The World Without UsThe World Without Us
Score Modern
What it's about
Alan Weisman asks a simple question: what would happen to the Earth if humans disappeared tomorrow? He travels the world to find out from experts: how quickly New York's subways would flood, how long our houses and bridges would last, what would become of nuclear plants and plastics, and how forests and animals would return.
Why it's worth reading
It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. It's a fascinating thought experiment that makes readers see their impact on the planet.
You'll love it if you liked
The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History
How to Avoid a Climate Disaster
A Short History of Nearly EverythingGood to know
It's science journalism. Some details have been updated by later research.
By the numbers
- Readers11 out of 100 · counts 42%
- Critics24 out of 100 · counts 34% (its stronger lane)
- Bestseller22 out of 100 · counts 14%
- Buzz0 out of 100 · counts 10%
Critics and Bestseller are two ways to earn a place: a book's stronger one counts more. Buzz rewards recent bestseller weeks and prizes, so older books start at zero. The parts combine into the Must-Read Score, shown on a scale where the best book we found scores 99 and the last book to make the ranking scores 50.
Where it ranks
- #116 of the 119 science and ideas books we rank
- #1508 of the 1,573 modern books we rank
- #2733 of the 2,816 books we rank
Why it made the list
Reads as
True story
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Science and ideas booksTop 25 · 119 ranked
Modern booksTop 25 · 1,573 ranked
Books of the 2000sTop 25 · 490 ranked
Fantasy booksTop 25 · 459 ranked
Mysteries and thrillersTop 25 · 555 ranked
Literary novelsTop 25 · 309 ranked
Memoirs and biographiesTop 25 · 290 ranked
Science fiction booksTop 25 · 313 rankedQuick answers
Is The World Without Us worth reading?
Yes. It was a National Book Critics Circle Award finalist. It ranks #2,733 of the 2,816 books in our ranking, with a Must-Read Score of 54.6 (the best book we found scores 99).
What is The World Without Us about?
Alan Weisman asks a simple question: what would happen to the Earth if humans disappeared tomorrow? He travels the world to find out from experts: how quickly New York's subways would flood, how long our houses and bridges would last, what would become of nuclear plants and plastics, and how forests and animals would return.
How long does it take to read The World Without Us?
About 10 hours (416 pages), or about 3 weeks at 30 minutes a day.
What should I read after The World Without Us?
If you liked it, try The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History by Elizabeth Kolbert, How to Avoid a Climate Disaster by Bill Gates or A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.