Earth A tenant's manual

Within the pages of this book, geologist Rhodes (president emer., Cornell) reviews earth science, identifies and discusses the major environmental issues currently facing societies, and describes and promotes pathways for sustainable use of Earth and its resources. The earth science chapters begin at the scale of the solar system and then focus upon the lithosphere, hydrosphere, and atmosphere. Following chapters include a summary of life's evolution on Earth, culminating with human interactions with Earth, including geologic hazards and the use (and overuse) of Earth's resources. The second half of the book first reviews environmental problems that the world collectively faces today, including widespread pollution, overpopulation, and global climate change; it then discusses in some detail the sustainable use of major components of Earth's resources. In closing, Rhodes offers ten proposals for developing sustainable policies that touch upon conservation, a reconsideration of infrastructure and the items that people consume, economic incentives, and approaches to responding to change. Overall, the book is highly readable. Although science is a focus, the presentation is such that anyone with an interest in environmental issues will enjoy and learn from the work. It could serve well as a text for students in an upper-division environmental issues class. Summing Up: Highly recommended. All levels/libraries. T. J. Kroeger Bemidji State University