Humanity's descent : the consequences of ecological instability / Rick Potts ; illustrations by Jennifer Clark.

Author
Potts, Richard, 1953- [Browse]
Format
Book
Language
English
Published/​Created
New York : Morrow, 1996.
Description
325 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Availability

Copies in the Library

Location Call Number Status Location Service Notes
ReCAP - Remote StorageGN281.4 .P65 1996 Browse related items Request

    Details

    Subject(s)
    Summary note
    • In this groundbreaking book, Rick Potts uncovers the ecology of our earliest forebears, explores their survival and extinction, and tells the drama of human evolution as it has never been told before. Potts, internationally known for his innovative excavations of early archeological sites, brilliantly connects our planet's past with the environmental dilemmas we now face, showing how ancient humans responded to the forces of nature and survived long periods of dramatic habitat disturbance.
    • In the end, Humanity's Descent offers a provocative statement about the present status of our species and its institutions. Potts convincingly explains why prevailing ideals of economic growth and environmental preservation are based on mistaken, short-term views of the natural world. Our future lies, as it always has, in our ability to tolerate environmental insult and to revise our relationship with nature.
    Bibliographic references
    Includes bibliographical references and index.
    Contents
    • Ch. I. Origin
    • Ch. II. Dominion
    • Ch. III. Nature's Alteration
    • Ch. IV. Experiments in Being Human
    • Ch. V. Survival of the Generalist
    • Ch. VI. A New View of Nature
    • Ch. VII. The Litmus Test.
    ISBN
    0688104703 (alk. paper)
    LCCN
    96001699
    OCLC
    34116836
    RCP
    C - S
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