Book Discussion: The World Without Us

Discuss Alan Weisman's "The World Without Us" with the VSDC Book Club. The New Yorker says: "Teasing out the consequences of a simple thought experiment--what would happen if the human species were suddenly extinguished--Weisman has written a sort of pop-science ghost story, in which the whole earth is the haunted house. Among the highlights: with pumps not working, the New York City subways would fill with water within days, while weeds and then trees would retake the buckled streets and wild predators would ravage the domesticated dogs....After thousands of years, the Chunnel, rubber tires, and more than a billion tons of plastic might remain, but eventually a polymer-eating microbe could evolve, and, with the spectacular return of fish and bird populations, the earth might revert to Eden." Special Sunday afternoon meeting to avoid conflict with Thanksgiving holiday. At this meeting we also vote for two upcoming books. To participate just read at least half the book -- and RSVP at least two days before the meeting. We'll meet at a vegetarian restaurant in DC. People who RSVP "yes" will get the location information, or use the form at www.vsdc.org/book.html to get more details.