One never ceases to marvel at the consistent way in which we humans are lunging headlong towards an ecological disaster. In this wonderful book by a former New York Times reporter, the reader is whisked away into a series of field trips into myriad places where the increasing evidence of approaching calamity is being observed and discussed.

The author focuses on one of the most credible threats to our future on this planet, global- warming. She makes a kind of tour of places already affected by the rise in temperature. From Alaska where she speaks with a group of Eskimos who have literally lost their world, to Holland where there is a concern that the great part of the landmass may disappear in the centuries ahead.

With the Third World countries like India and China becoming both more industrial and consumptive societies, the environment’s ability to overcome the cumulative injuries to the earth’s biosphere has become more difficult. This book brings the environment into the consciousness of the people and asks what, if anything, can be done, and how we can save our planet.