The Sixth Extinction

Very knowledgeable information shared on prior mass extinctions on earth and their causes + a warning to humanity today to help save endangered species from extinction. I especially liked the fact that Richard Leakey is a conservationist along with being a very knowledgeable paleontologist. Well written, insightful and interesting. Highly Recommend!

The Sixth Extinction provides an in-depth investigation into our history, present, and future. Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin use more than enough detail to present a very convincing theory; compiling data from our arhaeoligical past and present ecological role within our planet to give every reader a sense of urgency to do something to save ourselves and other species from a dark future. Humans as the dominant and superior specie on Earth have an ethical responsiblity to live sustainably, with, not against our world.

The Sixth Extinction by Richard Leakey outlined the five past major extinctions in the history of the Earth and the trends toward a sixth extinction of the Homo Sapien species. Leakey emphasized negative effects humans have on species diversity. He also stressed the importance of species diversity in the stability of ecosystems. With 30,000 species going extinct every year, humans are having adverse effects on the life on Earth, and eventually it will effect the human race. The book was intuitive and tied together wonderfully with references to many studies and research by various other scientists and philosophers.

For anyone interested in ecology, geology, evolution or environmental science, this book is a MUST! A well documented, easy to understand, and clear look at where mankind is taking the planet.

This 1995 book by Leakey and Lewin, although very well written, ultimately proved to be somewhat of a disappointment to me. It is not that I disagree with any particular thesis in the book, as much as that I've read it all elsewhere. Those well read in Stephen Jay Gould, Richard Dawkins, or David Raup will find nothing new here; which is not to say that the message does not bear repeating to the world. Leakey and Lewin observe that the current worldwide extinction rate of species equals that of various Mass Extinctions of geologic history. Their point is that we are experiencing, and will continue to experience a loss of bio-diversity that will have profound consequences for humanity. In order to establish this thesis, they give a brief review of the history of life on this planet, the rise of Darwinism, Uniformitarianism, and now Neo-Catastrophism. The extent and nature of past Mass Extinctions are examined, along with various theories as to their cause. They continue with a discussion on ecology and the current loss of species, bio-diversity, etc. Through the bulk of this book are scattered frequent refernces to the thinking of various authors, pro and con. One gets the creepy sensation that one is reading a college book report. The sole chapter of original contribution by Leakey himself (i.e. not a paraphrase of what he has read elsewhere) is that of today's plight of the modern elephant. While not a matter of pressing concern to the average person, it is symptomatic of the problem at large which is (or should be!) of concern to us all. This book thus serves as a compilation of alarm messages sounded by many others, and as such ought to serve a useful function. Leakey, who has had an active role in efforts to save the elephant, is exquisitely sensitive to the needs of expanding human population; but the book then breaks down in it's concluding pages by viewing the main problem to be that of ecology and species loss. It is that, of course, but the root causes and possible solutions are not simple. While the authors do note the exponential rise in human population, they choose not to discuss the obvious solution (birth control). Nor do they choose to dwell on the gloomy hopelessness of achieving a solution. We have achieved our success in large part by the efficiency with which we breed, and are (alas) slave to our evolutonary past. Unfortunately all the Goulds, Leakeys, and Lewins will not be persuasive enough to enable the uneducated masses to rise above the imperitives of their genes. But they can try, and this book is a grand attempt.