Book Review

by Paul Ganderton

Smil V. 1977. Cycles of Life: Civilisation and the Biosphere. Scientific American. pp. x + 221. 22.95 pounds. ISBN 0 7167 5079 1.

If anyone says that the biogeochemical cycles are tedious or dull they should be directed to this book. The 8 chapters of this book take the reader through a detailed account of the major cycles: nitrogen, carbon and sulphur. At the beginning, there is an overview which seeks to explain how the cycles work in theory. At the end there is a chapter devoted to the impact of the cycles on society and vice versa. In between the reader meets a mix of history (key figures are described alongside their portraits) and science which highlights not just the theory but how it was arrived at. In terms of production this book is hard to beat. It is a delightful, full-colour glossy text that would raise the most jaded of readers. It is also a serious science text that needs some basic understanding of chemistry to appreciate fully the ideas being put forward. As with other texts in this series it would be a useful addition to the library.