In this fascinating and abundantly illustrated book, two eminent ecologists explain how the millions of species living on Earth-some microscopic, some obscure, many threatened-not only help keep us alive but also hold possibilities for previously unimagined products, medicines, and even industries. In an Afterword written especially for this edition, the authors consider the impact of two revolutions now taking place: the increasing rate at which we are discovering new species because of new technology available to us and the accelerating rate at which we are losing biological diversity. Also reviewed and summarized are many "new" wild solutions, such as innovative approaches to the discovery of pharmaceuticals, the "lotus effect," the ever-growing importance of bacteria, molecular biomimetics, ecological restoration, and robotics. "An easy read, generating a momentum of energy and excitement about the potential of the natural world to solve many of the problems that face us."-E. J. Milner-Gulland, Nature "Must-reading for everyone."-Simon A. Levin, author of Fragile Dominion: Complexity and the Commons "An engaging book clearly intended to impress upon a lay audience the practical value of biological diversity...An outstanding work."-Ecology "A most stimulating read for all those budding science students from secondary through graduate schools."-Science Books & Films

Andrew Beattie is director of the Commonwealth Key Centre for Biodiversity and Bioresources and Christine Turnbull is research associate, both at Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia.

Paul R. Ehrlich is Bing Professor of Population Studies in the department of biological sciences at Stanford University.