Homo Sapiens - An Appraisal of Modern Humans - released today

Our new title, Homo Sapiens - An Appraisal of Modern Humans by Rajan Jaisinghani is formally released today. We have kept the price point of this title as low as is possible (just £12.00) in order that it can be accessible to the broadest possible audience. This is a book that everybody should read. For less than the price of a meal in a restaurant, this book will keep you engaged for considerably longer and, most importantly, will make you review how you live your life! Rajan’s broad-based education has allowed a multifaceted approach that examines diverse but interrelated issues using evidence-based, philosophical and ethical considerations. If you are interested in environmental sustainability, conservation, pollution, overpopulation, climate change etc. then you will certainly want to read this book. If you are not interested in these issues then you NEED to read this book! An outline of the book can be seen below the cover image.

CHAPTER 1 – Homo sapiens and the Environment 51 pages

This chapter explores the symbiotic beauty of Earth – the land, air, and sea, and the inhabitants of all these. A change anywhere in this world sets in motion a whole series of changes throughout. While the Earth has been constantly changing and evolving since its beginning, too many changes in too little time have disrupted the natural balance. These changes are mostly caused by our collective behaviour, our activities and lifestyles and our population explosion. Such things as climate change, habitat loss, and pollution are now leading to the greatest loss of both animal and plant species in the planet’s history. The chapter also stresses our very real need to be close to and interact with nature around us; this innate need is almost as great as our need for food, water, and love. The author personalizes this loss, which cannot be simply gauged in economic terms. He invokes Gaelic and Eastern thought and poetry along with quotes from John Muir to enable the reader to “feel” the severity of the damage to the natural environment.

CHAPTER 2 – Collective Behaviour, Risk Analysis and Long Term Problems 22 pages

The author discusses collective cooperative and self-interest-driven behaviour along with our faulty risk analysis of long-term issues. This chapter examines several characteristics inherent in Homo sapiens as a species, such as our self-interest and preference to see and act only in the short-term rather than long-range. These traits help explain why we continue to damage our physical planet and threaten our species and numerous others. These characteristics alter our risk analysis and collective behaviour, thus making solutions to our problems much harder to see and to implement.

CHAPTER 3 - Population 27 pages

The author illustrates the effects of an exploding population by examining conditions in current day India. He also presents interesting facts about this explosive worldwide growth with statistical charts. The ever-growing population of species Homo sapiens affects all aspects of the health of the planet and also affects our very essence as a species. It is the primary cause of all the increasing problems of both our planet and our species – the shortage of water, food, and land, the increase of pollution, the greater need for sanitation, as well as behavioural impacts such as insensitivity, war and corruption In attempting to address these immensely complex issues we seem to have chosen not to recognize the underlying cause – human population explosion.

CHAPTER 4 - Politics, Governance and Economic Values 42 pages

These three interconnected subsets of nature are based on our behaviour as a species and should help us live in balance and solve the problems of our societies. Realistically, though, our inherent qualities of short-term and self-interested behaviour result in skewing material goods, power, etc. toward our personal interest, which leads to an unequal and unfair society of the haves vs. the have-nots. The chapter discusses the problems with growth-based systems and the faulty values that our economic system assigns to products and services due to lack of incorporation of long- term factors. The economic system leads to massive inequalities which result in political oligarchy.

CHAPTER 5 – Prerequisites for Solutions 37 pages

We cannot undo the damage that Homo sapiens has caused, but we can act to mitigate some of these problems. However, six prerequisites must be in place in order to make any progress. The two most important are strong leadership and education. Then we must agree to the concepts of population reduction, conservation of natural resources, non-growth-based economies, and economic valuation changes. Only then can we begin to implement specific steps to save our species and our planet.

CHAPTER 6 – 2050 – A Likely Future 22 pages

Life in 2050 is presented through the eyes of Rohan, a young professional living in a metropolis. As Rohan plans his New Year trip to the aquarium, the author makes various observations through the eyes of Rohan to discuss the probable lifestyle and conditions in 2050. Rohan thinks about his busy life and non-commuting job as he uses advanced 3D holographic technology for communication and entertainment. As he goes out the author is able to comment on the transportation modes and dangers due to pollution and crime in the unregulated outdoors. Rohan’s stop at the Flying Insect gives the author an opportunity to discuss food, agriculture and water. Similarly, the climate change, economic, political, education and social conditions in 2050 are heuristically described. Finally, Rohan ends his day by attending Guru Aakash’s gathering with his NET-found date Avyeckta, as both Rohan and Avyeckta realize that Homo sapiens can create a better future only by incorporating non-materialistic factors to our totally materialistic systems.