"The Population Bomb" by Paul Ehrlich stirred worldwide fear over the issue of overpopulation when it was published in 1968. Ehrlich's book warned of a future where the world's population would outstrip available resources, leading to widespread famine and societal collapse. His stark predictions captured the attention of the public and policymakers, sparking important discussions about sustainability and the environment. Despite some criticisms and the fact that some of his specific predictions did not come to pass, Ehrlich's work remains a seminal piece in the ongoing dialogue about population growth and its implications for the planet.

For at least 650 years, since the time of the Black Plague, the world's population has headed in only one direction: up. But within a few decades the number of people on earth will level off and then will likely decline over an extended period of time. In Fewer, the author explains how and why birthrates and fertility rates are now falling at an alarming rate in countries throughout the world--both modern and less developed. And he explores the major implications--for world politics, the environment, and the international economy--of this momentous shift. Illustrated with 23 clarifying charts.