The Cartoon Guide to the Environment

The Cartoon Guides

by Larry Gonick, Alice Outwater

Do you think that the Ozone Hole is a grunge rock club? Or that the Food Web is an on-line restaurant guide? Or that the Green Revolution happened in Greenland? Then you need  The Cartoon Guide to the Environment  to put you on the road to environmental literacy. The Cartoon Guide to the Environment  covers the main topics of environmental chemical cycles, life communities, food webs, agriculture, human population growth, sources of energy and raw materials, waste disposal and recycling, cities, pollution, deforestation, ozone depletion, and global warming—and puts them in the context of ecology, with discussions of population dynamics, thermodynamics, and the behavior of complex systems.    

Genres: Science, Nonfiction, Comics, Environment, Graphic Novels, Education, Ecology

240 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 1996

About the author

Larry Gonick (born 1946) is a cartoonist best known for The Cartoon History of the Universe, a history of the world in comic book form, which he has been publishing in installments since 1977. He has also written The Cartoon History of the United States, and he has adapted the format for a series of co-written guidebooks on other subjects, beginning with The Cartoon Guide to Genetics in 1983. The diversity of his interests, and the success with which his books have met, have together earned Gonick the distinction of being "the most well-known and respected of cartoonists who have applied their craft to unravelling the mysteries of science" (Drug Discovery Today, March 2005).

Reviews

[Paula Koneazny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Engaging, witty & accurate. Published in 1996, a revised edition would be welcome, to include, particularly, an update on climate change. Although my sense of age-appropriateness is a bit fuzzy, I imagine this Guide as a useful supplementary text for science educators--perhaps for grades 4-8. Good reading for adults as well. Even while familiar with the concepts and terminology used by Gonick & Outwater, I appreciated the quick review. This is by NO means dumbed down science. It's the real deal.

[Huy Lưu · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enchanting illustrations and tons of helpful information are the unique traits of this book. A must-read for everyone despite some out-of-fashion data and statistics. I think the author should update this book in order to turn it into an exellent masterpiece.

[Keko Chezumar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is Larry Gonick's witty approach to describe what's happened, is happening, and will happen to the environment.

It inspired me to take actions however small to decelerate the desctruction to mother earth that human beings have been doing.

The sections about how to feed the entire human population, abundant crops that go to animal farms, encouraging to feed on local food, avoiding fastfood - those are my favorites.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

A complete overview of earth processes, how humans have been screwing up the planet and steps we are taking to improve things. I got so much out of this book I plan to read it a couple of more times just to get it all to sink in. Brilliant.

[Tuyet Lan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cuốn này xuất bản ở Việt Nam với tên Câu chuyện môi trường. Đúng như tên gốc, đây là một guidebook - hướng dẫn rất chi tiết về các khái niệm liên quan đến tự nhiên và môi trường. Sách là một câu chuyện dài từ thủa Trái Đất mới hình thành đến sự phát triển của xã hội loài người, từ những cánh rừng thênh thang, đầm lầy ẩm ướt đến đô thị bê tông chật chội, nóng bức.

Cuốn truyện tranh khoa học này vừa thú vị vừa dí dỏm, giúp người đọc có ý thức rằng môi trường trên Trái Đất là một thể thống nhất và tự cân bằng như thế nào, rằng thực ra mọi người trên thế giới đều đang dùng chung một bầu không khí, chia sẻ một đại dương.
Tiếp đến người đọc sẽ thấy rõ rằng xã hội loài người đã và đang làm suy giảm sự cân bằng và tuần hoàn đó nhanh chóng ra sao. Quá trình canh tác nông nghiệp, sản xuất công nghiệp và những ham muốn vô tận của con người đã lấy đi bao nhiêu tài nguyên và thải ra khối lượng rác khủng khiếp vượt quá khả năng tự phục hồi của môi trường.

Nếu loài người (không trừ cá nhân hay chính phủ nào) không hợp tác bảo vệ môi trường sống chung, thì có một ngày môi trường Trái Đất sẽ giống như câu chuyện trên đảo Phục Sinh (Easter Island) - chỉ còn ngổn ngang những tượng đài đá - dấu tích của nền văn minh - giữa đất đai sa mạc không bóng cây, và không một con người còn sống sót.

Điểm trừ duy nhất của sách là font chữ - không biết có phải do nội dung nào nhà xuất bản cũng thấy quan trọng không, mà đều viết ở dạng chữ in hoa cả. Đọc ... hoa cả mắt :D

[Cengiz Aytun · Rating 4 out of 5]

Çok keyifli bir okumaydı. Enerji çevre ve ekoloji konularında karikatürlerle bilgi dolu bir seyahatti. Bazı istatistiki veriler oldukça eskimiş olsa da genel olarak söylemek istediği mesajı koruyabilmiş. Türkiyedeki baskısını “Karikatürlü çevre rehberi” adı ile bulabilirsiniz. Ben nadirkitap sitesinden sipariş ettiğimde beklentim çok düşüktü. Kitap gelip okudukça hayran kaldım. Kitabı Türkiye’de Yeşil Adımlar Çevre Eğitim Derneği çıkarmış. Keşke yeni baskısı olsa ve herkes okuyabilse. Çevre konusunda okuma yapanlar rastlarlarsa kaçırmasınlar bence.
Şimdiden iyi okumalar.

[Faw · Rating 5 out of 5]

Komik terbitan 1990 ini menyegarkan kembali pengetahuan dasar yang mulai pudar di ingatan. Topik yang dibahas sangat komprehensif dan berkesinambungan, menghubungkan ilmu alam dan sejarah (sosial), serta sangat relatable dengan kondisi lingkungan hidup yang kita saksikan dalam kehidupan sehari-hari saat ini.

Buku yang wajib dibaca bagi dewasa, remaja, dan anak-anak sebagai generasi penerus, agar mempunyai wawasan lingkungan dan bagaimana banyak hal di dalam kehidupan saling berkaitan satu sama lain, serta menjaga kewarasan di masa-masa kegilaan akhir zaman.

[Nayuu · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of my favorite book that i've bought! bahasan mengenai lingkungan itu kebanyakan berasal dari biologi kelas 10 SMA. terkadang aku pengen balik lagi ke kelas 10 gara-gara ini. untung saja aku sudah membeli buku ini buat review ulang materi-materi yang ada dan bahkan ada materi-materi yang belum diajarkan karena keterbatasan waktu di sekolah.

[Rais · Rating 5 out of 5]

Komik yang membahas ekologi yg sangat informatif dan mudah untuk dicerna karena dibuat dalam bentuk komik, jadi paham bagaimana ekosistem berubah dari masa ke masa dan bagaimana cara mengatasi kerusakan lingkungan

[Krista Ottinger · Rating 5 out of 5]

As always, Gonick never disappoints.

[Andika Lesmana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Separo pertama macam textbook aja. Baru enjoy ketika sudah bahas masalah lingkungan.

[Kristinita · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed it, just wish this had been a revised/updated edition. The book I read was also printed really badly, which ruined it a bit.

[Kookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

everyone need to read this book. explain everything that difficult yet so easy to understand. im scared for the future of humankind so you guys read this, we need to change to survive. GO GREEN

[Rogival Gregory · Rating 3 out of 5]

Une bande dessinée assez technique et scientifique. Parfois lourd mais assez intéressante.

[Špela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Po knjigi sem posegla, kot zadnji iz seznama bralne značke. Zanimiva, super slike in tekst, tudi zabavna. Ko padeš noter, je branje fenomenalno. Ocena: 3/4, zaokroženo na 4. :)

[Adelya · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku tentang lingkungan, pemaparan fakta tentang lingkungan dengan gaya yang tidak kaku. Tetapi buku ini tidak cocok untuk anak-anak, tidak sesuai dengan sampulnya yang familiar dengan anak-anak. Sewaktu saya kecil saya tidak suka buku ini, membosankan, gaya bahasa tinggi. Cocok dibaca anak smp ke atas sebagai bahan belajar yang bisa dikatakan menyenangkan.

[Afid Nurkholis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Judul dari buku ini "The Cartoon Guide..." jadi tidak mengherankan jika isi konten dari buku adalah tentang penjelasan mendasar tentang lingkunan, seperti jaring-jaring makanan , polusi udara , pertumbuhan populasi dan sebagainya. Paling tidak buku yg menggunakan bahasa inggris sekaligus ngelatih reading :D ditambah gambar-gambar yang lucu serta pengenalan konsep-konsep lingkungan sebagai basic..lumayanlah

[Guguk · Rating 2 out of 5]

Lumayan~ ^ ^
Kadang gambarnya lucu, kadang acak-acakan banget XD
Kalo soal pengetahuannya, aku lebih suka baca buku-buku karangan Glenn Murphy (^ ^ )>

[Lutfi Retno · Rating 2 out of 5]

Aku beli buku ini buat adek. awalnya gara-gara tertipu sama resensinya. katanya buku ini bisa ngejelasin tentang lingkungan dengan bahasa yang sangat sederhana. ternyata, adekku bilang nggak bagus.

[Randu · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buku ini sudah ada terjemahan bahasa indonesianya. Gambarnya lucu dan banyak menjelaskan soal apa sih lingkungan hidup itu? Hmm... big question huh? ;)

[~Lyn~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

Buku jenaka yang menyingkap topik-topik lingkungan, mulai dari daur kimia, jaring-jaring makanan, evolusi, pembabatan hutan, sampah, efek rumah kaca, sampai penghematan energi.

[Bunga Mawar · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this book very much!
Kayaknya besok hari cari di Istora niy... bukan cuma must-read, tapi must-have! :)

[Indah Threez Lestari · Rating 4 out of 5]

#Program BUBU

[Jim Wilcox · Rating 4 out of 5]

This presents a fun and light read about ecology.

[Kellie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to be mainly about saving the planet. I was pleasantly surprised at the depth of this book as it addressed the complex interplay of geography, biology, economics and energy.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent overview of the science of the environment, the history of human development and its environmental consequences, and the challenges of environmental policy. A quick read. Highly recommend.

[Ian · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps not entirely up-to-date (it was published in 1996), but still an excellent overview of the topic, and of course a delightful (if perhaps a little depressing) read.

[Angela Penrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

A nice basic intro to environmental science. Not terribly deep, but it's profoundly readable and gives one a good grounding, and a number of jumping-off points for further investigation.

[mina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lumayan...

[Lisdiawati · Rating 3 out of 5]

Siapa bilang ekologi membosankan? Abiz baca ni buku gue ngerasa ekologi itu menarik :D