Peoplequake

Clearly the publishers of Peoplequake believe alarm sells, as the cover and subtitle suggest peril within. But in fact this very readable book is a hopeful counterblast to the misanthropic doom-mongering that dominates much of the population debate, and I finished it with a smile on my face.

Subtitled Mass Migration, Ageing Nations and the Coming Population Crash, the first half covers population growth since the industrial revolution and the various theories about that growth – notably those of Reverend Thomas Malthus, who predicted inevitable rise and catastrophic collapse. Racism, eugenics and startling inhumanity pollute this early thinking.

As the book moves into more recent population decline in much of Europe and slowing growth rates round the world, Pearce makes his big point. Steadily decreasing fertility means global numbers will soon drop, not rise; migration is good for both sending and receiving countries; ageing populations are increasingly active and will be a boon, not a burden.

I share his optimism – with a couple of caveats. The move to smaller families has usually been accompanied by greater wealth and a swelling carbon footprint, so can we really expect to limit both greenhouse gases and population, as he claims? Ultimately, though, Pearce’s celebration of humanity makes this book a joy.

Tom Heap is an environmental journalist and BBC broadcaster