Overview

A leading environmental writer looks at the unexpected effects—and possible benefits—of a shrinking, graying population   Over the last century, the world’s population quadrupled and fears of overpopulation flared, with baby booms blamed for genocide and terrorism, and overpopulation singled out as the primary factor driving global warming. Yet, surprisingly, it appears that the population explosion is past its peak—by mid-century, the world’s population will be declining for the first time in over seven hundred years. In The Coming Population Crash, veteran environmental writer Fred Pearce reveals the dynamics behind this dramatic shift and describes the environmental, social, and economic effects of our surprising demographic future.

Full Product Details

Author:   Fred Pearce
Publisher:   Beacon Press
Imprint:   Beacon Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.80cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.425kg
ISBN:  

9780807001226

ISBN 10:   0807001228
Pages:   312
Publication Date:   05 April 2011
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Inactive
Availability:   Awaiting stock  

Table of Contents

Preface Introduction   Part One Malthusian Nightmares 1 A Dark and Terrible Genius 2 The Road to Skibbereen 3 Saving the White Man   Part Two Rise of the Population Controllers 4 An Ornithologist Speaks 5 The Contraceptive Cavalry 6 Three Wise Men 7 Six Dollars a Snip 8 Green Revolution 9 One Child   Part Three Implosion 10 Small Towns in Germany 11 Winter in Europe 12 Russian Roulette   Part Four The Reproductive Revolution 13 Sisters 14 Sex and the City 15 Singapore Sling 16 Missing Girls 17 Where Men Still Rule   Part Five Migrants 18 Waving or Drowning? 19 Migrant Myths 20 Footloose in Asia 21 God’s Crucible   Part Six Reaching The Limits 22 The Tigers and the Bulge 23 Footprints on a Finite Planet 24 Feeding the World 25 Slumdogs Arise   Part Seven Older, Wiser, Greener 26 The Age of the Old 27 Silver Lining 28 Peak Population and Beyond   Notes on Sources Index

Reviews

Well-written and important. . . . The book discusses the impact of the green revolution, massive migration, the Chinese one-child family programme, declining birth rates in the developing world, the rise of death rates in Russia, and more. Even those of us who have been in the population business for half a century can learn from its coverage of controversial topics. We hope [ The Coming Population Crash ] will convince many decision-makers, especially in the U.S., that they ignore population issues at their peril. --Paul and Anne Ehrlich, New Scientist <br> [Pearce] weaves the views of many of the world's top demographers together with first-hand reporting from the slums of Mumbai and ghost towns of east Germany to bring to life what could easily have turned into a drab bit of statistical analysis. It doesn't. --Danny Fortson, Sunday Times (London) <br> [A] fascinating analysis of how global population trends have shaped, and been shaped by, political and cultural shift

Well-written and important. . . . The book discusses the impact of the green revolution, massive migration, the Chinese one-child family programme, declining birth rates in the developing world, the rise of death rates in Russia, and more. Even those of us who have been in the population business for half a century can learn from its coverage of controversial topics. We hope [The Coming Population Crash] will convince many decision-makers, especially in the U.S., that they ignore population issues at their peril. --Paul and Anne Ehrlich, New Scientist [Pearce] weaves the views of many of the world's top demographers together with first-hand reporting from the slums of Mumbai and ghost towns of east Germany to bring to life what could easily have turned into a drab bit of statistical analysis. It doesn't. --Danny Fortson, Sunday Times (London) [A] fascinating analysis of how global population trends have shaped, and been shaped by, political and cultural shifts . . . Highly readable and marked by first-class reportage. --Publishers Weekly, starred review Fascinating [and] optimistic. --Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

Well-written and important. . . . The book discusses the impact of the green revolution, massive migration, the Chinese one-child family programme, declining birth rates in the developing world, the rise of death rates in Russia, and more. Even those of us who have been in the population business for half a century can learn from its coverage of controversial topics. We hope [ The Coming Population Crash ] will convince many decision-makers, especially in the U.S., that they ignore population issues at their peril. --Paul and Anne Ehrlich, New Scientist <br> <br> [Pearce] weaves the views of many of the world's top demographers together with first-hand reporting from the slums of Mumbai and ghost towns of east Germany to bring to life what could easily have turned into a drab bit of statistical analysis. It doesn't. --Danny Fortson, Sunday Times (London)<br> <br> [A] fascinating analysis of how global population trends have shaped, and been shaped by, political and cultural shifts . . . Highly readable and marked by first-class reportage. -- Publishers Weekly, starred review<br><br> Fascinating [and] optimistic. --Jon Stewart, The Daily Show

Author Information

Fred Pearce is an award-winning former news editor at New Scientist. Currently its environmental and development consultant, he has also written for Audubon, Popular Science, Time, the Boston Globe, and Natural History, and writes a regular column for the Guardian. He has been honored as UK environmental journalist of the year, among his other awards. His many books include When the Rivers Run Dry, With Speed and Violence(Beacon / 8573-8 / $16.00 pb), and Confessions of an Eco-Sinner (Beacon / 8595-0 / $16.00 pb). Pearce lives in England.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Countries Available

All regions