I would not have gone out and chosen this book for myself. My wonderful daughter, Zoe, bought it for me for my birthday. It was hard to read and I had to make myself finish it. In the end, it was worth the effort to be reminded of all the thoughts and actions that have been, and might still be, employed by humankind in making this earthly life safe for our kids and their kids,etc, until Mother Nature takes a controlling hand in the affairs of the universe. One thing I looked for and didn't find was discussion of the author's perceived efficacy, or otherwise, of New Zealand's legislation precluding visits of nuclear powered or armed units to the country. There wasn't much mention of France's efforts at making a hole in the earth's crust at Mururoa and their culpability in the sinking of the "Rainbow Warrior" in order to keep Greepeace from protesting those test by sitting on top of them. If they thought that there was a danger to anyone sitting on the ocean above the test site.................. I think my parochialism is showing! Anyway, I glad I'm read it. I'm glad I was reminded. I should get off my butt and get involved but I probably won't because I'm too busy enjoying what I have got, because I'm too comfortable and because I'm too lazy. ( )