THE CLOSING CIRCLE: Nature, Technology, and Man

by Barry Commoner ‧ RELEASE DATE: Oct. 15, 1971

Of course there has been such a plethora of literature on the environment recently that by this time the ideas, like the paper, are being recycled. It should come as no surprise therefore that Professor Commoner's new book (he also did Science and Survival, 1966) is not brimming with original theories, solutions, and the like, or that it discusses quite familiar issues and contains considerable redundancy of information. Yet after all this is said, it should be made unequivocally clear that The Closing Circle is not run-of-the-polluted mill fare, inasmuch as it can be read both as an authoritative introduction to our environmental problems and as an articulate position paper on the unresolved aspects of the crisis. Commoner, a biologist at Washington University (St. Louis), begins with a forthright explanation of how the global ecosphere works, informally noting several natural laws of ecology (""Everything is Connected to Everything Else,"" etc.), and then traces the origin of the current situation through a series of case histories (Los Angeles air, Illinois earth, Lake Erie) which demonstrate how man has broken these laws. But Commoner is most anxious to pin down why environmental pollution has increased so drastically since 1956, who or what is responsible, and what if anything can be done before it is too late. Here he dismisses the arguments of those who proselytize a causative connection between overpopulation or consumer affluence and pollution, terming them ""reductionist attempts"" to find simple political answers to a complex, interdisciplinary question. Rather, Commoner insists that the output (not capability) of modern technology is the culprit and the best solution seems to be legislated inducements which will effect ""changes in the productive system that are needed to bring it into harmony with the ecosystem."" Naturally this will not be easy though Commoner cites the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, the successful campaigns against DDT and the SST, and the work of Nader as reasons for some optimism. A comprehensive, clearminded statement which squarely confronts the ominous ecological circle of life and death.

Pub Date: Oct. 15, 1971

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Knopf

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 1971

Categories: NONFICTION