The statistics in this book are a bit out of date, but it is still worth reading. It reminded me of Jared Diamond's book, "Collapse", but where Mr. Diamond looked at several societies in detail, Mr. Ponting takes a more integrated view as he examines the transition from a world dominated by hunter-gatherers to one of agriculture and then of industrialization. I found the chapter on the influence on classical, Jewish and Christian thought on the views of human beings' relationship to nature and animals particularly interesting, and it was something I had not seen in other books on the same topic. In this, and other, ways Mr. Ponting's book continues to add to the discussion of our global environment, despite being over a decade old. ( )

Probably out of date to some extent now, but a fascinating read about environmental destruction of previous civilisations, all who thought they would last forever! ( )

"If there is a single book on the subject to engage the enthusiast, silence the critic and enlighten the ignoramus, this is it." - London Observer