Green Equilibrium: The Vital Balance of Humans and Nature

Biologist Wills (The Darwinian Tourist) examines the state of balance that keeps life on Earth "vibrant, verdant, and ecologically intact," by taking readers on a virtual world tour while discussing examples of equilibrium and disequilibrium that he has personally observed. He declares that people can choose the path of the future: whether to continue damaging ecosystems at large; to continue with the status quo, but set aside some preserves; or to modify current behaviors based on what we have learned. He bases his studies on the assumption that people generally will choose the third path. Rather than lecturing on eco-friendly living or scientific evidence, Wills teaches science and green methods by sharing anecdotes from his own travels around the world, and numerous photographs and illustrations highlight his stories. Wills occasionally lapses into heavier science, including the Janzer-Connell hypothesis of pathogens or details of Neanderthal DNA, but the bulk of his work will appeal to anyone interested in the environment and how humans live in it. (May)