An eye-opening exploration of humanity's unprecedented path to global depopulation and why it's
in everyone's interests to prevent it. 'Stunning ... essential reading' DANIEL H. PINK
author of Drive If we continue as we are the world's population will peak in the next few
decades - and then begin a sudden rapid decline. It would be easy to think that fewer people
would be better: better for the planet better for the people who remain. In After the Spike
two leading population economists ask us to think again. Carefully weighing the evidence that
surrounds this controversial subject Dean Spears and Mike Geruso explain why depopulation is
not the solution some purport it to be. Instead as humanity's future shrinks it will become
increasingly fragile and less certain making it even harder to escape poverty disease and
injustice. Halting this decline need not mean sacrificing a greener future or reverting to
past inequities in fact it can only be achieved with women's reproductive rights and
individual choice as driving forces. But if we want future generations to enjoy lives better
than our own it's time to take seriously our collective task of lifting the burdens of parents
and other carers. Deeply reasoned and uncompromisingly humane After the Spike sheds important
light on a dramatic shift in the human story and asks us to consider what future we want - for
our planet our children and one another. 'Remarkable ... has challenged and changed my
thinking about population' PETER SINGER author of Animal Liberation 'Dissolves our
preconceptions through evidence rigour and a deep compassion for all' TOBY ORD author of The
Precipice 'Insights and rigour are matched by a human and empathetic narrative throughout'
HANNAH RITCHIE author of Not the End of the World 'I had my mind blown over and over' ZACH
WEINERSMITH coauthor of A City on Mars
