tree room author series

"The World Without Us"

by Alan Weisman

The Sundance Resort, in partnership with the Spotted Frog Bookstore presents Alan Weisman, author of the New York Times Bestseller, The World Without Us. Weisman, an award winning journalist whose reports have appeared in Harper's, The New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic Monthly, and Discover, among others is also a former contributing editor to The Los Angeles Times Magazine. He is a senior radio producer for Homelands Productions and Laureate Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Arizona

His book, "The World Without Us," poses the question: What would happen to the earth if humans vanished? This simple question replaces the heated debate about the environment today with a powerful, yet non threatening experiment that illustrates human impact on the world.

"I've found that theoretically wiping humans off the face of the earth intrigues rather than frightens people," observes Weisman. "Comforted in the knowledge that we're all still around to read it, my hope is that this book's unusual premise might inspire readers to imagine how to grant nature more space to flourish with the price being our demise."

Drawing on the expertise of engineers, atmospheric scientists, art conservators, zoologists, oil refiners, marine biologists, astrophysicists, religious leaders from rabbis to the Dalai Lama, and paleontologists - who describe a pre-human world inhabited by megafauna like giant sloths that stood taller than mammoths - Weisman illustrates what the planet might be like today, if not for us.

Expanding on a Discover Magazine piece selected for The Best American Science Writing 2006, Weisman's The World Without Us reveals startling results based on extensive research that reveals how "within two days, without pumping, New York's subway would impassably flood. Within 20 years, water soaked steel columns that support the street above the East Side's 4-5-6 trains would corrode and buckle. As Lexington Avenue caves in, it becomes a river. In the first few years with no heat, pipes burst all over town, the freeze-thaw cycle moves indoors, and things start to seriously deteriorate...Gradually the asphalt jungle will give way to a real one."

Sundance Resort and The Spotted Frog Bookstore owner Karen Dallett, are in their fourth year of collaboration and continue to present strategic voices in literature to Utah. "I deeply understand the significance of presenting topics of current times that affect our daily lives and the future of our nation. In history these will be noted as exciting times for all of us and our partnership could not be more meaningful to the residents of Utah", says Dallett.

Ticket Information
Single tickets will be priced at $95 per person. Advance reservations are required. Tickets include the author's lecture and discussion, a lavish brunch in the award winning Tree Room, and an autographed copy of the author's latest book. Alcohol is not included. Events begin at noon. Tickets are available by calling the Sundance Activities Desk at 801-223-4567.

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