A Natural History of the Future: What the Laws of Biology Tell Us About the Destiny of the Human Species

People must have biological laws “in the front of our mind if we are to make any sense of the years ahead,” warns biologist Dunn in this effective exploration of nature in the future (after Never Home Alone). To explain the probable impacts that a warming planet will have on life, Dunn focuses on such laws of nature as natural selection, the species-area law (which “allows us to predict where and when species will go extinct”), and the law of the niche, which governs where species can successfully live. He also explains “law-like biases” that people have about the natural world, such as anthropocentrism, which gives people a “false impression of the world.” Life, Dunn argues, will continue, though it will likely be dramatically different from its current form, and humanity’s future is far from secure, as rising temperatures will lead to increases in violence, decreases in gross domestic product, and far fewer places suited to human survival. Additionally, he posits, unless significant changes are made, within six decades 3.5 billion people will be living in environments unable to support human life. Dunn’s pessimism is offset by his belief that people can help mitigate the effects of climate change by valuing “the rest of life” outside humanity, as well as heeding the lessons that other life has to teach. Thoughtful and accessible, this deserves a wide readership. (Nov.)