In "The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America," Bill Bryson highlights the environmental cost of publishing, noting that producing one issue of the Sunday New York Times requires 75,000 trees. This stark statistic emphasizes the impact that media consumption has on nature. Bryson's provocative commentary reflects a broader indifference to environmental degradation in the pursuit of information and entertainment.

By expressing that future generations might suffer the consequences of such actions, he challenges readers to consider the sustainability of their habits. This notion, although darkly humorous, underscores a critical issue: the need to prioritize ecological health over immediate desires. Bryson's work prompts reflection on the legacy we leave for our descendants.