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  • The Sixth Extinction

  • An Unnatural History
  • Written by: Elizabeth Kolbert
  • Narrated by: Anne Twomey
  • Length: 9 hrs and 59 mins
  • 4.4 out of 5 stars (131 ratings)

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The Sixth Extinction

Written by: Elizabeth Kolbert
Narrated by: Anne Twomey
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Publisher's Summary

A major audiobook about the future of the world, blending intellectual and natural history and field reporting into a powerful account of the mass extinction unfolding before our eyes.

Over the last half a billion years, there have been five mass extinctions, when the diversity of life on Earth suddenly and dramatically contracted. Scientists around the world are currently monitoring the sixth extinction, predicted to be the most devastating extinction event since the asteroid impact that wiped out the dinosaurs. This time around, the cataclysm is us. In The Sixth Extinction, two-time winner of the National Magazine Award and New Yorker writer Elizabeth Kolbert draws on the work of scores of researchers in half a dozen disciplines, accompanying many of them into the field: geologists who study deep ocean cores, botanists who follow the tree line as it climbs up the Andes, marine biologists who dive off the Great Barrier Reef.

She introduces us to a dozen species, some already gone, others facing extinction, including the Panamian golden frog, staghorn coral, the great auk, and the Sumatran rhino. Through these stories, Kolbert provides a moving account of the disappearances occurring all around us and traces the evolution of extinction as concept, from its first articulation by Georges Cuvier in revolutionary Paris up through the present day. The sixth extinction is likely to be mankind's most lasting legacy; as Kolbert observes, it compels us to rethink the fundamental question of what it means to be human.

©2013 Elizabeth Kolbert (P)2013 Simon & Schuster

What listeners say about The Sixth Extinction

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  • Bp
  • 2021-06-09

Loved it

This book is full of valuable knowledge of the state of the worlds ecosystems and the current threats to biodiversity everyone should be aware of. Also the authors story telling abitlity is astounding :)

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  • jam
  • 2021-05-06

Top Notch!

the prologue is genius. the 1st chapter is dull. the rest is BRILLIANT! The history of living things, extinction, old scientists jockeying for truths, crow hand jobs and giant beavers, this book has it all!

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Exceptional read

A fascinating book that belongs in every library. Was a bit turned off when the author was introducing the book, but the narration levelled out and was not all that bad. #Audible1

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Worth the read

Very thought provoking. I liked some of the personal anecdotes the author put in. Her thorough coverage of some species extinctions, as evidence of the sixth extinction, helped me to see the bigger picture.

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Outstanding!

Highly recommend this book! Very well written and easy to understand. Will listen a 2nd time!

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A wonderfully depressing read

My partner and I had many great discussions thanks to the great delivery and fantastic stories provided. There are many world mysteries and truths to ponder throughout, and I found new appreciations for all kinds of interesting subjects I would usually avoid.

Well done!

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Interesting

Lots of Interesting points and facts. Was not quite what I expected but still pretty good

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  • N8
  • 2021-04-11

a frank look at human stupidity

a well researched analysis of human influence on life on Earth. Grim, but factual and important

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Excellent

For anyone who needs proof of the 6th event,here it is. The author tells the story from a number of different approaches and provides a historical commentary as well.

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