The Sixth Extinction – Biodiversity and its survival. (book review)

Title :-The Sixth Extinction – Biodiversity and its survival.

By :- Richard Leakey and Roger Lewin.

Published :- Phoenix (1996) Paperback (250 pages)

Outline;- Richard starts this book with his appointment from the Museum in Kenya to director of the Wildlife Conservation and Management department, and follows through with his world stopping program to stop the illegal export of ivory. From there the main part of the book examines evolution, diversity and extinction in the geological time, and more recent pre human past. It also looks at the possible next major extinction as being attributed to combination of man and changes in the environment. It reminds us that the present point of evolution is simply another step in a 500 million year old history.

A very balanced and thoughtful book, easy to read.