Our world is far richer than previously conceived, yet so ravaged by human activity that half its species could be gone by the end of the 21st century. These two contrasting themes - unexpected magnificence and underestimated peril - have originated since the 1980s. In this book, scientist E.O. Wilson describes exactly what treasures of the natural world we are about to lose forever and what we can do right now to save them. Destruction of natural habitats, the rampant spread of invasive species, pollution, uncontrolled population growth and overharvesting are the main threats to our natural world. Wilson explains how each of these elements works to undo the web of life that supports us, and why it is in our best interests to stop it. The book is both a moving description of the world's astonishing animals and plants, and a guidebook for the protection of all its species, including our own.

愛德華·威爾遜（ Edward O. Wilson ）

☆ 最具文采的科學傢

☆ 最博學多識的作傢

☆“最後的博物學傢”

生於1929 年，當今美國生物學界的翹楚，美國國傢科學院院士，世界上最有影響力的科學傢之一。“生物社會學”之父，“生物多樣性”概念提齣者。目前是哈佛大學比較動物學博物館昆蟲館的名譽館長兼榮譽研究教授。

先後獲得100 多個國際性奬項，包括美國的國傢科學奬、瑞典皇傢科學院頒發的剋拉福德奬、日本的國際生物奬。 1996 年，被《時代》雜誌評為對當代美國影響最大的 25 位美國人之一。他熱心投身環保事業，曾獲世界自然基金會頒發的金質奬章、美國奧杜邦學會頒發的奧杜邦奬章等。

威爾遜非常擅長著述，文筆優美，有 30 餘部著作，先後以《論人性》和《螞蟻》兩度獲得普利策奬。