Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

The proposal that the impact of humanity on the planet has left a distinct footprint, even on the scale of geological time, has recently gained much ground. Global climate change, shifting global cycles of the weather, widespread pollution, radioactive fallout, plastic accumulation, species invasions, the mass extinction of species - these are just some of the many indicators that we will leave a lasting record in rock, the scientific basis for recognizing new time intervals in Earth's history. The Anthropocene, as the proposed new epoch has been named, is regularly in the news. Even with such robust evidence, the proposal to formally recognize our current time as the Anthropocene remains controversial both inside and outside the scholarly world, kindling intense debates. The reason is clear. The Anthropocene represents far more than just another interval of geologic time. Instead, the Anthropocene has emerged as a powerful new narrative, a concept through which age-old questions about the meaning of nature and even the nature of humanity are being revisited and radically revised. This Very Short Introduction explains the science behind the Anthropocene and the many proposals about when to mark its beginning: the nuclear tests of the 1950s? The beginnings of agriculture? The origins of humans as a species? Erle Ellis considers the many ways that the Anthropocene's "evolving paradigm" is reshaping the sciences, stimulating the humanities, and foregrounding the politics of life on a planet transformed by humans. The Anthropocene remains a work in progress. Is this the story of an unprecedented planetary disaster? Or of newfound wisdom and redemption? Ellis offers an insightful discussion of our role in shaping the planet, and how this will influence our future on many fronts. ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• Preface (p. xv)
• Acknowledgements (p. xvii)
• List of illustrations (p. xix)
• 1 Origins (p. 1)
• 2 Earth system (p. 16)
• 3 Geologic time (p. 34)
• 4 The Great Acceleration (p. 52)
• 5 Anthropos (p. 75)
• 6 Oikos (p. 103)
• 7 Politikos (p. 128)
• 8 Prometheus (p. 144)
• Chronology (p. 161)
• References (p. 163)
• Further Reading (p. 171)
• Index (p. 177)

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

The term Holocene is widely used to describe the current geologic epoch, which began with the retreat of large Northern Hemisphere ice sheets some 18,000 years ago. In recent decades, the term Anthropocene has been adopted by some scientists to describe the period since the Industrial Revolution, in which humans are the primary agents of environmental change on Earth. Though few dispute that humans have recently played a role in shaping the environment, debate persists about whether these changes constitute a distinct geologic epoch. In Anthropocene, Ellis (Univ. of Maryland, Baltimore County) explores the role of humans in shaping the environment over time. Drawing from the physical sciences, social sciences, and humanities, the author makes a strong case for the Anthropocene while noting that humans can ultimately be a force for good: improving quality of life for society without risking those improvements for future generations. The result is an accessible reference for an increasingly important perspective on human-environment interaction. A list of additional readings is also provided for readers who wish to explore Anthropocene literature further. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Justin T. Schoof, Southern Illinois University

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Erle C. Ellis is Professor of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC). His research investigates the ecology of human landscapes at local to global scales towards informing sustainable stewardship of the biosphere in the Anthropocene. He teaches environmental science and landscape ecology at UMBC, and has taught ecology at Harvard's Graduate School of Design. Ellis is a member of the Anthropocene Working Group of the Subcommission of Quaternary Stratigraphy of the International Commission on Stratigraphy, the scientific steering committee of the Global Land Programme, formerly of the International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme (IGBP), now of its successor organization, Future Earth, and a senior fellow of the Breakthrough Institute.