In The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert, the author explores the history and impact of various species' extinctions, arguing that human activity is driving a current sixth mass extinction. By traveling globally and examining past and present examples, Kolbert highlights the connections between human actions, such as industrialization and deforestation, and the alarming changes in ecosystems, ocean chemistry, and climate, presenting evidence and interviews with experts to underscore her thesis.

Elizabeth Kolbert's The Sixth Extinction eloquently combines scientific rigor with compelling narrative, warning of the ongoing biodiversity crisis. Critics laud its engaging prose and thorough research, though some argue it leans heavily on alarming scenarios without offering concrete solutions. Overall, it’s a critical and accessible look at humanity's impact on the planet.

Readers drawn to The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert appreciate insightful, well-researched narratives on environmental science and natural history. Similar to fans of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring and Timothy Egan's The Worst Hard Time, they seek compelling stories about humanity's impact on Earth's ecosystems and urgent conservation issues.

Informative / Mysterious / Unnerving / Contemplative

- Elizabeth Kolbert won the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 2015 for The Sixth Extinction, highlighting the book's impact and critical acclaim.
- The Sixth Extinction considers the current biological annihilation of wildlife as potentially the planet's sixth mass extinction event, aligning with Kolbert's extensive investigation into environmental and ecological studies.
- The book features detailed field reporting from a variety of global locations, showcasing Kolbert's on-the-ground research to explore human impact on the environment.

**Elizabeth Kolbert**  
A long-time writer for The New Yorker who explores the human role in extinctions by traveling globally and presenting evidence in a nonfiction text written from alternating first- and third-person points of view.

**Jean Leopold Nicolas Frederic Cuvier**  
A naturalist known for studying ancient mastodon bones and arguing that species went extinct due to catastrophic events based on his cataclysmic hypothesis.

**Charles Lyell**  
A geologist who challenged Cuvier’s cataclysmic theory with his interest in the development of new species, influencing early geological study and inspiring Charles Darwin.

**Walter and Luis Alvarez**  
A father-son duo who hypothesized that a giant asteroid caused the Cretaceous period's end, using evidence from limestone and clay layers in Italy.

**Charles Darwin**  
The originator of the concept of natural selection, whose scientific theories and professional relationships contribute to the exploration of extinction, with a focus on his sea voyage and observations.

Elizabeth Kolbert

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Prologue-Chapter 3

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Chapters 4-6

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Chapters 7-9

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Chapters 10-11

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Chapters 12-13 

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The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History (2014)

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