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Tim Flannery
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Here on Earth: A Natural History of the Planet Kindle Edition

by Tim Flannery (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.2 out of 5 stars 225 ratings
From the internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer, and conservationist comes an awe-inspiring account of earth’s evolution.
 
Beginning at the moment of creation with the Big Bang, Here on Earth explores the evolution of Earth from a galactic cloud of dust and gas to a planet with a metallic core and early signs of life within a billion years of being created. In a compelling narrative, Flannery describes the formation of the Earth’s crust and atmosphere, as well as the transformation of the planet’s oceans from toxic brews of metals (such as iron, copper, and lead) to life-sustaining bodies covering seventy percent of the planet’s surface.
 
Life, Flannery shows, first appeared in these oceans in the form of microscopic plants and bacteria, and these metals served as catalysts for the earliest biological processes known to exist. From this starting point, Flannery tells the fascinating story of the evolution of our own species, exploring several early human species—from the diminutive creatures (the famed hobbits) who lived in Africa around two million years ago to Homo erectus—before turning his attention to Homo sapiens. Drawing on Charles Darwin’s and Alfred Russel Wallace’s theories of evolution and Lovelock’s Gaia hypothesis, Here on Earth is a dazzling account of life on our planet.
 
“You’ll discover why Tim Flannery’s books have made him the rock star of modern science.” —Jared Diamond, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Guns, Germs, and Steel
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  1. ISBN-13
    978-0802195609
  2. Publisher
    Grove Press
  3. Publication date
    April 5, 2011
  4. Language
    English
  5. File size
    6.4 MB
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tim Flannery is one of Australia’s leading thinkers and writers.

An internationally acclaimed scientist, explorer and conservationist, he has published more than 130 peer-reviewed scientific papers and many books. His books include the landmark works The Future Eaters and The Weather Makers, which has been translated into more than 20 languages and in 2006 won the NSW Premier’s Literary Prizes for Best Critical Writing and Book of the Year.

He received a Centenary of Federation Medal for his services to Australian science and in 2002 delivered the Australia Day address. In 2005 he was named Australian Humanist of the Year, and in 2007 honoured as Australian of the Year.

He spent a year teaching at Harvard, and is a founding member of the Wentworth Group of Concerned Scientists, a director of the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and the National Geographic Society’s representative in Australasia. He serves on the board of WWF International (London and Gland) and on the sustainability advisory councils of Siemens (Munich) and Tata Power (Mumbai).

In 2007 he co-founded and was appointed Chair of the Copenhagen Climate Council, a coalition of community, business, and political leaders who came together to confront climate change.

Tim Flannery is currently Professor of Science at Maquarie University, Sydney.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B004RPY47O
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Grove Press (April 5, 2011)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ April 5, 2011
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 6.4 MB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 335 pages
  • Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 080211976X
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 out of 5 stars 225 ratings

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Tim Flannery

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4.2 out of 5 stars
225 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book easy to read and appreciate its intriguing insights. They value the information quality, with one customer highlighting the discourse on evolution presented in short vignettes.

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11 customers mention "Readability"10 positive1 negative

Customers find the book easy to read, with one mentioning its accessible language.

"...insights and observations throughout that made this an enjoyable and easy read...." Read more

"This is a history of early man to present day. It is interesting and easy to read...." Read more

"Flannery has written yet another interesting book...." Read more

"...it's a great compendium of where the planet and life has been, its current status and prognosis for the generations which lie ahead...." Read more

9 customers mention "Information quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the book's information quality, with one customer highlighting its comprehensive coverage of various topics and another noting its discourse on evolution presented through short vignettes.

"...It is in part a natural history of the planet, but in larger part it is philosophic musing on the environmental crossroads at which we find..." Read more

"This is a history of early man to present day. It is interesting and easy to read...." Read more

"...The book is an inquiry, a great open question -- is humanity becoming a super-organism and finding its place on the planet, or is humanity a cancer..." Read more

"...it's a discourse on evolution presented in short vignettes and provides insight on our planet's vulnerabilities and presents an outline for..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Luther Lewis
    5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing insights and observations
    Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book is not what I thought it would be from the subtitle. It is in part a natural history of the planet, but in larger part it is philosophic musing on the environmental crossroads at which we find ourselves and how we view, or should view, planet Earth. He draws a distinction between Darwin and the co-founder of evolutionary theory, Alfred Russel Wallace. “Wallace realised that while evolution by natural selection is a fearsome mechanism, it has nevertheless created a living, working planet, which includes us, with our love for each other, and our society.” Though I’ve read much about Darwin, I had not sufficiently focused on Wallace. There are many such intriguing insights and observations throughout that made this an enjoyable and easy read.

    However, this book was published in 2010, and viewed from the perspective of 2024 Flannery was overly optimistic. We haven’t come nearly as far as we should have in realistically grappling with the damage we have done to the planet, and catastrophe is not a remote possibility. Flannery is also too optimistic in writing that the “prospect of dictators flourishing in western Europe now seems remote.” Flannery believes that “[t]he growth of democracy is vital to a sustainable future,” but did not foresee the rise of authoritarianism in Europe and in the U.S. The impact of that rise on the planet’s health is only one of the consequences, but perhaps the most dire.
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  • Jean in Wisconsin
    4.0 out of 5 stars How and Why We Got This Way
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2014
    Verified Purchase
    This is a history of early man to present day. It is interesting and easy to read.This is the story of how we have been decimating the planet from the beginning. I thought of our hunter/gatherer days as a time when man was in sync with nature, but no. Even then people were systematic killers/destroyers without a thought for tomorrow. The author wraps up his history lesson with a summary of the wonderful things that technology and science have given us. It is now possible that this knowledge will save us and the planet. It is possible but, in view of what we are, it seems more unlikely than ever that we will use our knowledge to save our world. So in that way the book is a bit of a downer. But if you are interested in some clues as to where we are heading, than you will appreciate this book.
    22 people found this helpful
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  • Marty G. Price
    5.0 out of 5 stars An inquiry
    Reviewed in the United States on March 17, 2013
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    Five stars may be pushing it, but the book is underrated here due to the input of various reviewers who either: thought it was a book *about* natural history (blame the publisher, that subtitle is bad); or had to toss in their two cents as climate change deniers; or were like the kook who set about denying evolution. I delayed purchasing the book because of that unfortunate low rating.

    The book is an inquiry, a great open question -- is humanity becoming a super-organism and finding its place on the planet, or is humanity a cancer eating away at the fabric of the planet? In pursuing this general inquiry, Flannery provides a range of facts -- but they stand as examples or arguments regarding certain specifics of our brief, tumultuous appearance on earth, not as complete claims regarding the state of the planet. It is a small book; it just deals with the human sphere and it scarcely touches on the art and science that provides an aesthetic justification for our existence.

    Instead the focus is -- Are we bad for the planet? Yes! at least in the short term. Are we inherently bad for the planet, so bad we will prove the ruin of ourselves and of the planet as a living, life-producing entity? Not necessarily. Elements in ourselves, our ability to form societies, suggest we are capable of the level of cooperation required to make us a symbiotic element of the swirling, changing ecosphere.

    The earth is out-of-balance, but the earth is always out-of-balance. The only things 'in-balance' are dead. So what are we, with our recent vast influence on the planet? Dangerous disease? Lethal disease? Or just our changing selves on a live (therefore changing) planet? Flannery provides fodder for rumination, with abundant reminders that we are powerful little creatures -- dangerously powerful -- stumbling through the 'interesting times' we have created.
    103 people found this helpful
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  • sunshine
    3.0 out of 5 stars Almost Science
    Reviewed in the United States on April 20, 2011
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    Flannery has written yet another interesting book. But it really isn't as rigorous as many readers might wish, from a scientific viewpoint; rather touchy-feely stuff appropriate for a green fundamentalist.
    8 people found this helpful
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  • hunter42
    4.0 out of 5 stars an "all in one" book
    Reviewed in the United States on January 4, 2013
    Verified Purchase
    i had read this book from my local library before i ordered it from amazon. i ordered it because i wanted my grandkids to have an opportunity to read it when they get a bit older. it's a great compendium of where the planet and life has been, its current status and prognosis for the generations which lie ahead. it's a discourse on evolution presented in short vignettes and provides insight on our planet's vulnerabilities and presents an outline for responsible actions on the part of the human species....all in one book. what more could a reader ask for? i order books that i think are "keepers" and this one fits that billing. Flannery hit a home run. PK
    15 people found this helpful
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  • Gail student
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book to gain real understanding
    Reviewed in the United States on August 11, 2011
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    This is a wonderful book for those who have no basic science education or understanding of the world we live in. For years we have lived in our own little world lacking any understanding our our home, the Earth. We never really needed to know due to the small population of humans. However, since the industrial revolution and the explosion in our populations, it is now critical the we gain some simple understanding of how things really do work, and not from the point of view from lawyers, policy makers with agendas, or the greedy who seek to decieve us.
    This book is a beautiful, unbias story of Earth and the story of us. It is interesting and fun. I love it!
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Mycv
    5.0 out of 5 stars A view of civilization , what went wrong and how to fix it. A dream.
    Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2020
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    This book held my attention on a topic I never before considered seriously. Saving earth As it once was is a dream but has possibilities in parts. A good book to read.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Patty
    4.0 out of 5 stars Good, but it didn't make me optimistic
    Reviewed in Canada on February 4, 2024
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    The author tries to build a case for hope for the planet, in spite of climate change and rapidly disappearing biodiversity. Unfortunately, in spite of his good writing and impressive credentials, he didn't convince me that humans are going to pull together and do the necessary things to avoid environmental disaster. Some of the things he discusses as hopeful movements have fizzled or blazed out since the book was published.
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  • Carlos R. Keim
    4.0 out of 5 stars Book
    Reviewed in Canada on February 9, 2022
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    Good book
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