Giridhara R. Babu’s treatment of global population trends and consequences in The Last Generation? must be regarded as a relatively simple introduction to the subject, perhaps an overarching examination of the elements involved and a speculative offering about the potential outcomes. This narrative is more like reading newspaper headlines or listening to current events than an academic or in-depth exploration of an intensely intriguing and contemporary concern about world demographics. Assertions regarding ostensible statistical correlations may well be true—they have highly credible resonance with observational facts—but no effort is made to delve into their scholarly origins. That is, the author’s postulations and pronouncements create the appearance of opinions held more than of data collected, although that data is fully and legitimately attributed. Is this a problem? Perhaps not. The book’s relevance is best assessed by the author’s intentions, not the reader’s expectations.
One might best approach this book as a U.S. President approaches his awareness of the world—through daily summarizing briefs, where the foundation of supportive facts holds a status of presumptive truth. Alternatively, it can be considered a policy paper outlining plausible suggestions for coordinated action. In either case, the cursory nature of the presentation is appropriate, and the relevance of the treatment is sustained. In that regard, the book succeeds. It is beautifully written, remarkably concise, direct, and clearly presented. It targets a problem of immediate concern while proffering suggestions for a most practical and productive response. It attributes much scholarly support for its conclusions. While a Baby Boomer (or Malthus) may question the efficacy of producing higher populations, The Last Generation? adroitly addresses this issue, making for a truly engaging read.
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