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