I have not read a book quite like 'The Rescue Effect', which focuses on different ways in which nature can utilize adaptations in order to cope with a changing environment and ecosystem. The focus on change and growth gave this book a more hopeful tone than many other climate and conservation books I've read. However, I did not feel that Webster was unrealistic or that the very real threat of climate change was ignored. I appreciated the realism with which the inevitable extinction of some species is unavoidable, despite our best efforts to reverse things. There were also a number of ethical dilemmas explored, however briefly in some cases, that I have not heard discussed so plainly.

I thought this was an interesting take on global life extinction and how nature has a built in defense mechanism. Well written. Thought provoking and a definite read for those interested in climatology/global warming. Definitely recommended.

Thanks to Michael Mehta Webster, Netgalley and Timber Press for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Already available.

What is "the rescue effect"? What processes contribute to it? We live in an era of extinction. Never before the changes in biodiversity had occurred as fast as now. However, extinction is a natural occurrence. As the author says: "scientists estimate that more than 99 percent of the species that have ever lived are now extinct". I didn´t know that. This doesn't sound bad, right? Well, hear this: "we are currently losing about 200 species a year as a result of human activity". This is scary! and I don´t care that it´s in fact only a 0.01 percent loss of global species yearly, it´s still way too much! This should not be happening at all! and yet the author looking at the numbers says that the extinction rate is... actually quite slow because the rescue effect is working for most of the other organisms. In other words, we aren't as effective killers as we thought. Could we do better? Please, don't answer that.
The book talks us through different ways how the rescue effect works for different animals. When and how we should give them a hand?
Definitely, it´s a thought-provoking book. And yet I am going to stick with the traditional point of view believing that we should protect nature more firmly and limit the significant human impact on it. Nature is smart, but I still think that it needs our help. And if we won´t do something very fast and on a huge scale... then God helps us all.

In a changing world, species are disappearing at alarming rates, but many have remarkable ways to sustain life, through adaptation or intervention. This book follows a handful of different animals on the brink of extinction and considers how people and other animals are helping or harming their chances of survival.

I appreciate that this book is conscious of its scientific language and never hesitates to explain things in at least one way, often more, to make sure that no reader is left behind. It deals with some complicated topics, but I never feel left in the dark. I learned so much from this book, not the least of which being that opossums and possums are actually completely different creatures. Amazing. While I've always been interested in conservation, this book has inspired me to look closer at the many amazing creatures both near me and across the globe. I have hope that there will be a way to save some of them, if not all.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All opinions are my own.