The World Without Us
by Alan Weisman

What would happen if all of the human beings on Earth suddenly vanished? This is the question Alan Weisman addresses in The World Without Us, his intelligent investigation into how our disappearance would cause the planet to reshape, regrow and readjust in myriad ways. Weisman traveled around the globe and met with numerous experts to create a realistic illustration of how Earth would get along without us. What did he find out? Namely:

• Two days after humans disappear, New York City’s subways—without being pumped free of water—would flood.

• After seven days, cooling water in nuclear reactor cores would run out, triggering global meltdowns.

• After three years, with no heat, cockroaches in temperate cities die (so much for that myth).

Conjures images of something out of The Twilight Zone doesn’t it? Wait until you read what happens at 20 to 100 years (it involves giant sloths)! In addition, Weisman looks at parts of our world that currently manage without significant human presence, including Chernobyl, the Korean DMZ and a Polish old-growth forest. Fascinating, imaginative, and thought-provoking, this is one of our favorite books of the year.

http://www.qpb.com

Did you read it?

No, I get monthly sales catalogs from two book clubs and post a couple of books that look interesting when they come in.

Then I take the catalog to the library and see if they have it or if it's anywhere in the library system. If not and the book looks really good I go to Barnes & Noble and take a look at it if they have it - but all too often that turns out to be like a movie you go to see only to find out the previews were the best part!

The author of this book was the guest on Coast to Coast tonight, you guys really should listen to that program once in a while.

Fascinating guy.