The World without Us

by Alan Weisman

Discover the impact of the human footprint in "The World Without Us". Take us off the Earth and what traces of us would linger? And which would disappear? Alan Weisman writes about which objects from today would vanish without us; how our pipes, wires, and cables would be pulverized into an unusual (but mere) line of red rock; why some museums and churches might be the last human creations standing; how rats and roaches would struggle without us; and how plastic, cast-iron, and radio waves may be our most lasting gifts to the planet. But "The World Without Us" is also about how parts of our world currently fare without a human presence (Chernobyl; a Polish old-growth forest; the Korean DMZ) and it looks at the human legacy on Earth, both fleeting and indelible. It's narrative non-fiction at its finest, taking on an irresistible concept with gravity and a highly-readable touch. Some examples of what would happen are: One year: Several more billion birds will live when airplane warning lights cease blinking; Twenty years: The water-soaked steel columns that support the street above New York's East Side would corrode and buckle.
As Lexington Avenue caves in, it becomes a river; 100,000 years: CO2 will be back to pre-human levels (or it might take longer); Forever: Our radio waves, fragmented as they may be, will still be going out.

• ISBN10: 0312347294
• ISBN13: 9780312347291
• Publish Date: 10 July 2007 (first published 1 July 2007)
• Publish Status: Out of Print
• Out of Print: 11 October 2016
• Publish Country: US
• Imprint: Thomas Dunne Books
• Format: Hardcover
• Pages: 320
• Language: English

Reviews

[Quirky Cat]

Book Summary:

What would happen to the world if humans suddenly disappeared? This is hardly a new question, but Alan Weisman has set out to answer this question once and for all. In writing this novel, Weisman approached experts from all sorts of fields to create an evocative picture of what would actually happen should there no longer be people on Earth.

Have you ever wondered what would happen to the plants, buildings, or animals if we all went away? Imagine how long the structures would last before nature took over. And then dive into this book to see how it would all play out.

My Review:

Okay, I know I'm a bit behind on reading The World Without Us, but I'm so happy I did. This book came out in 2007, but recent events have helped prove at least a few of Alan Wesiman's points. The rise in popularity for it probably supports that theory, huh?

The World Without Us is an absolutely fascinating read. I'm not going to say that it's a light read – some of this book's implications are pretty heavy. But it is fascinating nonetheless. If you're the type of person who likes food for thought books, you must try this one.

If you're anything like me, parts of this book will motivate you to make (more of) a change in the world. You may feel inclined to try harder to recycle or step up and do more environmentally friendly work. Likewise, other parts of this book may make you feel discouraged. These feelings often go hand-in-hand, especially when reading works like this.

Overall, I'm choosing to look at the positive messages within The World Without Us. I love how approachable Weisman tried to make such a complex (often controversial) subject. No, more than that – I respect it.

Highlights:
Logical Thought Processes
Makes You Think
Post Apocalyptic Fiction

Trigger Warnings:
Dystopian (sort of) Elements
Animal Death

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[jamiereadthis]

I spend a not-negligible number of my waking hours envisioning this post-human scenario, so it’s nice to have a few new things to think about for my go-to daydream.

[clairelm]

This is a thought-provoking and well written book which examines what would happen if humans vanished from the planet tomorrow. The author doesn't just speculate, he has spoken to many experts, in a wide range of fields and specialities, and looked at places on the Earth that humans have already abandoned, such as Chernobyl.