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Summary: stirring passion for global ecology
Review: E. O. Wilson writes biology like a novel. Easy and interesting to read, I would recommend it to Literature majors just as much as biology majors.
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Summary: Excellent information source.
Review: Edward Wilson's book is a bible for naturalists and environmentalists as well. The clear, concise situation of the earth's biodiversity is explained and laid out clearly with a wealth of supporting information.
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Summary: Did we read the same book?
Review: I hated this "book" more than most. Firstly, I thought it was a whole lot of examples prooving very few points, like a bad essay. He also seemed to rely on his cumbersome vocabulary as a way of asserting his role as the knowledgeable professor; who does he think he impresses? The value of his words ought to be enough, though he doesn't seem to know this. A writer he is not, and it takes one to be a mainstream author. Also, his biases towards his and Darwin's work was sheer denial of the opposing facts. Even worse, his prejudice on the Leaver tribes in the places he stayed at was ghastly. The whole thing made me retch. Why would anyone read this out of free will? The people who think they enjoyed it probably didn't understand it!
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Summary: The real world around you
Review: I think that this book does a great job of breaking down biological occurrences in a way that the reader can easily understand by skipping most of the scientific intricacies and just telling a story. It makes some great points about evolution and its reality on a much smaller time frame. Also, it does a great job of explaining all of biodiversity in such a short amount of time. I especially enjoyed the fact that this book makes you "stop and smell the roses," and then it explains to you how the hall garden really works.
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Summary: Amazing, Interesting, and Inspiring
Review: I'm a freshman at college and I was required to read this for class. When I sat down to read this I thought it was going to be just another stupid book. I WAS WRONG! It is one of the most moving and motivating books I've ever read. Wilson backs up all of his ideas 110%. Though they are opinions, he makes some really good points. You'll want to be a biologist after reading it. You'll want to go out and not just plant a tree but a whole forest!
Rating: 
Summary: A Review of The Diversity of Life
Review: In the Diversity of Life the world-famous biodiversity expert Edward O. Wilson outlines his many studies and theories on the current biological diversity of the world. Wilson identifies the crisis of the decling biodiversity and sites many reasons for it. Much of the book explores the differing patterns of evolution. From the fundamental unit that defines each species to an indepth analysis of adaptive radiation, Wilson discusses why life is the way that it is now. In the conclusion of the book Wilson explains the human impact on the environment. Outlining what should be done to perserve the world for future generations.
Overall The Diversity of Life is a well thought-out and throughly explained book. Even for those of us who are not ecological experts the book is easy to read and understand. The diagrams and specific examples throughout the book help explain each indiviidual topic. The reader is engaged into the world of ecology through Wilson's expainations of the world around us. The only slight problem with the book is the fact that Wilson overkills certain points with excessive examples that make the chapter redundant. Nevertheless, The Diversity of Life is a great book for anyone with any biological background or interest in the environment around them.
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Summary: This book is a remarkable accomplishment
Review: One of the most accessible of E.O. Wilson's books. This book puts humans in the context of another animal amidst great biodiversity. One of the most humane aspects of this book is to help us humans feel part of something greater, not someone superior and exclusive to nature.
The value of biodiversity and the symbiotic relationships of animals to each other paints a picture that is both enlightening as well as uplifting. This book was one that changed my mindset on many fronts and I owe a great deal to E.O. Wilson for this wonderful book.
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Summary: The Importance of Biodiversity
Review: The author of "The Diversity of Life," Edward O. Wilson, is passionate and excited about his topic and writes poetically and effectively about the natural world. The first section of the book finds him in the rain forest of the Brazilian Amazon, pondering one of his favorite puzzles: why some species dominate and spread while others become rare. A huge storm arises, violent and destructive. But the life in the rainforest has adapted to these events of nature. If some species are destroyed, others rush in to fill the void because of the diversity of nature. Edward O. Wilson's intent in writing this book is to convince people that biodiversity and environmental concerns are of benefit to mankind, not only for reasons of preservation but for economic reasons. He shows how life can endlessly recreate itself, if allowed to do so.As illustration of his thesis, the author discusses the island of Krakatau, near Sumatra, that was completely destroyed by a volcano in 1883. Tidal waves resulted, killing 40,000 people in Java and Sumatra. The rock and debris blew high in the air, and a residue of dust diffused around the world, producing bright red sunsets. A remnant of Krakatau remained at what had been the southern end of the island, totally barren. But, starting with a single spider, forms of life returned and took hold until, today, you would never guess the violent past of the island. Wilson uses this as a vivid illustration of how nature at its most violent doesn't destroy life. The author emphasizes the importance of the tropical rain forest. It occupies only 6% of land surface but probably harbors more than half of the species on earth. Its abundant solar energy, evenness of climate and largeness of area account for this, and also enough evolutionary time. The smaller the species, the more abundant it is. The human species came on the scene late and, when they did, everything changed. The author describes how the coming of man to different locales destroys many species. For instance, in the Hawaiian Islands, the Polynesians ate man of the birds until only a handful of species remain. In western North America, the earliest Americans, the Paleo Indians, caused the diversity of mammoths to collapse because they needed food and hunted the different species to extinction. Some experts think climactic change accounts for a decline of a species, while others favor overkill by humans. The author sides with the latter group. Overkill, habitat destruction, and the introduction of exotic species that don't belong in an environment are all acts of man. Conservationists now know that entire habitats must be preserved to save particular species. The author lists and describes 18 ecosytems that deserve the immediate attention of conservationists. Global warming is also a threat to species, but human activity has increased extinction by many thousands of times than that which would occur without humans. Biodiversity is a valuable resource (new sources of food, new cures for cancer may perhaps be found among diverse species). The new approach to environmentalism is to tr to draw more income from wildlands without killing them. What we try to save now in ecosystems isn't just individual species. The author lists plants and fungi that yield pharmaceutical products and also ones that are sources of new foods to show the importance of maintaining biodiversity. He goes on to make a list of animals that are not currently eaten that make good protein sources. Both conservation and economic growth can be served by preserving natural ecosystems. The author concludes the book with suggestions for saving our biological resources. First, he suggests that surveys be taken of the world's flora and fauna. Next, create biological wealth by finding out what uses can be made of the species inventoried. Promote sustainable development. In very poor countries, help the people find ways to survive economically without plundering their environment. This will require education and social change. Finally, save what remains. Save as much biodiversity as possible and make the reserves as large as possible. Edward O. Wilson realizes that mankind is much more likely to follow its economic interests than it is to selflessly protect the environment. Therefore, he very cleverly appeals to this self-interest by making biodiversity appear to be of economic benefit.
Rating:
Summary: The Importance of Biodiversity
Review: The author of "The Diversity of Life," Edward O. Wilson, is passionate and excited about his topic and writes poetically and effectively about the natural world. The first section of the book finds him in the rain forest of the Brazilian Amazon, pondering one of his favorite puzzles: why some species dominate and spread while others become rare. A huge storm arises, violent and destructive. But the life in the rainforest has adapted to these events of nature. If some species are destroyed, others rush in to fill the void because of the diversity of nature. Edward O. Wilson's intent in writing this book is to convince people that biodiversity and environmental concerns are of benefit to mankind, not only for reasons of preservation but for economic reasons. He shows how life can endlessly recreate itself, if allowed to do so. As illustration of his thesis, the author discusses the island of Krakatau, near Sumatra, that was completely destroyed by a volcano in 1883. Tidal waves resulted, killing 40,000 people in Java and Sumatra. The rock and debris blew high in the air, and a residue of dust diffused around the world, producing bright red sunsets. A remnant of Krakatau remained at what had been the southern end of the island, totally barren. But, starting with a single spider, forms of life returned and took hold until, today, you would never guess the violent past of the island. Wilson uses this as a vivid illustration of how nature at its most violent doesn't destroy life. The author emphasizes the importance of the tropical rain forest. It occupies only 6% of land surface but probably harbors more than half of the species on earth. Its abundant solar energy, evenness of climate and largeness of area account for this, and also enough evolutionary time. The smaller the species, the more abundant it is. The human species came on the scene late and, when they did, everything changed. The author describes how the coming of man to different locales destroys many species. For instance, in the Hawaiian Islands, the Polynesians ate man of the birds until only a handful of species remain. In western North America, the earliest Americans, the Paleo Indians, caused the diversity of mammoths to collapse because they needed food and hunted the different species to extinction. Some experts think climactic change accounts for a decline of a species, while others favor overkill by humans. The author sides with the latter group. Overkill, habitat destruction, and the introduction of exotic species that don't belong in an environment are all acts of man. Conservationists now know that entire habitats must be preserved to save particular species. The author lists and describes 18 ecosytems that deserve the immediate attention of conservationists. Global warming is also a threat to species, but human activity has increased extinction by many thousands of times than that which would occur without humans. Biodiversity is a valuable resource (new sources of food, new cures for cancer may perhaps be found among diverse species). The new approach to environmentalism is to tr to draw more income from wildlands without killing them. What we try to save now in ecosystems isn't just individual species. The author lists plants and fungi that yield pharmaceutical products and also ones that are sources of new foods to show the importance of maintaining biodiversity. He goes on to make a list of animals that are not currently eaten that make good protein sources. Both conservation and economic growth can be served by preserving natural ecosystems. The author concludes the book with suggestions for saving our biological resources. First, he suggests that surveys be taken of the world's flora and fauna. Next, create biological wealth by finding out what uses can be made of the species inventoried. Promote sustainable development. In very poor countries, help the people find ways to survive economically without plundering their environment. This will require education and social change. Finally, save what remains. Save as much biodiversity as possible and make the reserves as large as possible. Edward O. Wilson realizes that mankind is much more likely to follow its economic interests than it is to selflessly protect the environment. Therefore, he very cleverly appeals to this self-interest by making biodiversity appear to be of economic benefit.
Rating: 
Summary: Review of The Diversity Of Life
Review: The Diversity Of Life is a very interesting book. The author, Edward O. Wilson, discusses many different aspects of diversity in the world. He gives many examples from microbacteria to the wather around the world. Wilson argues against destruction of rainforests and proposes more scientists to discover more species in the world. And Wilson talks about how without human destruction in nature, nature can recover from destruction on her own. Wilson wants to save all organisms on Earth and wants to perserve nature as it should be.
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