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A Pelican Introduction: The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene Mass Market Paperback – International Edition, July 24, 2018

by Simon Lewis (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 218 ratings
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'Brilliantly written and genuinely one of the most important books I have ever read' - Ellie Mae O'Hagan A remarkable exploration of the science, history and politics of the Anthropocene, one of the most important scientific ideas of our time, from two world-renowned experts Meteorites, methane, mega-volcanoes and now human beings; the old forces of nature that transformed Earth many millions of years ago are joined by another: us. Our actions have driven Earth into a new geological epoch, the Anthropocene. For the first time in our home planet's 4.5-billion year history a single species is dictating Earth's future. To some the Anthropocene symbolises a future of superlative control of our environment. To others it is the height of hubris, the illusion of our mastery over nature. Whatever your view, just below the surface of this odd-sounding scientific word, the Anthropocene, is a heady mix of science, philosophy, religion and politics linked to our deepest fears and utopian visions. Tracing our environmental impact through time to reveal when humans began to dominate Earth, scientists Simon Lewis and Mark Maslin masterfully show what the new epoch means for all of us.
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  1. Print length
    256 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Pelican
  4. Publication date
    July 24, 2018
  5. Dimensions
    4.33 x 0.79 x 7.09 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0241280885
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0241280881
  8. See all details
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About the Author

Simon L. Lewis is Professor of Global Change Science at University College London and the University of Leeds. An award-winning scientist, he has been described as having 'one of the world's most influential scientific minds'. He has written for the Guardian and Foreign Policy magazine. Mark A. Maslin is Professor of Climatology at University College London, a Royal Society Industrial Fellow, and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Scholar. He is the author of eight books and has written for The Times and New Scientist.

Simon L. Lewis is Professor of Global Change Science at University College London and the University of Leeds. An award-winning scientist, he has been described as having 'one of the world's most influential scientific minds'. He has written for the Guardian and Foreign Policy magazine.

Mark A. Maslin is Professor of Earth System Science at University College London and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit scholar. His most recent book is The Cradle of Humanity which Professor Brian Cox called 'exhilarating'.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pelican (July 24, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Mass Market Paperback ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0241280885
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0241280881
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 4.33 x 0.79 x 7.09 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 218 ratings

About the author

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Mark Maslin

Mark Maslin

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The world around us is an amazing and beautiful place. For me science adds another layer of appreciation and makes our World even more stunning and unique. I passionately believe it is the responsibility of scientists to communicate our knowledge and our wonder. My books include the high successful 'Climate Change: A Very Short Introduction' now in its 4th edition (OUP, 2021), The Cradle of Humanity (OUP, 2019), The Human Planet co-authored with Simon Lewis (Penguin, 2018, Yale 2022) and How To Save Our Planet: The Facts (Penguin, 2021).

I am Professor of Earth System Science at University College London - which means I research climate change in the past, the present and the future. I have publish over 185 papers in journals such as Science, Nature, The Lancet and Nature Climate Change. But as I said my passion is to communicate the wonder of science and what it can tell us about the world around us and about ourselves. I written 11 books, over 70 popular articles and I do appear regularly on radio and television. My blogs on the 'Conversation' (https://theconversation.com/uk) cover human evolution, climate change and the Anthropocene and have been read over 3.5 million times.

I was included in Who's Who for the first time in 2009 and am a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Scholar. Oh I also run a company called Rezatec Ltd which produces environmental solutions for companies, NGOs and Governments - making the world a better place through use of real data.

Also thought you may like some shocking facts from my latest book 'How To Save Our Planet: The Facts' (Penguin, 2021)

For the first time in our planet's 4.5-billion year history a single species, humans, are dictating its future.

Humans are having as much affect on the Earth's environment as giant meteorites, mega-volcanoes and the movement of the continental plates.

Humans have cut down half the trees on Earth, over 3 trillion of them, since the beginning of civilization.

Humans have created over 170,000 synthetic mineral-like substances compared with about 5,000 "natural" occurring minerals.

Humans make over 300 million tonnes of plastic per year which can be found in ever ocean.

Humans have made enough concrete to cover the whole surface of the Earth in a layer 2 mm thick.

Humans move more soil, rock and sediment each year than is transported by all other natural processes combined.

Humans have increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels by over 45%, acidifying the oceans and raising Earth's temperature delaying the next ice age by tens of thousands of years.

If you weigh all land mammals in the world, 30% is the weight of humans, 67% our livestock with just 3% being wild animals we see on wildlife programmes.

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Top reviews from the United States

  • Jane K from Athens, GA
    5.0 out of 5 stars If you care about life on Earth, please read this book.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    I pre-ordered this book and anxiously awaited its arrival--I was not disappointed. THE HUMAN PLANET is well-written and tells the story of how our species has affected and altered life on our planet. It gives a good summary of the geologic time periods of Earth before going into the spread of early humans around the globe and discussing the increasing impacts our species has had on the environment at each stage of major discoveries and accompanying technological developments. Slaughter of megafauna, domestication, farming, population increase, early globalization, Industrial Revolution, fossil fuels, world wars, the acceleration of science and technology, consumer capitalism, the Nuclear Age--it's all woven into the story of how we have altered life on Earth. The story is told so clearly, logically, and coherently that most any reader who is truly interested in understanding the message can follow it. By this I do not mean that the book is over-simplified, but rather that it is thorough and concise, and, by the way, it includes very good charts and graphs. The story is not a pretty one. We have much to be concerned about, not the least of which are climatd change, toxic emissions, ocean acidification, species extinctions, and on and on. The authors see the act of pinpointing the true beginning of the Anthropocene as a very important socio-political element because of how it could affect the way we choose to deal with (or not deal with) climate change and all the other problems. There is also very interesting information on the rather unethical ways in which the powers that be in the world of professional geology have manipulated the naming and dating of time periods--the Quarternary, for example. The ultimate purpose of the book is not just to educate on the history of these things, but to discuss where we go from here and how we might finally break out of the social, economic, and political constraints that are keeping us from acting in a sane manner to save our Earth home. You may read this book and weep, but you may also learn a lot from it and feel inspired to speak out for action before its too late. I hope this book gets the attention it deserves and will be widely read.
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  • ron
    5.0 out of 5 stars Will reread for a 4th time
    Reviewed in the United States on May 17, 2019
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    Detailed without being information overload
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  • AcuVox
    4.0 out of 5 stars 95% for analysis, 50% for synthesis
    Reviewed in the United States on March 29, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    A geologist examines where we are and how we got here exhaustively, with rigorous scholarship researching a plethora of scientific fields from a mainstream perspective while dissecting the conflicting divisions within his own. The references alone are worth the time to read this multi-disciplinary treatise, but he missed a fundamental fact of soil science, plant metabolism, food chains, and hydro-geology: ants selectively extract mineral elements such the cash crops, agricultural exports, and water borne sanitation are not sustainable; likewise chemical fertilizer, dams, roads and cities.

    The author's suggestions of UNI and half earth sliding are spot on, but do not go far enough. Unfortunately, those alone are unacceptable to the power structure. The reality is that concentration of wealth is unsustainable - all bottlenecks and tollbooths that enable excess income lead to planetary destruction and near or complete human extinction.
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  • Joseph
    5.0 out of 5 stars A well-written history of the planet and mankind and the effects of man on the planet.
    Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2018
    The Human Planet: How We Created the Anthropocene by Simon L. Lewis and Mark A. Maslin is a detailed study of the history of the planet. Simon L. Lewis is Professor of Global Change Science at University College London and University of Leeds. An award-winning scientist, he has been described as having “one of the world's most influential scientific minds”. He has written for the Guardian and Foreign Policy magazine. Mark A. Maslin is Professor of Earth System Science at University College London and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Scholar. He is the author of eight books and has written for The Times and New Scientist.

    The Human Planet is a book which works to pinpoint the new, or rather current, geologic epoch, the Anthropocene -- the human epoch. With attention to the evolution of life and how life on earth. Different events have changed the earth. The Carboniferous period is named for the carbon sinking plant life expanded across the planet. Ice ages had their effects on life. The rise and fall of flora and fauna are used as markers in the history of the earth.

    Following the section on historical geology, the authors concentrate on the rise of man from his beginning to his spread across the world. Man would have continued as hunter-gatherers without much effect on the planet. Man, however, did things to change his environment. Agriculture created societies and, in that, it also selectively bred plants and animals to meet his needs. A long string of events came from settling and developing agriculture. A community developed, a government formed, labor was divided. Efficiency in growing food exceeded hunting and gathering. This allowed new activities to begin -- primitive manufacturing, cultivating the land, and growth in population.

    Technology helped man spread his influence on the planet. Something as harmless as the printing press was responsible for expanding information to a greater number of people and preserved knowledge. That information led to education and development of new technology or applications of technology. The power of steam was known to the ancient Greeks, but it wasn't until the 18th century when the steam engine was developed. The coal-fired steam engine replaced water mills to power industry. Coal was also used to heat houses and for cooking. London air was described as a sea of coal dust. From there a domino effect of new technology, population growth, deforesting, and removal of animal species continued. Man started changing the environment to suit his needs.

    Since the steam engine, man has accelerated his impact on the planet. It is not only fossil fuels but also agriculture to support a growing population. Human population was one billion in 1804. It took until 1927 to reach two billion. 1960 marked three billion. It took only 13 years, on average, to add a billion more people to get to the six billion in 1999. Higher crop yields, better sanitation, better health care led to a population explosion. While longer and better life is a good thing, there will be a point that a great population will become unsupportable.

    Technology is something unique to mankind. We use it to make our lives better. The changes are recognizable -- huge monoculture crops, sprawling cities, domestication of animals, removal of wild animals, not to mention man-made climate change. The Anthropocene is here. When did it start is the question that this book builds up to. A well-written history of the planet and mankind and the effects of man on the planet.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Gabriela Rodriguez
    5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best books ever read
    Reviewed in Canada on March 27, 2020
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    Major work connecting archeology, geologg, history and social sciences for understanding our present time and howwe got here. It should be mandatory in secondary education.
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  • MediaPRO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good. Not for superstitious people who believe less in science and more in mythology.
    Reviewed in India on May 6, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Must read! Tiny pocket sized book, I have read it 3 times during train journeys. Read it 4th time during lockdown. It requires prior knowledge of sociology and anthropology. If you believe in science and scientific validation, you can go ahead. People who still believe there's a God out there in physical form that can help them get out of difficult situations, sorry guys, you won't be able to understand anything, it's not for you if you are a god worshipper and superstitious being who things science and God can go together. For people in India, please don't use this book to prove your own wrong notions of Gods existing in India. I know this because a god worshipper read this book and flat out refused to acknowledge evolutionary sciences and instead asked me, can your science make time machine? I laughed for a month. So guys, if you are born in any religious family, avoid this title completely.
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly relevant and novel
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 2, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    Overall an excellent summation of the current literature that focuses on the human impacts upon the natural world rather than just focusing on Climate Change, which actually constitutes only a small part of it. Reads smoothly, heavy in places (to be expected) but overall a nice 'pick-up/put down' read.

    It takes you through a tour of anthropology, geology, to climate change and a little policial ideology.

    Core ideas;

    . The ongoing heated debate within geology of how to label the current geological state as Holocene vs anthropocene.

    . Defining the antropocene with rigour

    . How feedback mechanisms change societies.

    . How human modes of living changed.

    . Light human evolution and basic anthropology and geology.

    Figs

    I particularly liked fig 2.2 showing how the geological eon, era, ages etc fit in, essential to the layman. Alongside the 11.1 undersea internet cables is an interesting one.

    Literature sources look very thorough and from many reputable scientific journals such as 'nature', 'science'. There's no questioning the authors' abilities as Scientists.

    Criticisms; A few pedantic details but not many.

    Pg 115. 'The food energy that needs to be eaten per day by a typical resting human is about 120 watts'

    Logically this is actually correct as energy/time is units of watts. Not doubting the authors abilities, but the wording is slightly ambiguous. Is the author actually talking about Power (which is energy/time) or Energy? Both are rigourously distinct quantities. If talking of 'energy'/'potential' it's better to use kJ or 'power produced' then use 'Watts'.

    To the layman that could come across as 'energy.......resting human.....watts!'

    Pg 220 same thing

    . Typo Pg 181; 'Cause'

    . Typo Pg 312; 'micropastics'
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  • Arindom baidya
    3.0 out of 5 stars Poor printing
    Reviewed in India on October 22, 2018
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    The writing is so small that one can barely reae a few pages without getting tired.
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  • sg watt
    4.0 out of 5 stars The Human Planet: Can We Save It?
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 22, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    A fascinating book about the way humans have done so much to change the planet we are entrusted with. It highlights some major changes that have taken place with the balance of the earth since humans started to be the dominant force and whilst much is doom and gloom the book ends with some positive solutions to help stabilise the planet and the non-human life we are in danger of destroying.
    I must say the focus on defining the Anthropocene was a bit of a lost leader and omitting this element and concentrating on how humans have shaped the earth and what solutions there are to the current climate would have made for a shorter and more readable (and probably more popular) book. However, skim a few chapters, and you have a five star book.
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