In professor Edward Passerini’s The Curve of the Future focuses on population growth and its often deleterious impact on the environment. The book covers many of the major environmental problems we face and offers resolutions for many. In the main, the author argues that we are already past our “carrying capacity” in the U.S., a concept on which are based many of his resolutions. Population reductions are in the best interests of the species and individuals, because reductions of populations result in increases in quality of life (Passerini 225). Some of Passerini’s case studies are dubious at best, including one regarding a mouse population constructed in studies by psychologist John Calhoun. By allowing mice to thrive in a simulated natural environment, Calhoun watched population explosion occur to uncontrollable levels (2,200 as opposed to the maximum population growth rate of 600) (Passerini 225). However, Calhoun’s conclusions rendered by Passerini (225) sound more like ominous social warnings from the religious right than scientific predictions of overpopulation, “Unprovoked violence, extreme passivity, cannibalism, and aberrant sexual and territorial behavior became common.” At least Passerini notes we must view such experiments with speculation when basing our own conclusions on them.
However, there can be no denying that Passerini makes an excellent case throughout the book for the ways overpopulation and uncontrolled population growth wreck havoc on the environment and societies. Passerini does cross-country comparisons with rich and poor nations. Like the U.S., China is a country that must accept it has been living beyond its carrying capacity for way too long. Further, through case studies and statistics throughout history the author demonstrates how quality of life is diminished from overpopulation and overexploitation of resources. This is true in terms of natural disasters, epidemics, povert...