''Road to Survival'' is a 1948 book by

William Vogt William Vogt (15 May 1902 – 11 July 1968) was an American ecologist and ornithologist, with a strong interest in both the carrying capacity and population control. He was the author of best-seller ''Road to Survival'' (1948), National Direc ...

. It was a major inspiration for a certain strand of modern

environmentalism Environmentalism or environmental rights is a broad philosophy, ideology, and social movement regarding concerns for environmental protection and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks ...

as well as for the revival of

Malthusianism Malthusianism is the idea that population growth is potentially exponential while the growth of the food supply or other resources is linear, which eventually reduces living standards to the point of triggering a population die off. This event, ...

—the so-called neo-Malthusianism—in the post-war era.

Summary

''Road to Survival'' is a summary of the ecological status of the world. Vogt documented the negative effects of an expanding global population on the environment. He gathered reports of

deforestation Deforestation or forest clearance is the removal of a forest or stand of trees from land that is then converted to non-forest use. Deforestation can involve conversion of forest land to farms, ranches, or urban use. The most concentrated ...

, gullying,

overgrazing Overgrazing occurs when plants are exposed to intensive grazing for extended periods of time, or without sufficient recovery periods. It can be caused by either livestock in poorly managed agricultural applications, game reserves, or nature res ...

, soil erosion, and many forms of destruction of fundamental resources which he believed had arisen from the greed and ignorance of humankind. Vogt contended that global population growth surpasses the capacity of food production to sustain it, thereby advocating for the necessity of universal birth control measures. Vogt also critiqued capitalism, characterizing it as a flawed system, and portrayed the historical trajectory of the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...

as a continuous series of destructive events and actions. The book is filled with scientific data, and its worldwide scope was unusual at the time. Ultimately, the book advocates population control as the only way to prevent environmental disaster. Human population could not exceed the planet's carrying capacity without disaster. According to Hampshire College’s Betsy Hartmann, Vogt is the founder of what she calls "apocalyptic environmentalism".

Reception

The book was commercially successful, with a condensed version published in the January 1949 edition of ''

Reader's Digest ''Reader's Digest'' is an American general-interest family magazine, published ten times a year. Formerly based in Chappaqua, New York, it is now headquartered in midtown Manhattan. The magazine was founded in 1922 by DeWitt Wallace and his wif ...

''. Numerous educational institutions adopted it as a primary instructional material. Nevertheless, the core message encountered criticism from various ideological groups, drawing opposition from

conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy that seeks to promote and to preserve traditional institutions, practices, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilization in ...

who disapproved of its anti-capitalist stance and endorsement of birth control, while liberals perceived it as indicative of science's inadequacy in addressing contemporary societal challenges. In a 1949 assessment published in the ''

Geography Geography (from Greek: , ''geographia''. Combination of Greek words ‘Geo’ (The Earth) and ‘Graphien’ (to describe), literally "earth description") is a field of science devoted to the study of the lands, features, inhabitants, an ...

'' journal, it was determined that the examination of the origins and outcomes of soil erosion across various global regions held significant merit. While acknowledging potential disagreements with the author's political and ethical stances, the thesis was regarded as a thought-provoking and stimulating contribution. This work was perceived to offer a valuable challenge, inciting contemplation on substantial and pertinent issues within the field. Later on, the book would inspire the modern

environmental movement The environmental movement (sometimes referred to as the ecology movement), also including conservation and green politics, is a diverse philosophical, social, and political movement for addressing environmental issues. Environmentalists a ...

, with both

Rachel Carson Rachel Louise Carson (May 27, 1907 – April 14, 1964) was an American marine biologist, writer, and conservationist whose influential book '' Silent Spring'' (1962) and other writings are credited with advancing the global environmental ...

and

Paul Ehrlich Paul Ehrlich (; 14 March 1854 – 20 August 1915) was a Nobel Prize-winning German physician and scientist who worked in the fields of hematology, immunology, and antimicrobial chemotherapy. Among his foremost achievements were finding a cure ...

being inspired by it. Charles C. Mann highlighted Vogt's pivotal role in laying the foundation for the modern environmental movement. Betsy Hartmann, a population researcher at

Hampshire College Hampshire College is a private liberal arts college in Amherst, Massachusetts. It was opened in 1970 as an experiment in alternative education, in association with four other colleges in the Pioneer Valley: Amherst College, Smith College, Mo ...

, characterized Vogt's groundbreaking contributions as 'apocalyptic environmentalism.' This school of thought is predicated on the belief that the human race will cause irreparable harm to Earth's ecosystems if it does not reduce its consumption and population growth. Vogt effectively communicated this message through widely acclaimed books and compelling speeches, contending that our affluence, as opposed to being a source of pride, is our most pressing challenge. "Cut back!" was his repeated mantra and is a poignant call to action, highlighting the imperative need for sustainable practices to prevent global devastation.

References

{{Portal bar, Environment, Books Environmental non-fiction books 1948 non-fiction books 1948 in the environment

Summary

Reception

See also

References