Big World, Small Planet

“If you have time to read one book on this subject, I highly recommend the new Big World, Small Planet, by Johan Rockström, director of the Stockholm Resilience Center, and Mattias Klum, whose stunning photographs of ecosystem disruptions reinforce the urgency of the moment.”—Thomas L. Friedman, New York Times

Recognized with the 2024 Tyler Prize for Environmental Achievement, sponsored by the University of Southern California

“Big World, Small Planet offers a carefully laid-out argument about the ecological limits of our planet—and the challenge these limits pose to our patterns of life and economic growth. It clearly and compellingly explains the concept of planetary boundaries—a defining book for this decade.”—Daniel C. Esty, Yale University, coauthor of Green to Gold: How Smart Companies Use Environmental Strategy to Innovate, Create Value, and Build Competitive Advantage

“Big World, Small Planet offers a cornerstone for building a sustainable future for human civilization and our home, Planet Earth. Accessibly written and beautifully illustrated with stunning photographs, this book creatively and optimistically resonates with ideas and solutions.”—Thomas E. Lovejoy, University Professor of Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University and National Geographic Conservation Fellow

“Through compelling science and inspiring photography, Big World, Small Planet achieves the mind-shift space travelers experience when looking at Earth from space: we, humanity, need to become responsible stewards of our small planet. This book is all you need for heart and brain to be convinced of the virtue of a transformation to a world that thrives within planetary boundaries.”—Richard Branson, Virgin Group

“Our future hangs in the balance. We are inflicting grave damage on Planet Earth, and if we carry on with ‘business as usual’ we may reach the point of no return—when ecosystems collapse and more and more species become extinct. There is hope if only we can bridge the gap between the clever human brain and the compassionate human heart and act now. Johan Rockström and Mattias Klum lead the way with scientific clarity, powerful storytelling, and inspiring and award-winning photography.”—Dr. Jane Goodall