Bill McKibben argues that the earth is becoming dangerously overcrowded, and that if more of us chose to have only one child, it would make a crucial difference toward insuring a healthy future for ourselves and our planet. But the environment alone may not persuade most people to consider having just one child, as eighty percent of Americans have siblings. Powerful stereotypes about only children—that they're spoiled, selfish, or maladjusted in some way—still persist. McKibben, the proud father of an only child himself, debunks these myths, citing research about the many emotional and intellectual strengths only children possess. Contrary to the old folk wisdom, only children are very much like everyone else; they are no more likely to be lonely, shy, or difficult to get along with than children with siblings. Only children also receive the benefits of more parental resources and time that are denied to kids with siblings: higher test scores and levels of achievement in school, and greater development of positive personality traits, like maturity and self-control.At once a powerful personal argument and an accessible exploration of what overpopulation could mean to human life, Maybe One is a provocative yet well-reasoned opening to what will be an important and lasting debate.
“What stands out in this eloquent book... is McKibben's wonderfully illuminating and entertaining work in tracking down our national prejudice against only children and single-child families. There and throughout this call to arms, the reader feels the added dimension of a father's love.”—Publishers Weekly
“A timely book.”—Booklist
“An impassioned call for Americans to limit their offspring in the name of the planet.”—Kirkus Reviews
“A warmly personal exploration of what may be humankind's most compelling dilemma.”—The San Francisco Chronicle
“One of those rare books that encourages the reader to think and gives us the tools with which to do so; it has a point of view without ever becoming doctrinaire. For all its sobering issues, it is a delight to read. McKibben is that better kind of optimist, one who sees a problem and finds liberation in sculpting an answer.”—The Los Angeles Times Sunday Book Review
“Compelling.”—The Boston Globe
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Paperback. Etat : Very Good. Written in lucid, rational prose, the theme of this book is the threat that overpopulation poses to the world. But rather than pontificate and propose global solutions, McKibben contends that there is something average, well-off adults can decide to do about it- they can choose to have only one child. Knowing that he has taken a controversial slant on a delicate subject, McKibben is at pains to demonstrate his reasonableness. He abhors the idea of coerced family planning, for example. Nor is he saying that all parents should limit their families. He points out, however, that there could be 500 million people in the US by 2050 -- what if population declines rather than increases? What would an America with 150 million people -- the population after World War II -- look like? This book does not dodge difficult questions, it seeks them out. Would a generation of only children pose a problem for society? After all they are commonly considered more likely to be lonely, self-centred or incapable of forming healthy social relationships. What about the difficulty of financing social security in an ageing populace? What of the deep emotional satisfaction many receive. The book has been read, but is in excellent condition. Pages are intact and not marred by notes or highlighting. The spine remains undamaged. N° de réf. du vendeur GOR001499423
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Etat : Bueno. Written in lucid, rational prose, the theme of this book is the threat that overpopulation poses to the world. But rather than pontificate and propose global solutions, McKibben contends that there is something average, well-off adults can decide to do about it- they can choose to have only one child. Knowing that he has taken a controversial slant on a delicate subject, McKibben is at pains to demonstrate his reasonableness. He abhors the idea of coerced family planning, for example. Nor is he saying that all parents should limit their families. He points out, however, that there could be 500 million people in the US by 2050 -- what if population declines rather than increases? What would an America with 150 million people -- the population after World War II -- look like? This book does not dodge difficult questions, it seeks them out. Would a generation of only children pose a problem for society? After all they are commonly considered more likely to be lonely, self-centred or incapable of forming healthy social relationships. What about the difficulty of financing social security in an ageing populace? What of the deep emotional satisfaction many receive Seguir leyendo BIOGRAFÍA DEL AUTORBill McKibben's books include The End of Nature, The Age of Missing Information and Hope, Human and Wild. A former staff writer for The New Yorker, he is a frequent contributor to a wide variety of publications. He lives with his wife and daughter in the Adirondack Mountains of New York. Seguir leyendo EAN: 9781862300040 Tipo: Libros Categoría: Título: Maybe OneEditorial: - Formato: Tapa dura. N° de réf. du vendeur Happ-2024-02-20-c39a3c37
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