Population, Resources, Environment: Issues in Human Ecology

Paul Ehrlich is really Paul Revere. As he gallops verbally through our society, he warns us of the enemy rapidly approaching. The enemy, much more deadly than the British Redcoats, is in fact, global ecological catastrophe caused by the unbridled increase in the human population, the wanton and gluttonous utilization of the earth's precious and limited resources, and the careless despoliation of the environment we all must share. His aim is to arouse us; he is passionately concerned about our basic ignorance of the problem and ways to correct it, as well as by our failure of will where certain hard decisions have to be made. This book, written with his wife, is his way of giving us some ammunition for the battle ahead. Paul Sears, who retired as Director of the Conservation Program at Yale several years ago, described ecology as a "subversive science." Sound ecological management appears to be essentially incompatible with an unregulated capitalistic economy, with its emphasis on production for profit rather than for use, massive advertising campaigns to stimulate new material wants and the planned obsolescence of shoddy materials. Though it is not the main point of the Ehrlichs' book, this problem is posed at frequent intervals by their exposition. This is not a typical textbook; it is frequently passionately written and opinionated. Yet it is provocative, and presents the issues sharply to engage students' interest. The Ehrlichs' book is appropriate reading fare for all concerned citizens. ARTHUR W. GALSTON