Another Example of How We Are Poisoning Ourselves

This was a very illuminating book, and shows how we continue to pump destructive chemicals into our environment ... long after we know the harm they are doing.

The only issue I have with the book is Dr. Swan's position that one result of this chemical onslaught -- the drop in fertility that is the focus of the book -- is a catastrophe. I'm one of those people she alludes to in the introduction who believe that on a planet with 7 billion people, headed to 9 or 10 billion, leaving destruction everywhere in our wake, a drop in human fertility ... and thus human numbers ... would be a long overdue and welcome correction to a population that is out of control.

I learned a lot about the science and physiology of human reproduction along the way, as well as how these chemicals can alter our genetic make-up, including gender expression. A very insightful book.

7 people found this helpful

Interesting, eyeopening and direct science.

Swan makes a solid case for the inevitable decline in reproductive rate - around the globe. From humans to the environment this review spans several angles of a complex problem and makes them relatable to the average reader. Some scientific or psychological knowledge is recommended to really understand the limits and implications of the studies used. Overall, a solid take-away on living clean for a soon-to-be parent.

4 people found this helpful

Take this seriously

Imagine being the child in the womb of a mother exposed to harmful chemicals in our daily lives. That child if male has a higher chance of stillbirth and if he makes it out, has a high change of his genitals being forever messed up or testicular cancer, and many other things. That innocent child has been handed a terrible hand of cards in the game of life. Or imagine a future where humans can no longer reproduce by year 2045. Good luck living in retirement when there's no more younger people to keep society working and chugging along. If anything, you reading this, most likely have abnormal hormon levels, effecting your fertility, sex drive, emotions, muscles and fat levels, cognitive abilities and so on. All thanks to toxins found in our everyday environment. Let's change this.

3 people found this helpful

Terrifying book.

About environmental toxins, especially ubiquitous endocrine disruptive compounds, which are progressively ending our reproductive ability.

2 people found this helpful

Everyone should read

I rarely write reviews, but thought this was important. This book is full of vital information that everyone should know. It is a bit dry, and the performer does not any sense of comedic timing, but the topic should be important to EVERYONE, regardless of your desire to have children. Please read this book!

2 people found this helpful

Must read

Beautifully written, yet terrifying. It is a must read for high schoolers and up to retirees. It is the new Silent Spring. We have only this world and we are seriously threatened. Thank you to the author for all you are doing.

2 people found this helpful

A Real Mix of Emotions

Impressive and alarming research. A mix of emotions for sure. Anyone who's paying attention shouldn't be surprised that pollution and chemicals in our environment do us and other lifeforms significant harm. It should also not be surprising to learn that most aren't paying attention and that those with the power to advance positive change ignore these problems for a number of reasons: greed, laziness, power.

As someone who, with his partner, has decided not to have children, I definitely felt some, only slightly self-conscious, schadenfreude reading this book; accompanied by the weak hum of the usual terror that comes with most things one reads today; and frustration, because Swan, towards the last third of the book, ends up parroting the same bullshit we keep hearing about economic growth and aging or shrinking populations. As if capitalism is some natural law like gravity. It's the same old joke: it's easier to imagine the end of the world, in this case, the extinction of the human race, than the end of capitalism. The only people I hear today who actually think we need more people on the planet and not less, are religious zealots and economists. Swan doesn't even acknowledge, she hardly even mentions, the potential ecological benefits of fewer human beings on this planet. Benefits not only to Homo sapiens, but all other non-human lifeforms on this planet!

If you're someone like me, who believes modern industrial civilization has overshot its carrying capacity, then you'll probably find it hard to express exactly how you feel about this book.

1 person found this helpful

Great resource but leftist agenda

The book contained great information from numerous studies on how chemicals and lifestyle choices are impacting human fertility.

This information is useful to take steps in our own lives and communities to improve our health and environment.

The author falls for the fatal conceit that technocrats at the World Economic Forum can move humanity toward a better future.

That and she embraces the revolution in gender identity that has plagued the West.

1 person found this helpful

It is actually a great book but …

This book is great and addresses a huge problem in the world and ways to avoid it and go forward. I would skip most of part 1 of the book as it is too sole and treats this issue as a war between men and woman

Muddies the waters

Whereas overall I agree with the author's findings, the majority of the book is given over to non-empirical emotional pleas to reform governmental regulation of the chemical industry with little to no scrutiny of existing regulations. I was hoping for much more information and much less storytelling. Overall the book was not very informative.