J. R. McNeill
Something New Under the Sun
An Environmental History of the Twentieth-Century World
"Refreshingly unpolemical and at times even witty, McNeill's book brims with carefully sifted statistics and brilliant details."—Washington Post Book World
The history of the twentieth century is most often told through its world wars, the rise and fall of communism, or its economic upheavals. In his startling new book, J. R. McNeill gives us our first general account of what may prove to be the most significant dimension of the twentieth century: its environmental history. To a degree unprecedented in human history, we have refashioned the earth's air, water, and soil, and the biosphere of which we are a part. Based on exhaustive research, McNeill's story—a compelling blend of anecdotes, data, and shrewd analysis—never preaches: it is our definitive account. This is a volume in The Global Century Series (general editor, Paul Kennedy). 40 b/w photographs, 15 maps.
"Magisterial ....in its august overview."—Bill McKibben, Boston Globe
"An original work of history, exhaustively researched and carefully written."—New York Times Book Review
"A brilliant, lapel-grabbing account of the last century's chaotic interplay between man and his world."—Evening Standard [London]
J. R. McNeill is professor of history at Georgetown University. He is the author of The Mountains of the Mediterranean World and other works.
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Also Available in the Global Century series:
One World Divisible
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