The last 10,000 years, the post-glacial or Holocene, has seen the world's climates and environments take on their modern natural form. It has also seen the development of Homo Sapiens form hunter-gatherer to farmer to city-dweller with consequent impact on the natural environment. For the most part, this transformation of nature has not been described in written records. Therefore alternative, proxy sources of information have to be used to reconstruct past environments. Neil Roberts discusses Palaeoecological techniques such as pollen analysis and radiocarbon dating in his first chapter. He then recounts the changes in nature from the ice age to modern times using these proxy techniques. Primarily suitable for undergraduates in geography, archaeology , environmental history, science, and ecology as well as scholars of a wide range of professional interests and informed lay-readers.
"By comprehensively covering the interaction between the human and natural environment over the last 11,500 years, Neil Roberts has provided a stimulating and entertaining overview of an important topic which will prove useful to the lay–person as well as the experienced geographer. This is a book that is not only technically good, it is also extremely readable. I thoroughly recommend it, not only to those with a special interest in the Quaternary, but to all with a general interest in either natural science or human history."
James Shulmeister, Victoria University of Wellington "Neil Roberts′ book on the Holocene is already a classic. All the additions and changes of the second edition may be sumarized as positive improvements to what was already an excellent book. Most importantly, the science has been updated without changing its distinctive character. At the same time, the book has been brightened up, which makes it all the more attractive to handle and read. More power to Neil Roberts′ already considerable elbow as he takes up the Chair in Physical Geography at the University of Plymouth!" John Matthews, The Holocene
"Roberts, by background a geographer, has obviously immersed himself in the other disciplines, and he has turned out a wonderful and very up–to–date synthesis of the present state of knowledge about the history of the Holocene. Although this is the second edition. It is in many places a complete rewrite of the original, integrating most of the new discoveries and reinterpretations in this field. One of the surprising pleasures is that the author combines excellent scholarship with a very enjoyable writing style. For those who wish to learn more, the 48–page bibliography is a comprehensive source to the relevant primary literature. Highly recommended to general readers and students and scholars at all levels." C. W. Dimmick, Central Connecticut State University
"Here is a book at once erudite and understandable (there is a helpful glossary, a thorough bibliography and an appendix concerning radiocarbon ages), necessary reading for students, and those with an interest in our hapless history." Ecology
"As a readable and attractive introduction suitable for non–specialists, illustrated with a good selection of colour photographs and some excellent diagrams and maps, The Holocene should attract a wide readership." Danny Yee, University of Sydney
"This text, now as a second edition, is without doubt one of the finest efforts to comprehensively examine the earth′s changing surface over the past 15,000 years. Above all what is learned from The Holoceneis that change frequently is revolutionary not evolutionary. The 10,000–year perspective provides stimulating and fascinating reading for all environmental professionals." Constantine N. Raphael, Eastern Michigan University
"With its global coverage, The Holocene provides an excellent introduction to the late Quaternary. I have used the new edition, and previously the first edition, to launch an upper–level seminar in paleoecology and paleoclimatology. The students enjoy the broad overview that it gives with abundant mention of human activities. With over 900 references of which a third are from the 1990s, the book gives readers a good sense of the vast literature available; and, with further updating from GeoRef and other on–line sources, readers can investigate research topics with a sense of the many issues involved."Thompson Webb III, Brown University
"The first edition was comprehensive and well received, and this edition builds on that basis, employing many of these recent advances to refine and expand the picture Roberts painted in the first edition." Peter Gell, University of Adelaide
"The attraction of the book lies in its geographical scope and the reader is treated to well illustrated examples from the Near East, North and Meso America, and South East Asia, drawing upon the author′s research experience. His enthusiasm for his subject is conveyed in a lucid and lively text and in his catholic interests." Scottish Geographical Review
