A Citizen's Guide to Ecology

By Lawrence B. Slobodkin

Book Overview

The earth is continuously changing and evolving yet it is unclear how environmental changes will affect us in years to come. What changes are inevitable? What changes, if any, are beneficial? And what can we do as citizens of this planet to protect it and our future generations?
Larry Slobodkin, one of the leading pioneers of modern ecology, offers compelling answers to these questions in A Citizen's Guide to Ecology. He provides many insights into ecology and the processes that keep the world functioning. This important guide introduces observations that underlie arguments about all aspects of the natural environment--including both global and local issues. To clarify difficult concepts, Slobodkin uses lake, ocean, and terrestrial ecosystems to explain ecological energy flows and relationships on a global scale.
The book presents a clear and current understanding of the ecological world, and how individual citizens can participate in practical decisions on ecological issues. It tackles such issues as global warming, ecology and health, organic farming, species extinction and adaptation, and endangered species.
An excellent introduction and overview, A Citizen's Guide to Ecology helps us to understand what steps we as humans can take to keep our planet habitable for generations to come.
"This beautifully written book brings together careful observation, personal reflection, and theoretical understanding to explain the major environmental problems that confront us. Dr. Slobodkin's superb and sweeping work invites us to contemplate a great many facts and a few large values to motivate a clear and compelling response to losses of biodiversity, the problem of invasive species, global warming, and other environmental concerns."--Mark Sagoff, School of Public Affairs, University of Maryland

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195162870
• ISBN13: 9780195162875
• Release Date: May 2003
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 1.01 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 6.0" x 7.6"

Customer Reviews

Ecology for grown-ups

Standing alongside Stephen Hawking, the world of ecology is discussed for adults by not only a master ecologist but also a master storyteller. I was swept away by his ability to looke with 3 pair of eyes at almost any ecological encounter--entertained by his irreverence towards would-be pundits--and truly enlightened by his thoughtful, profound wisdom. This is a book I will cherish and give as a gift to anyone who I believe has earned it--Earned it by being thoughtful and wanting a little bit of their universe unfolded for them by a master teacher.

Citizen's Guide to Ecology

If you want to learn about the science of ecology .... here's the book to read.. It it is scholarly, without being didactic --- entertaining, without being trivial.The author seems to come right out of the pages and invite the reader into his thoughts. You'll find yourself immersed in the subject, and talking back with questions, which seem to answer themselves as you go on to subsquent pages.I didn't become an expert in the subject by reading this book, but I certainly did gain a greater respect for it, as well as for the author. Read it!!