This House Has Fallen: Midnight in Nigeria

Book Description

To understand Africa, you have to understand Nigeria, and few Americans understand Nigeria better than Karl Maier. In the tradition of Philip Gourevitch's bestselling We Regret to Inform You... and Redmond O'Hanlon's No Mercy, This House Has Fallen is a bracing, disturbing, evocative report on the state of Africa's most populous, potentially richest, and most dangerously dysfunctional nation.

Each year, with depressing consistency, Nigeria is declared the most corrupt state in the entire world. A nation into which billions of dollars of oil money flow, Nigeria's per capita income has dramatically fallen in the past two decades. All of the money has been stolen by elites. Also stolen has been democracy. Nigeria's leaders tend to elect themselves, often with the help of a gun. Military coup follows military coup. A rare democratic election is often merely a prelude to the next seizure of power by a general who wants greater access to the state's rapidly depleted vaults. A country of rising ethnic tensions and falling standards of living, Nigeria is a bellwether for Africa. And yet some think it is on the verge of utter collapse, a collapse that could overshadow even the massacres in Rwanda.

A brilliant piece of reportage and travel writing, this book looks into the Nigerian abyss and comes away with insight, profound conclusions, and even some hope.

Customer Reviews:

Not a bad primer on a torn country.......2005-10-02

An interesting journey through a dangerous country.

Perhaps too much time is spent interviewing religious and political zealots and kooks who simply spout their own personal agendas in the book, or vent observations already obvious to the reader, and rarely offer true solutions. I would have rather read more of the author's personal experiences and conclusions about Nigeria.

Overall, not a bad effort and an important book for those who want to learn more about why Africa is such a mess.

A post colonial prejudice by a western journalist.......2004-10-08

It took me some time to get a copy of this book from a friend to read. But after reading it, I was glad not to have a copy myself. It is not that the contents of the book do not correspond with the nigerian situation, but the total lack of objectivity in the book. Maier clearly shows that he is among those we hear are paid to promote and justify the exercise of colonialism in Africa: that africans can not rule themselves. If Nigeria as a house has fallen, then it is due to the wrong foundation upon which the house was built which was the British mess and exploitation. Where Maier tried to remember that there was no nation like Nigeria before colonialism, he avoided telling the truth of the emergence of Nigeria as a consequence of British selfishness. For example, he mentioned that Nigeria had a great agricultural potentials in products such a palm oil and so many things, but quickly added these were exported to England and "inturn Nigeria got millions of tones of cosmetics and gins". Or where he slightly mentioned the activities of oil firms like the royal dutsch/shell in Nigeria, the environmental harzards are not taken note of. For God's sake why could he not tell us the truth that the aim of colonialsm was primarily for the need of his sponsors. Or when he metioned the amalgmation of north and south of Nigeria and termed it "for the purpose reducing deficit of the north", was the aim not to enhance more agricultural opportunities for the great Britian. It was on this bad foundation that ethnic kingdoms like the Igala, Yoruba, Benin and many others who had a very effective leadership and administrative autonomy were forced and forged into the nationhood of Nigeria which even became a problem before the exit of the foolish masters-maier's ancestors. Thank God, people like Alan Burns, a one time Birtish governor in Nigeria still live to write the truth: "Those Europeans who were interested in one protectorate knew little of the other, and wasted no sympathy on their neighbours, while among the inhabitants of the country the lack of uniform system of government had already accentuated the already existing difference of race, religion and culture" (Alan Burns: History of Nigeria,London, 1969. Pg. 11). I would wish that Maeir make out time to reason why he needs to blame his motherland for the many attrocities committed in Nigeria and africa as a whole of which the present situations are hangovers. I could have better not read this monographs of journalistic nonsense called a book on Nigeria, and would never recommend it to any objective mind.

Lots of Problems.......2003-06-13

I do think that the author had good intentions when he embarked on this endeavor, and there are some interesting anecdotes. I like the way he attempts to look at different aspects of Nigeria in every chapter: faith, ethnicity, etc. However he did not sufficiently contextualize the problems Nigeria faces in terms of Nigerian history or put them in their global economic contemporary context, either.
Someone might argue that he could only include some things and not others but as someone who teaches African history I can only emphasize how crucial it is to fully explain Nigeria's colonial past, the way it was governed etc. if you want to understand why there is such deeply rooted regionalism there and so many awful divisions. Maier only makes brief reference to "divide and rule" tactics of the British but even the one example he gives shows how devastating and bizarre and destructive colonial tactics were. Of course, that gets all of one paragraph, unlike the tireless accounts of seemingly senseless violence. Same with his mentioning that Shell oil funded all kinds of conflicts. He'll mention these things and then put all the blame on Nigerians.
Unfortunately there are so many untrue prejudices about Africa, that any book like this just feeds the fire of "Afro-pessimism" as it has been called: namely, Africans "can't govern themselves". The book contains a lot of stories of disorder and strife rather than emphasizing the resilience of the human spirit or how many democratic activist movements there really have been.
Any time you have something like this it's "reporting", not analysis. And this is a good series of articles but NOT a good introduction to the topic. Nigerians aren't scary, but the position that impoverished nations are in today is terrifying, and if we just cloud the real issues at stake by marveling at how "savage" the "dark continent" is we'll lose sight of the fact that Nigerians are people just like us-but without the infrastructure or funds to check massive corruption at the highest levels of government. And that's what colonialism did, create a parasitic elite. So if we really want to solve Nigeria's problems, why don't we stop blaming Nigerians and marveling at their dilemmas and instead help come up with solutions?

This rivals the experience accounted at bahiasun.com.......2002-12-08

I was impressed... here is an outsider who has managed to secure and lay down the "facts" around the demise of the geographical area known as Nigeria. It paints a picture of dismay, butreads very well. Can't blame the author.

the standard popular introduction to contemporary Nigeria.......2002-03-24

An accessible account of contemporary Nigeria. Maier is a good storyteller (gets the hook of Gen. Sani Abacha overdosing on viagra into the first chapter) but the book is more than mere sensationalism. It is good on the multitudinous conflicts in Ogoniland which culminated in the execution of playwright Ken Saro-Wiwa; and is quite good on the constitutional maneuverings that have led to the introduction of Islamic sharia law in several northern states. Should be the standard popular introduction to contemporary Nigeria.

Book Description

Behind today’s startling global spate of corporate scandals lies an even more alarming breakdown in corporate governance. Corporate Governance at the Crossroads features 40 articles by leading scholars and practitioners that examine the role of directors, controversial compensation plans, accounting and reporting issues, and more. Roundtable discussions highlight recent realities and concerns, along with possible solutions.

Corporate Governance at the Crossroads: A Book of Readings

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Corporate Governance at the Crossroads: A Book of Readings
Stuart L. Gillan
Manufacturer: McGraw-Hill/Irwin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OGGLI0

Book Description

This book brings together three decades worth of collaborative research to address the question "What sustains life?" In part a scientific response to Schroedinger's work "What is Life?" Urry's text contains elements of memoir, history, and a solid, informative scientific core that will interest both the general reader, student, and professional researcher.

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WHAT SUSTAINS LIFE
Dan W. Urry
Manufacturer: NY
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N66BKO

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What Sustains Life
D. W. Urry
Manufacturer: Birkhauser
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Book Description

This book presents an uncritical summary of thermodynamic data for common minerals and compounds at ambient surface conditions, with complete references for the data. Values of the enthalpy of formation, Gibbs energy of formation, and entropy for common elements, aqueous species, gases, liquids, minerals (many of which are usually not found in critical tables) and related substances are brought together. Because the summary is uncritical, all available values for the various species are included, allowing readers to make a choice among the data compiled by various groups. The table is an important reference for geochemists, geologists, and chemists.

Thermodynamic Values at Low Temperature for Natural Inorganic Materials: an uncritical summary;

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Thermodynamic Values at Low Temperature for Natural Inorganic Materials: an uncritical summary;
Terri L., and Robert M. Garrels; Woods
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OK6Y9M

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Student Solutions Manual to Accompany Physics: The Nature of Things
Susan M. Lea , and John R. Burke
Manufacturer: Thomson Brooks/Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Physics | Science | Subjects | Books
General | Physics | Professional Science | Professional & Technical | Subjects | Books
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Physics: The Nature of Things, Volume 2 (Physics)

ASIN: 0314207317

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Student Solutions Manual To Accompany Physics: The Nature Of Things
John R. Burke Susan M. Lea
Manufacturer: Thomson Brooks/Cole
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OU3ZKS

Book Description

Presents Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen along with a critical introduction and contextual materials. This edition places Jane Austen and Northanger Abbey in the major conversations of Romanticism, not just the gothic novel and female education. It places the novel in two contexts, 1798, when it was written, and 1818, when it was published, illustrating its relevance to both periods and the major writers, especially the poets. This edition connects Jane Austen with the major Western literary tradition, from ancient myth, the Arabian Nights, to Cervantes, Flaubert, and Virginia Woolf. Those interested in Jane Austen and/or the novel Northanger Abbey.

Book Description

This volume on the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia is key to understanding the future of this region, and Europe as a whole. Rather than an exclusive history of the current Yugoslav state, it is a broad-based reference book of the cultural factors and events, people and institutions, that lent shape to Serbian and Yugoslav culture.

Customer Reviews:

A Useful Guide to Yugoslav History.......2001-11-13

An excellent addition to the literature on Yugoslav and Serbian history. A must for anyone who would like to learn more about the region. Concise and easy to read. The entries on events and important individulas and institutions have not been burdened by the subjective interpretations and judgements. Highly recommended reading for general public and Yugoslav scholars.

A standard for scholars, students, and foreign policy makers.......2000-02-03

Finally, we have a comprehensive and coherent masterwork on Yugoslavia from a Balkan expert and an IPE scholar. The post-Cold War literature on international relations of Yugoslavia's demise, in its substance and method, for the most part, has not discriminated between truth and opinion. It has not discriminated between what is true objectively and rationally, supported by evidence and illuminated by reason, and what is only a subjective judgment, separated from the facts, unrealistic, and informed by prejudice.

Information and knowledge about the Balkans, Yugoslavia, and Serbia,have often been created and disseminated through uncorroborated reports and teleological research prone to errors: accepting a (policy) claim when it was false, rejecting it when it was true, or solving the wrong problem instead of the right one. Serious readers, scholars, and policy makers engaged in the Balkan affairs and U.S. foreign policy, therefore, should pose several questions:

(1) has the so-called "advocacy journalism" based on the reports from conflict stakeholders -- past, current, or prospective clients and proxies provided information or disinformation?

(2) has the "advocacy journalism" cultivated (a) ignorance and cognitive closure about causal links and their effects; (b) stirred input/output discrepancies that led to cognitive dissonance and suppression of reasoned judgment; or has it enhanced our understanding of causes and consequences of internal conflicts and interstate wars?

(3) have we improved our learning skills, and advanced our knowledge with briefings, statements, and judgments provided by bureaucrats, staff members, and policy makers in a ministry or agency?

Answers to these questions suggest that research and management of international affairs, so far, have been adverse for the study of history and policy. We have discovered fallacies and errors in the intelligence process and planning ex postfacto. We have had to contend with policy advocacy and policy application that stem from these fallacies and errors. Serious and much needed research to discourage the use of fallacies and to avoid costly conceptual and policy errors,so far, has been insufficient and inadequate.

Suster's "Historical Dictionary of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" in the English-speaking world has long been overdue. Since the end of the Cold War, the public was satiated with the literature on ethnic and regional conflict. This literature, with few exceptions, lacked the precision and depth required for serious social research. Academic and policy discourse has been in need of a discriminate and balanced evidence and inference. We make history and theory synthesis possible through this intellectual production of discriminate and balanced evidence and inference.

Zeljan Suster's book fills the large factual and analytical gap that exists in the contemporary literature on Yugoslavia. Besides the comprehensive lexicon of the names, events, and processes, the book's introductory chapter provides a concise but inclusive analytical background for the main period covered in the book. This analysis is refreshing and stimulating. It makes prospects for serious research on this and similar topics important and feasible. The "Historical Dictionary of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia" is a standard reference for scholars, students, and policy makers.

S. B. M. Pesic, University of Pittsburgh

A standard reference for scholars and policy makers.......1999-12-28

Finally, a comprehensive and coherent volume on Yugoslavia from a Balkan expert and an IPE scholar. The post-Cold War literature on international relations of Yugoslavia's demise, in its substance and method, for the most part, has not discriminated between truth and opinion -- between what is true objectively and rationally, supported by evidence and illuminated by reason, and what is only a subjective judgment, separated from the facts, unrealistic, and informed by prejudice.

Regrettably, information and knowledge about Serbia, Yugoslavia, and the Balkans have often been created and distributed by media generated and / or by media forwarded pictures, reports, and commentaries. This type of evidence has largely been based on leaks from known and unknown sources. Therefore serious readers, scholars, and policy makers engaged in the Balkan affairs and U.S. foreign policy should pose several questions.

(1) Has the so-called "advocacy journalism" based on the reports from conflict stakeholders -- past, current, or prospective clients and proxies -- provided information or disinformation?

(2) Has the advocacy journalism cultivated (a) ignorance and cognitive closure about causal links and their effects; (b) stirred input-output discrepancies that led to cognitive dissonance and suppression of reasoned judgment; or (c) has it enhanced our understanding of causes and consequences of internal conflicts and interstate wars?

(3) Have we improved our learning skills, and advanced our knowledge with briefings, statements, and judgments provided by bureaucrats, staff members, and policy makers in a ministry or agency?

Answers to these questions and the outcome of such a research and management of international affairs have been adverse for history, theory, and policy. We have discovered ex ante and the ex postfacto fallacies and errors in the intelligence process, and planning. We have had to contend with policy advocacy and implementation that stem from these fallacies and errors. Serious and much needed research to discourage the use of fallacies and to avoid costly conceptual and policy errors, so far has been insufficient and inadequate.

Suster's Historical Dictionary of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia in the English-speaking world has long been overdue. Since the end of the Cold War, the public was satiated with the literature on ethnic and regional conflict. This literature, with few exceptions, lacked the precision and depth required for serious social research. Academic and policy discourse has been in need of a discriminate and balanced evidence and inference. We make history and theory synthesis possible through this intellectual production of discriminate and balanced evidence and inference.

Zeljan Suster's book fills the large factual and analytical gap that exists in the contemporary literature on Yugoslavia. Besides the comprehensive lexicon of the names, events, and processes, the book's introductory chapter provides a concise but inclusive analytical background for the main period covered in the book. This analysis is refreshing and stimulating. It makes prospects for serious research on this and similar topics important and feasible. The Historical Dictionary of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia should be a standard reference for scholars, students, and policy makers.

Boban S. M. Pesic, University of Pittsburgh

A valuable book on a complex topic.......1999-11-24

This book, which is both detailed and accessible, is a valuable contribution to the recent body of literature on the former Yugoslavia. As a who's who and a what's what on the region's historical and contemporary figures and events it is an excellent starting point for the student, researcher and even the casual reader who will certainly have been exposed to a lot of media coverage of the region, but who may have found that the media explained only a little.

The alphabetic listing format is easy to use, and the extensive bibliography and chronology provide reference points for the reader to find out more on the many interesting aspects of the history and culture of the Balkans.

first-class documentation and analysis on difficult subject.......1999-11-09

Prof. Suster's book is a well documented and highly sophisticated work on history combining first-hand information, clear presentation and reliable analysis on many until now partially or wrongly interpreted historical phenomenons from troublesome Balkan history. Comprehensive in its analysis, the book is based on new historical literture and balanced in its historical judgments. Both biographies and historical analysis are based on scholarly literature from West and from local historiography. The emphesis is, as expected on contemporary history, covering all important facts of the last decade, but the most important historical phenomenons are, some for the first time in English,presented without any prejudice. In all respects this book will be an essential guide for everyone, from university professors and students to general public, tending to learn more on history and politics in Serbia, Montenegro and their neighbors.

Customer Reviews:

An amazing account of an amazing people.......2006-03-21

All of the history buffs and Native American descendants and people in general should buy this book to have a bigger and brighter outlook on the "indians" that our country so badly abused and misunderstood.

Amazing book.

My soul sings.......2005-08-30

In a nutshell this book is a compilation of quotations from many Native Americans.

However this book expands far beyond that nutshell. It shows many sides of Indian thought and belief interweaving both spirituality and history. The book is organised in an affective way, first having quotations showing the Indians willingness to co-exist with the white man and slowly that willingness fading into bitterness and anger as the settlers destroyed the land and displaced the Indians from their ancestral homes.

Even though 'Touch the Earth' might seem like an potentially depressing book it is very far from that. I found it very uplifting. Many of the quotations spoke to some deep part of my heart that made my soul smile. The archive pictures through out the book alone make me love it. It is a book full of words from wise men, so inspiring yet at other moments so anguished.

"What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of the buffalo in the winter time. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the Sunset." -- Crowfoot

"I hear no longer the songs of the women as they prepare the meal. The antelope have gone; the buffalo wallos are empty. [...] We are like birds with a broken wing. My heart is cold within me. My eyes are growing dim - I am old..." -- Chief Plenty-Coups

The one thing I will say about "Touch the Earth" is that you have to be in the right mood to read it. Most people cannot sit down and read a book cover to cover that is filled with quotation after quotation. Also some things that are said are so deep that I just had to sit for awhile and think about them. If you are not the type of person who liked history this is not the kind of book for you. However if the history of the Native American's fascinated you, as it does me, I would definitely recommend this gem.

Big lessons from the Great Spirit.......2005-08-09

Have you ever at any time in your life truly felt connected to the earth, all its inhabitants, the plants, the rocks, the wind? Touch the Earth is almost like a Native American prayer book and it examines this direct connection between our land's original inhabitants and their world around them. Not only did they feel this connection, but they lived it every day. Consequently they did not understand the White Man and his only going to church on Sundays.

As I've read and reread my copy, I often wonder what it would be like if we had respect for all the things created by God's hand instead of for only the ones we pick and choose to respect and honor. By favoring one species over another, we have dangerously tipped the ecological balance and not in a good way. By failing to understand the links between all the elements that make up the earth, we humans are well on our way to fouling our own nest.

I recommend reading this book late at night just before bedtime. Read only one or two essays at a time and allow the words to touch you. Perhaps you will remember why it is important to Touch the Earth, our Mother.

Native American philosophy has much to teach us.......2004-02-29

The letter from Chief Seattle to the US President.. "How can you buy or sell the sky, the warmth of the land? ..." and the vision of Black Elk ..."The sacred hoop of his people was only one of many hoops, all joined together to make one great circle, the great hoop of all peoples.." brought home to me the fact that the Native American philosophy of living has so much to teach us. They were closely connected to the earth, loved and respected it, while we treat it with violence; they were closely connected to our universal Mother and seemed to truly understand humankind's place in the universe while we trust in our technology and the wealth it brings us. The Native Americans appeared to have lived their lives with their two natures - materialistic and spiritual - in harmony while we have over emphasized the material and neglected the spiritual. While we cannot turn the clock back and ride horses and live in tents - nor would we want to - but surely there must be some principles that they incorporated into their lives which we can discover and build into our lives to help redress the balance of our two natures. So I turned to this book to see if there is some Native American wisdom which would enrich my life. I was certainly encouraged by the Book of-the-Month Club comment on the back cover "Simply but eloquently, the selections tell of the Indians' relationship with the earth, their kinship with all of nature's creatures, and their unity with the elements. They speak of the harmony that existed between the Indian and the land, a harmony that was disrupted as 'the hairy man from the east' encroached still further into their territory." and ".. one cannot help but be struck anew by their wisdom and their prophetic vision..."

I read this passage in the introduction: "In this book, the Indians speak for themselves, of the quality of their life. The passages that make up the book have been taken from speeches of Indians living in all parts of the North American continent, between the 16th and 20th centuries. They speak with courtesy and respect of the land, of animals, of the objects which made up the territory in which they lived. They saw no virtue in imposing their will over their environment: private acquisition, almost without exception, was to them a way to poverty, not to riches. The meaning of their life was identified through their relationships with each other and their homelands - all of which was given depth and resonance by memory" and understood that here in this volume I would find what I was looking for. Many of the passages reflect attempts by the Indians to offer their ideas to the whiteman but we responded by destroying their way of life and with it much of the wisdom we need today. We are indeed fortunate to have this collection to refer to. We cannot turn the clock back; we cannot undo the deeds of prior generations. But perhaps we can at least take the trouble to reflect on what these wise people were trying to teach our forebears and perhaps we will find some words of wisdom that will help us to live our lives with our two natures - materialistic and spiritual - more closely in balance.

If we fail to do this I fear that the prophecy in the introduction will come true. "It is well understood that the only decent future for us who live in America now is through a rediscovery of our environment. We need to establish a right relationship with the land and its resources; otherwise, the destruction of the Indian will be followed by the destruction of nature; and in the destruction of nature will follow the destruction of ourselves."

An uplifting glimpse into the Native American heart & mind........1997-10-14

I purchased this precious compendium of wisdom expecting to find some interesting Native American quotations to add to my 400+ collection of quotation books. I discovered an inspirationial book which deftly interweaves philosophy, ecology, history, anthropology and spirituality. Actually, it is a first hand account of the eradication of the American Indian culture and extermination of their peoples spoken by the tribal leaders. Yet it is uplifting and inspiring, not desolating. Page after page I found my heart glowing, or chills running up my back, as I was touched by the pure, noble, plain yet profound talk of these great yet simple men-- Seattle, Tecumseh, Black Hawk, Geronimo and lesser known chiefs of Choctaw, Nez Perce, Yuma, Hopi, Chickasaw, Sioux, and Cree nations. They, with great nobility and anguish, speak the case for their simple way of life, embracing nature and sharing its bounties with all their equal partners-- the buffalo, eagle, bear, trees, wind, earth and sky, all part of the great spirit. The archive photos alone are worth the bargain price of this treasure.

Touch the Earth, A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence

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Touch the Earth, A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence

Manufacturer: Promontory Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000JV5KYG

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Touch the Earth - A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence

Manufacturer: Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HVYKGW

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TOUCH THE EARTH A SELF -PORTRAIT OF INDIAN EXISTENCE

Manufacturer: Promontory Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H3BMY8

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TOUCH THE EARTH A SELF-PORTRAIT OF INDIAN EXISTENCE

Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HF1OLC

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TOUCH THE EARTH A SELF-PORTRAIT OF INDIAN EXISTENCE
T. C. (compiled) McLuhan
Manufacturer: Pocket Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O3LIY0

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Touch the Earth: A Self Portrait of Indian Existence
T. C. McLuhan
Manufacturer: Outerbridge
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000P6B4UY

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Touch the Earth: A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence
T C McLuhan
Manufacturer: Promontory Press c1971
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000ONZZT4

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Touch the Earth: A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence
T. C. McLuhan
Manufacturer: Pocket Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000O83HGC

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Touch the Earth: A Self-Portrait of Indian Existence
T.C. McLuhan
Manufacturer: Touchstone, Simon and Schuster
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000PHDCS0

Book Description

The fastest mass extinction of species in Earth's history, intriguingly explored in an illustrated companion to the American Museum of Natural History's permanent exhibit. The Biodiversity Crisis offers general audiences a clear understanding of the current threat to life on Earth posed by the fastest mass extinction in Earth's history, which has taken place over the last five hundred years. Unlike prior extinctions, this one is clearly a direct result of human activity, not of natural phenomena. Yet the public remains unaware of the crisis in sustaining biodiversity—the variety and interdependence of all living things on Earth. Published in conjunction with the American Museum of Natural History, whose major Hall of Biodiversity recently opened to great acclaim, the book defines biodiversity, demonstrates its importance to life as we know it, and presents strategies and solutions, including what we can do in our own homes and communities, for stopping the escalating rate of species' extinction. It combines essays by experts including E. O. Wilson, Niles Eldredge, and Peter Raven; profiles of naturalists such as Jane Goodall; and case studies. Engaging and accessible, The Biodiversity Crisis presents the best scientific thinking in language and images that we can all understand, and is illustrated with photographs and drawings and supplemented with a resource section and a glossary of key terms. Black-and-white photographs and illustrations throughout.

The New Press is pleased to announce the publication of this new title with the American Museum of Natural History, a collaboration that began with the publication of Epidemic! in 2000.

Founded in 1869, the American Museum of Natural History in New York City is one of the world's preeminent institutions for scientific research and education, visited by more than four million people annually. Three new titles, Earth, The Biodiversity Crisis, and Cosmic Horizons, are companion volumes to three major new permanent exhibitions at the museum: the David S. and Ruth L. Gottesman Hall of Planet Earth, the Hall of Biodiversity, and the Frederick Phineas and Sandra Priest Rose Center for Earth and Space.

Customer Reviews:

World-Class in Every Way.......2001-11-05

This is very much an edited work, with most of the entries being but two or three pages in length. All of the authors are world-class proven naturalists and related professionals, and the photography that accompanies each work is top of the line. Of all the bio-diversity books available, this one appears to be both the easiest to digest and the most pleasing to the eye.

Biodiversity is an option-generator. More diversity, more options for the future. See also Howard Bloom, World Brain.

Hyperdisease happens more often than we might think, and is very relevant to concerns today about the collapse of public health. See also Laurrie Garrett, Betrayal of Trust.

Biological elements are being inserted into commercial off the shelf products with unanticipated effects, some of which are damaging to humans. One noteworthy example: Corning added an ingredient to its tubes to make them less brittle, and scientists were finding their experiments infected and contaminated. Corning would not reveal what had changed, claiming it was a trade secret. Independent investigation finally determined that there was a synthetic chemical mimicking estrogen and having the effect of an estrogen injection on the cells exposed to the Corning tubes. Buyers beware--there would appear to be some disclosure standards required!

Mass catastrophes have occurred many times over history, eliminating up to 75% of all living things, with varied outcomes in the millions of years thereafter. See also David Keys, Catastrophe, on the most recent, the Dark Ages, circa 535 A.D.

Naturalists and natural science--the study of nature in its own environment, are endangered. Most universities are failing to support this vital area of study, with a result that our understanding of nature stems largely from lab work and computer models that are far removed from reality. See also John Paul Ralston, Voltaire's Bastards.

I highly recommend this book. It is both discouraging (so much yet to be done to stabilize the world) and encouraging (many good things being done by many small groups).

Book Description

Is the value of nature only instrumental value for human beings or does nature also have intrinsic value? Can traditional anthropocentrism be defended or must we move to a new, physio-centric moral position? This study develops a critical taxonomy or "map" of thirteen arguments for the conservation of nature. It defends the moral intrinsic value of sentient animals, but not of non-sentient nature. The arguments are phrased in a simple, plastic, and concise language.

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