A book to savour, some 380 pages, 35 black-and-white figures and 23 chapters, including references, written authoritatively on the most important issues facing the future of mankind. It uses cogent explanation rather than complex mathematical expressions, convoluted modelling techniques or arcane advanced physics. The breadth of coverage is remarkable, and includes natural and managed ecosystems, the development of societies, crops and livestock, aquatic systems, energy usage in production systems, environmental and economic costings, water resources, erosion, conservation, transport, renewable energy, biomass, ethanol and biodiesel, conservation, and pests and diseases. The main authors and the other authors that joined them in eight of the chapters are to be congratulated for the crisply written text that has relatively little repetition between chapters, yet manages to demonstrate with commendable clarity the close interrelationship between food production, energy dependency, and the development of societies.

Some may find the partial reliance on the particular situation of the USA a minor distraction, but it is justified, nonetheless. Undoubtedly, the two weakest components of the book are firstly its brevity on new technologies and concepts, and this accounts for the somewhat disappointing final chapter entitled ‘Summing Up: Options and Solutions’ although its blunt analysis of future prospects is surely correct. Secondly, it is prone to ‘political correctness’, for example in dealing with pesticides, a particular interest of David Pimentel. Despite these downsides, the polymathic approach of this book succeeds in its aims. It enlightens and has great utility for strategic planning and teaching.