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Leandro de Sant’Anna Knorre, #49301120

Through the eyes of an elder.

Review of the book The legacy (Suzuki, 2010).

1. Summary1.1. Introduction

Based on the last lecture delivered by David Suzuki at the University of British

Columbia before his retirement, The Legacy (2010) is meant to condense the author’s ideas

on the work of his lifetime. Suzuki addresses questions about the meaning of the human

existence, the contrast between high technology with its consequences when opposed to

primitive ways of living, and how humanity should live in order to be sustainable and to have

a happy and meaningful future.

1.2. Summary of each chapter.1.2.1. Evolution of a superspecies.

In this chapter, the author navigates through human history. Highlighting the

unprecedented acceleration in scientific and economic development along with population

growth in the past 100 years, Suzuki shows his concerns about the increase in the rate of

which the planet is being transformed and the extent to which natural resources are being

consumed.

The author concludes the chapter explaining the environmental crisis of our time,

caused by the impact of around 7 billion people in the world and the difficulty to deal with

border issues and immigration. He illustrates the relevance of this crisis by mentioning the

document “World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity” (1992), signed by 1700 senior scientists

including 104 Nobel Prize winners, in which they alerted humanity about being in a route that

could compromise the future of our planet, damaging the environment and critical resources.

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1.2.2. Finding a new path.

Suzuki vehemently attacks a consumption-based economy and alerts people about the

limits of population growth and how exponential growth can quickly reach saturation beyond

a certain stage. He also states that the current rate of exploitation of natural resources has

already exceeded the rate in which the planet can recover itself, thus we are currently using

resources that should remain for future generations.

In this chapter, Suzuki addresses what is probably the most emblematic support to his

thesis of today’s economy not being sustainable: 70% of the U.S. economy by the end of the

twentieth century was based in consumption, i.e. non-durable goods, dragging raw materials

from the biosphere and turning them into waste that will return to the planet.

1.2.3. A vision for the future.

Comparing with Aboriginal perspectives on life and nature, Suzuki starts advocating

how the dominant view on nature should change in a manner to be more respectful to other

life forms. He also exposes his view on how sacred air, water, earth, fire and biodiversity (the

fifth element – web of life itself) are, how they are part of us and how humanity, when

harming these elements, is harming itself. Love and spirituality also are part of the

idiosyncrasy proposed by the author as a better way to relate to the environment.

Then Suzuki draws the bases of the world he would like to have in a generation.

Furthermore, he confronts the perspective of economists, focusing his discourse on values.

He shows some of his values, his history, his father’s values, and finishes the book in a very

personal tone, showing the background of the hope he has about his heirs and the whole

humanity being able to live in a happy, meaningful and harmonious manner with the

environment.

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1.3. Conclusion

Suzuki’s central idea is that today’s dominant way of producing, consuming and living

is not sustainable and has consequences that will unavoidably impact future generations. The

lack of profound values connecting man and nature is one of the author’s concerns. He also

suggests solutions to minimize humankind’s impact on the biosphere and to reach a

sustainable future. His main purpose for writing the book seems to be to call upon those who

agree with him on building the world we would like to have in one generation.

2. Evaluation.

Besides dealing with many scientific issues and data, this is not a science book in the

usual sense. More than that, it is a book about values. It is a calling to a change in the

perspective that currently dominates economy and governments around the world. Suzuki’s

purpose was to transmit his understanding on how humanity shall live in order to have a

happy, meaningful, prosperous, sustainable and harmonious relation with our planet. As a

calling, it is a very enjoyable book for those who agree with that message, but can also be

criticized in many ways by those who do not.

To set his starting point, he had to set some premises, giving some context about

humanity’s history on how we got where we are today. He made good points on his

arguments about the increasing changes in parameters of human population, use of natural

resources and pollution. His reasoning makes much sense, as the change in our environment

to our current cities is very recent when considering the history of the human species and the

history of the universe. Other point that is worth mentioning is that he stated and gave

examples on the current inability of science to predict the consequences of changes in

complex natural systems.

Another important aspect on Suzuki’s idiosyncrasy, as shown in the book, is the

meaningful relation that Aboriginal peoples have with nature, which other cultures do not.

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This is the keystone of his legacy: the ability of having meaningful relation with otherwise

unevaluated elements. The very same characteristic that makes this book so appealing to

some will be used by those who consider it unscientific, emotional, and inadequate.

Suzuki dares to expose himself, writing how it would be the future he desires for the

planet. He describes some of the features that our cities should have in order to make that

future feasible, and sustains the achievability of that change, depending only on willing to do

so. He used the episode of the American victory on the race to moon as an example of how,

when committed and united to do so, people can achieve extraordinary goals.

The passion and optimism of David Suzuki are remarkable. The book is almost poetic

in some parts, and addresses some subjects we usually do not expect from a scientist: love,

spirituality, personal history. It is partially biographic too, as he tells some histories about his

life and his family, including some pictures of them.

David Suzuki’s legacy is not a scientific treaty. He had the opportunity to write many

scientific papers and now he is retired from that function. We have many capable scientists to

maintain the progress of science. His legacy is an elder’s clear vision on what really matters

to have a meaningful, happy existence. We definitely could benefit having more elders like

him to advise us, and people able to listen and make his dream come true, so that the

humanity will have the guarantee of a healthy and sustainable future. His legacy is the ability

to see the beauty of the butterflies in the schoolyards.

Reference

Suzuki, D., Canadian Electronic Library (Firm), & David Suzuki Foundation. (2010). The

legacy: An elder's vision for our sustainable future. Vancouver [B.C.]: Greystone

Books.