I'm glad someone posted this, because that was my feeling the first time I read it (in the 70s). I have re-read it many times since (most recently last month) and would quickly name it my favorite book of all time, and also the most uplifting and optimistic. Earth Abides celebrates the durability and optimism of humanity, as opposed to the durability of humanity's technology.

We humans keep thinking it's our stuff that makes us special, but it isn't. We are what's special about us, and this is what Earth Abides celebrates. Earth Abides and the human race continues to thrive. This book really shaped my world view - a very important read.

I don't watch TV, but I just won a cheapo 19" WalMart TV (worth $120) in an office drawing and was startled to realize it supported both analog and digital service. I bought a pair of rabbit ears and set out to see how it would work in my apartment in rural Massachusetts (over 50 miles from Boston). To my utter amazement, I received many digital broadcasts almost perfectly while the analog channels were plagued by snow and interference that made them unbearable. Furthermore, the picture quality was stunning. Even though the set is "SDTV", the difference in quality between analog and digital was huge. All these years I've been fed propaganda telling me that over the air HDTV would require fancy antennas, but it turns out to be a BIG LIE. Between Netflix and broadcast HDTV, why would anyone want cable or satellite TV unless they are literally in the middle of nowhere?

Of course, there's STILL nothing worth watching. Bah! Humbug!