All these stories are always connected to the topic of the book and the reader learns about the importance of biodiversity and how with the Holocene the living world settled into a gentle, reliable annual rhythm. For those interested, they also filmed A Life on Our Planet and in the typical spectacular fashion - the show can be viewed on Netflix. We all know about the ongoing climate debate and, like the author, some of us are willing to accept the indisputable evidence that climate change is seriously affecting our planet. Sir David is a Trustee of the British Museum and the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; an Honorary Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge; a Fellow of the Royal Society and was knighted in 1985.

Clark found that it "may not be entirely original but it is an important message from a messenger without parallel". He makes examples of how our natural world has suffered due to us humans, but also gives hope for the future of practical ways in which to reverse the damage we have done to our planet. He has lived long enough to witness the devastation of much of the wilderness he has visited and the disappearance of many of the plants and animals that used to thrive there. I remember how, as a kid/teen, I noticed seeing less and less wild "friends" and being depressed about it and it brings tears to my eyes whenever I now see them again during my strolls through nature. Because the simple truth is, without halting and reversing the damage we have done, we (humans) simply will not be able to survive on this planet.Bryan Appleyard of The Times found that Attenborough's "special pleading is fair and should be noted by other eco-warriors" and recommended the book both "to learn" and "to honour the man". We can prevent over-fishing by only permitting the practice in certain parts of the ocean, leaving others undisturbed to recover their populatioins. His earlier work focused mainly on the wonders of the natural world, including wildlife and habitats. This book is extremely clear about how everything is connected, to each other and to us as the human race.

Consider the record temperatures set last month in, of all places, Canada, with thermometers soaring to nearly 50 C (121 F). He was Controller of BBC2 (1965-68), during which time he introduced colour television to Britain, then Director of Programmes for the BBC (1969-1972). But that being said it wasn't that most easier of reads as it deals with a very important and scary subject. This is part memoir, part dire warning about the decline of our planet's wild places, its biodiversity and what we must do to help put it right.

Când nu vor mai exista exploatări exagerate ale forței de muncă (fiindcă teoretic nivelul de trai din acele țări sărace va crește), cine va mai pompa averi în buzunarele bogaților?