The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert

Reading this informative, scientifically detailed book was arduous because I found it so sad and dispiriting but essential reading. So much loss of biodiversity of plants and animals to absorb and ponder. The majority of scientists believe and have collected evidence to prove that modern human behavior and actions and out of control population growth and spread have led to our current sixth extinction crisis. Five years on from the release of this book, daily news from a myriad of sources makes it clear that our species continues to largely ignore the blatant need to reverse the accelerating extinction rate on our planet. Earth will survive the sixth extinction as it did the first five although most current living creatures may go extinct. Then as evidenced historically by Earth's billions of years of geologic development and the slow development over many more millions of years of plants and animals, it is also likely that eventually, new species will repopulate a recovered planet. Perhaps there will be a new top primate with a true intelligence that recognizes a need to live within a balance of Nature.