Anthropocene: A very short introduction

Erle C. Ellis, professor of Geography and Environmental Systems at the University of Maryland, describes the ways in which humanity has left its mark on the Earth, from pollution and the use of fossil fuels to mass extinctions. The book provides an up to date synthesis of the science of the Anthropocene, drawing on the work of geologists, geographers, environmental scientists, archaeologists, and oceanographers to show how this is an issue at the heart of environmental politics.

It considers key debates in the area, in particular where to locate the beginning of the Anthropocene in time, and whether it should be defined as a specific epoch on the Geological Timescale. The concept of Anthropocene is presented more broadly as a new narrative forcing a radical revision of age-old questions concerning humans and our relationship with nature.

This book is published as part of Oxford's 'Very Short Introductions' series. The series offer concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects — from Islam to sociology, politics to classics, and literary theory to history.

Anthropocene: A very short introduction