Half-Earth: Our Plant's Fight for Life - Edward O. Wilson (paperback)

If you were to read only one of the late E.O. Wilson’s dozens of titles, we think this is the book you should choose. After spending over 60 years working as a scientist, ecologist, and conservationist, earning two Pulitzer Prizes and professor emeritus status at Harvard University, Wilson sat down and wrote this plea to humanity. He proposes that in order to prevent mass-extinction, we must dedicate half the Earth’s surface to nature. Wilson stakes his esteemed reputation on this radical statement, and not without criticism. It is true that Wilson leaves the reader with a lot of logistical questions, falling short of explaining exactly how to enact his plan. But he does go to great lengths to justify his strategy and to delineate regions that are of particular importance using research and statistics. Readers who are already convinced of the dire need for reformative action may wish for a follow-up book that synthesizes Wilson’s proposal into manageable tasks (unfortunately, we’ll never get one from Wilson, so who’s up for the task?). However, this is the PERFECT gift for Uncle Dave– the one who thinks everything is hunky dory and that tree huggers should take a chill pill (you know the type). Because this book, if any, will convince him otherwise! 259 pages