Harvesting The Biosphere by Vaclav Smil

This book provides a comprehensive examination of the human impact on Earth's biosphere, focusing on the extraction and exploitation of biological resources. It delves into historical and contemporary practices of harvesting plants and animals for food, fuel, and raw materials, quantifying the scale and intensity of these activities. The author meticulously analyzes how these practices have evolved over time and assesses their sustainability and environmental consequences. By offering a detailed account of the biosphere's transformation under human influence, the book presents a critical perspective on the limits of resource utilization and the urgent need for adopting more sustainable practices to ensure the long-term viability of our planet's ecosystems.

The 9502nd greatest book of all time


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Total Points: 69

Since this book was first published in 2013, there is a penalty of 62.4%. The age adjusted score is 25.94.

This is to prevent newer books from reaching super high on the ranked list of the greatest books of all time. The greatest books should also stand the test of time.