The normal extinction rate for mammals is roughly 1 species every 700 years, yet there have been at least 80 mammalian species go extinct since 2000. Kolbert’s impressive journalism pulls from scientific studies of many different disciplines to illustrate that we are in the midst of a mass extinction, the sixth that scientist have recognized since life began on earth. While climate change gets most of the press in impacting the earth these days, Kolbert demonstrates that climate is merely the tip of the iceberg (pun intended). Told in 13 chapters, each focusing on a different species, it’s both an informative and heartbreaking book. The characters aren’t just the species themselves, but also the humans devoting their lives to try and save these species and delay the inevitable. Cynically, I walked away from this feeling that we’re screwed, but I also left with a deeper appreciation for the flora and fauna we’ve yet to destroy 🥹.