The history of the twentieth century is most often told through its world wars, the rise and fall of communism, or its economic upheavals. In his startling new book, J. R. McNeill gives us our first general account of what may prove to be the most significant dimension of the twentieth century: its environmental history. To a degree unprecedented in human history, we have refashioned the earth's air, water, and soil, and the biosphere of which we are a part. Based on exhaustive research, McNeill's story a compelling blend of anecdotes, data, and shrewd analysis never preaches: it is our definitive account. This is a volume in The Global Century Series (general editor, Paul Kennedy).

約翰·R.麥剋尼爾 John R. McNeill (1954- )，美國喬治頓大學環境史教授，著名世界環境史大傢。與其父威廉·麥剋尼爾（《西方的興起》《世界史》作者）閤著全球史經典佳作《人類之網》，引發巨大關注。主要著作有《太陽底下的新鮮事》（Something New Under the Sun）、《蚊子帝國》（Mosquito Empires）、《大加速》（The Great Acceleration，與彼得·恩格爾剋閤著）等，並主編《全球環境史指南》（A Companion to Global Environmental History）。其中《太陽底下的新鮮事》被《泰晤士報》評為“最優秀的科學作品”，並榮獲美國世界史學會2001年度最佳圖書奬及森林學會圖書奬；《蚊子帝國》獲頒美國曆史學會貝弗裏奇奬，同年獲得湯因比基金會頒發的人文學術及公共貢獻奬。