The ‘mad egghead’ who built a mouse utopia

Published in 1968, 'The Pump House Gang' is a collection of essays by Tom Wolfe that explores various subcultures of the 1960s. The book delves into the phenomenon of 'starting your own league,' where individuals, including surfers, motorcyclists, and others, retreat from traditional social hierarchies. Wolfe's writing is characterized by his brilliant style, provocative commentary, and entertaining narrative, making this work a quintessential representation of his journalistic and literary prowess.

The novel tells the story of Mrs. Frisby, a field mouse whose son Timothy is ill as moving day approaches. She enlists the help of a group of highly intelligent experimental rats who have escaped from the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH). These rats, led by Nicodemus, have built an underground world with advanced amenities and are planning a new civilization. Mrs. Frisby learns that her late husband, Jonathan, was part of this group of rats, and they agree to help her move her home to safety. The story explores themes of intelligence, community, and the quest for a better life.

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[1][4][5].