Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction

Description

Climate scientists, geologists, ecologists, and archaeologists recognize the profound effects of human activity on Earth, though whether and how this should be recognized as a formal geological epoch - the Anthropocene - remains under debate, Erle Ellis describes how the Anthropocene concept is affecting the sciences, humanities, and politics.

• Describes the ways in which humanity has left its mark on the Earth, from pollution and the use of fossil fuels to mass extinctions
• Offers an up to date synthesis of the science of the Anthropocene, drawing on the work of geologists, geographers, environmental scientists, archaeologists, and oceanographers to show how this is an issue at the heart of environmental politics
• Considers key debates in the area, in particular where to locate the beginning of the Anthropocene in time, and whether it should be defined as a specific epoch on the Geological Timescale
• Presents the Anthropocene more broadly as a new narrative forcing a radical revision of age-old questions concerning humans and our relationship with nature
• Part of the Very Short Introductions series - over nine million copies sold worldwide

About the Author(s)

Erle C. Ellis, Professor of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland

Erle C. Ellis is Professor of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). His research investigates the ecology of human landscapes at local to global scales towards informing sustainable stewardship of the biosphere in the Anthropocene. He teaches environmental science and landscape ecology at UMBC, and has taught ecology at Harvard's Graduate School of Design. Ellis is a member of the Anthropocene Working Group of the Subcommission of Quaternary Stratigraphy of the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the scientific steering committee of the Global Land Programme, formerly of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), now of its successor organization, Future Earth, and a senior fellow of the Breakthrough Institute.

Table of Contents

1:Origins
2:Earth System
3:Geologic Time
4:The Great Acceleration
5:Anthropos
6:Oikos
7:Politikos
8:Prometheus
Further Reading
Index

Reviews

"In this Very Short Introduction, Professor Ellis illustrates the issues of establishing a new epoch beautifully and also gives an excellent history of the Anthropocene's development as an idea." - Jonathan Scafidi, Geoscientist

"This little book provides a refreshing read ... Every geography teacher would benefit from reading this short introduction, not least for the powerful knowledge it lends for understanding human relations with, and actions on, the environment." - Duncan Hawley, Geography Magazine

"[an] excellent, concise and foundational book" - Jim Richardson, Eyes on Earth

"Ellis provides us with an authoritative introduction to the Anthropocene ... a fascinating and erudite book"" - Leslie Sklair, LSE Review of Books

"An easy-to understand new release offers a compact introduction to the age of man" - Tanja Traxler, Der Standard

"Anthropocene: A Very Short Introduction provides an exceptionally well-organized, sufficiently detailed, and encompassing overview of why the Anthropocene should be clearly recognized, in some form, as an unprecedented time in Earth history ... My initial reaction after reading Ellis's contribution was to think about just how enlightened our world would be if everyone would read this book." - John Geissman, Reports of the National Center for Science Education (NCSE)

"an interesting, succinct and concerning exposé that explains both the controversy and the science of the Anthropocene." - GrrlScientist for Medium

"An excellent in"roduction to this still controversial concept" - David Lorimer, Paradigm Explorer

"Ellis offers an insightful discussion of our role in shaping the planet, and how this will influence our future on many fronts." - Michael Svoboda, Yale Climate Connections

"This is a welcome addition to the Very Short Introductions series and would be a cheap, useful addition as a reference work to anyone concerned as to how we are transforming our world." - Jonathan Cowie, Science Fact & Science Fiction Concatenation

"Ellis's slim book does an excellent job of cutting through the complexity [of the topic]. He has produced an impressive overview of the Anthropocene concept as both a scientific and cultural discussion ... Overall the book is fair, comprehensive, and clearly written." - Nicole E. Heller, Environmental History