A powerful investigation into the chances for humanity's future from the author of the bestseller The World Without Us. In his bestselling The World Without Us, Alan Weisman considered what Earth would look like with humanity gone. Behind his groundbreaking thought experiment was this question: Can humans be a part of a healed, restored planet? In his long-awaited follow-up, Weisman traveled to 21 countries to research the main obstacle to humanity's future: the sheer number of us. Weighing religious, cultural, and socioeconomic factors against biological and ecological ones, COUNTDOWN shows us the devastating effects of our cumulative presence and suggests what may be our fastest, most acceptable and affordable way of returning to a pace the planet can sustain before it's too late. Weisman shows again that he is one of the most provocative journalists at work today, asking the questions that truly matter most.