cover image Living in the Anthropocene: Earth in the Age of Humans

Living in the Anthropocene: Earth in the Age of Humans

Edited by W. John Kress and Jeffrey K. Stine. Smithsonian, $34.95 (208p) ISBN 978-1-58834-601-8

Kress (The Weeping Goldsmith) and Stine (America’s Forested Wetlands)—curators at the National Museum of Natural History and National Museum of American History, respectively—collect 31 essays representing a broad array of disciplinary approaches to the topic of the Anthropocene. Scientists, humanists, and artists offer their perspectives on the sort of future they envision while providing advice on the action needed to help shape that future. Though the voices are diverse, three major themes emerge. First, most of the authors are hopeful that there is still time for positive action. Second, despite that hope, most opine that time is short and meaningful action must be taken soon. Third, all agree that the future will look quite different from the present, from both social and ecological perspectives. For example, filmmaker John Grabowska explains the need to balance hope and despair in environmental films: “Natural history films must illuminate the realities of living in the Anthropocene while reminding audiences that the natural world is precious and valuable.” For their part, botanists Ari Novy, Peter H. Raven, and Holly H. Shimizu discuss possibilities associated with urban agriculture, which in addition to its ecological benefits may serve to build “community cohesion.” With so many perspectives present, there’s something of interest to a wide array of readers. (Oct.)