(Nothing but) Flowers is one of my favourite Talking Heads songs, David Byrne's wry lyric about people living in a post-civilized world set to some upbeat music. Lately I've been noticing some reviews for a book entitled The World Without Us , by Alan Weisman, a book in which he both details and speculates about the effects of human beings and their creations will have on the future of the planet, should all humans disappear off the face of the earth, a step beyond from what Byrne had envisioned.
It wouldn't take long before the earthly forces made their marks to reclaim the earth, Weisman gives an example of the work needed to insure that the subways in New York City aren't flooded with water, and how in a matter of a few days, water would invade it and start gnawing away at the foundation of the city. On a closer to home note, I only need to look into my backyard, next to a grass-filled lot owned by the city and filled with weeds, mowed once a year, to know the work needed to keep those things at bay.
The notices and reviews have placed this book at the top of my "to read" list, and all of the reviews I've noticed have praised the book for being a thoughtful analysis of the facts currently at hand mixed with educated speculation of the future. At any reat, while humans may not disappear off the face of the earth, many of the things we've created have already and will continue to have a lasting impact on this pale blue sphere for a long, long time.
OFFICIAL SITE
SALON REVIEW
Oh heck, I couldn't resist the chance to post the superb Talking Heads video now, could I?
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