“The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History” Book Review

Author: Elizabeth Kolbert

Available in: Hardcopy (Maybe consider used book?), ebook, audiobook.

When I decided to read this book, I had in mind a book with graphs and percentages to give out stunning information about how human activities have killed off many animals on earth and I was ready to feel guilty; but this book,with factual details woven into deftly written language, gives me a feeling that is quite indescribable: it’s like standing on a remote island in isolation to realize that whatever I had is probably gone or in the process of disappearing. 

Some part of the book was somewhat history heavy, talking about the discoveries scientists made leading up to the concept of “extinction”. In our current time, extinction doesn’t seem like a fancy term, even kids can talk about how the dinosaurs and their extinction, but up until the 18th century, people have not considered the fact that “what existed may have vanished into thin air”.

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World Ocean Day 🌊

June 8th is the world ocean day. Everyone knows the importance of the ocean – the hypothalamus that maintains the homeostasis of the globe. Not only does the ocean currents regulate climate, but it also keeps a healthy balance of elements in the air and is one of the providers of freshwater in the water cycle. In addition, the ocean hosts an unimaginable value of biodiversity, the lowest estimation of about 230,000 species (Brahic). Each specie plays a crucial role in the food chain. Even just planktons alone contribute approximately 70% of the world’s oxygen (“Save”).

What is the biggest pollution in the ocean? According to NOAA, the main source is runoff such as chemical leaks from “farms,” “tanks,” “cars,” and “boats,” etc. 

What can we do about it? 

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