Selects: How Zero Population Growth Works

In this seminal work, Malthus explores the dynamics between population growth and subsistence. He posits that population increases at a geometric rate, while food production can only increase arithmetically, leading to natural checks such as famine, disease, and vice. The essay discusses the implications of these ideas on societal improvement and human existence, emphasizing the necessity of understanding population dynamics for meaningful discourse on societal advancement. Malthus also details preventive and positive checks on population, such as birth control and higher mortality rates, and their effects on economic stability and human well-being.

In this book, Paul Barolsky examines the role of wit and humor in Italian Renaissance art, providing insights into the artistic and cultural context of the period. The work delves into how artists of the Renaissance used humor and wit in their creations, reflecting the broader cultural and social attitudes of the time.

Published in 1968, 'The Population Bomb' by Paul and Anne Ehrlich predicts catastrophic consequences, including mass starvation and environmental ruin, due to unchecked population growth. The book argues that immediate action is necessary to control population growth to prevent these dire outcomes. Although many of the Ehrlichs' predictions did not come to pass, the book significantly raised awareness about population and environmental issues and influenced public policy in the 1960s and 1970s. The authors emphasize the need for conscious regulation of human numbers and highlight the strain that growing populations place on the natural world.

A dystopian novel set in 2010, accurately predicting several aspects of modern society, including technological advancements and social changes.

Set in 1999, 'Make Room Make Room! ' depicts a dystopian New York City plagued by overpopulation, food shortages, and societal collapse. The novel follows characters like Detective Andy Rusch as they navigate this grim world, highlighting themes of unsustainable consumption and societal fracture. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked population growth and resource depletion.