The World Without Us

Written by:
Alan Weisman
Narrated by:
Adam Grupper

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
7
Narrator
5
Release Date
July 2007
Duration
12 hours 22 minutes
Summary
Discover the impact of the human footprint in The World Without Us. Take us off the Earth and what traces of us would linger? And which would disappear? Alan Weisman writes about which objects from today would vanish without us; how our pipes, wires, and cables would be pulverized into an unusual (but mere) line of red rock; why some museums and churches might be the last human creations standing; how rats and roaches would struggle without us; and how plastic, cast-iron, and radio waves may be our most lasting gifts to the planet.
But The World Without Us is also about how parts of our world currently fare without a human presence (Chernobyl; a Polish old-growth forest, the Korean DMZ) and it looks at the human legacy on Earth, both fleeting and indelible. It's narrative nonfiction at its finest, taking an irresistible concept with gravity and a highly-readable touch.
Some examples of what would happen:
· One year: Several more billions birds will live when airplane warning lights cease blinking.
· Twenty years: The water-soaked steel columns that support the street above New York's East Side would corrode and buckle. As Lexington Avenue caves in, it becomes a river.
· 100,000 years: CO2 will be back to pre-human levels (or it might take longer).
· Forever: Our radio waves, fragmented as they may be, will still be going out.
Reviews
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Patti Dunn

Jam packed with facts that are terrifying or comforting ... And sometimes both. It's a shame the much needed and rare comic relief throughout this book was overshadowed by the stern and overly dramatic narration.

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Amber L.

heavy in information a bit depressing sometimes but only because it's true, still thoroughly enjoyed the book

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Anonymous

Absolutely loved it! Great listen and takes you on a journey across the world and beyond

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Riyadh Alshammari

Great book with great information about the world around us

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