This text investigates whether the global population growth and current patterns of resource consumption constitute a state of unsustainable overcrowding. Philip Sarre and John Blunden, both experienced lecturers from The Open University, utilize a multidisciplinary approach to examine how uneven development exacerbates environmental degradation. The authors argue that the extension of unsustainable lifestyles to a growing global population creates a systemic crisis that prevents effective, unified international responses to resource management.

Reviewers in the field of geography praise the text for its clear layout and accessible integration of complex data. It is widely regarded as a foundational resource for sixth-form and undergraduate students seeking to understand the intersection of human geography and environmental sustainability.