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July 05, 2008 | 69°F mist

The Leonard Lopate Show

The World Without Humans

If humans disappeared from Earth overnight, how long would it take to erase the marks we've made on the planet? Journalist Alan Weisman says that within days, New York City's subway tunnels would flood and skyscrapers would start to crumble. However, plastic bags would stick around for much longer. Weisman traveled the world to speak with experts and visit abandoned sites like Chernobyl for his new book, The World Without Us.

The World Without Us is available for purchase at amazon.com


Listener Comments Comment | Refresh | Back to Episode
[1]
Posted by: Russell
July 10, 2007 - 12:13PM

I was curious what the effect of the disappearence of humans on the planet's over-all biodiversity would be? Are there any particular animal species that would thrive or become the "alpha animal" in such a human-absent planet?

[2]
Posted by: Daniel
July 10, 2007 - 12:13PM
NYC

I hope Mr. Weisman tasted the Zubrówka vodka when he was in the Polish forest primeval

[3]
Posted by: John Murgida
July 10, 2007 - 12:16PM
Manhattan

In Poul Anderson's short story "In Memoriam" hauntingly describes the end of human history and the eventual engulfment of the earth by the sun. Even the space probes we've sent out eventually evaporate in the far distant future (billions of years). Eventually no evidence that "We were here..." would ever exist.

[4]
Posted by: Louise Lacey
July 20, 2007 - 10:38PM
Kensington (near Berkeley), California

After giving this subject quite a bit of thought, the word "progress" isn't in my vocabulary.

Possibly our replacement will be either a dolphin or a bear. Neither of those is a sure thing, either.

I look forward to Alan Weisman's book.

Louise Lacey

[5]
Posted by: Ibsen
July 28, 2007 - 10:16AM
London

very interesting the way the author expresses his thought about how could this world be without us,but wouldn´t the question be:when?

[6]
Posted by: Bud Maxwell
July 29, 2007 - 05:23PM
Chantilly, VA

You have the gift. Thank you for the journey. I won't not refer back to you in the future.

Bud

[7]
Posted by: Monika Schorr
August 02, 2007 - 06:48PM
Brazil

This is really a great book. Animals can hope to be released from the chains of suffering and torture constructed by "homo sapiens".

Hope mother earth can get rid of evil human species soon enough to save what's left from nature.

[8]
Posted by: Douglas McGunagle
August 05, 2007 - 08:18PM
Foster, Rhode Island

Great reading for all students of all disciplines, especially great reading for high school science and college science students.

I am both a high school science teacher and science curriculum specialist in Cranston, RI.

Simply put, I found this book fasinating.

Mr. Weisman, grounded in simple logic, focuses us to ask fundamental questions of humanity's survival on this planet.

His worldwide visits, his view of science, his view of history, his knowledge of human behavior and his final hint of religion (prayer)are needed for today's youth.

[9]
Posted by: julius rubin
August 09, 2007 - 10:22PM
Long Island, NY

The title is intriguing because, despite our intelligence as a species, we are dependent on nature for our sustenance with little reciprocal symbiosm. Unless we learn to cooperate with, instead of trying to dominate, the powerful forces that shape our world we are doomed. life on Earth has flourished millions of years before homo sapiens arrival and no doubt will continue long after their absence. I cant help wondering for what purpose.

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