Atlas of a Threatened Planet: 150 Infographics to Help Anyone Save the World

Esther Gonstalla
Island Press, Washington, £24.00

There are still a lot of folks who don’t know how the planet is doing under the pressures that we are bringing to bear on it. And as a result, we need to find new ways of presenting the information to capture a broader audience. This book, by information and graphic designer Esther Gonstalla, is an excellent attempt to do that.

I must admit that I found this book difficult to review, not because it isn’t a great resource, but because it covers such a vast canvas, from climate change to food security, through animals and hydrology. Fortunately, the book is broken down into atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and anthroposphere, which helps in getting across what is threatening the planet and what we can do to help it on its way.

The book is crammed with facts that are easily accessible, mainly because Gonstalla uses exceptional infographics, or pictograms, to provide a wealth of information on the state of the planet, along with solutions to the issues that she highlights. I, for one, will be using the graphics for future presentations, as they glow on the page and shout out the necessary numbers in a bid to get points across succinctly.  I expect this book will be of value for many – from school students, to those interested in facts and figures around how the planet is faring.

Iain Gordon FRSB

Reviewed by Professor Iain Gordon FRSB, Honorary Professor at the Fenner School of Environment & Society, The Australian National University