Dan Brown's Take on Population Growth

In the interview embedded here from the Guardian's website, Dan Brown, an author of highly popular fiction mentions the fact that world population has trebled in 85 years. Implicit in the question from the interview and the author's answer is the unquestioned assumption that rapid population is undoubtedly a threat to survival of humanity. From the short interview, it is clear that the author and questioner take it that a concern for the fate of the earth is warranted.

My quick review of the acts state that this is true and most of the growth has been in poorer parts of Asia, Africa and Latin America. However, that most of the population still exists should lead to greater caution is asserting that most of the world's ecological and environmental problems are driven by overpopulation. Noting that the publication under discussion is fiction, it must be accepted that the author should communicate his ideas as he sees them. Still, I would suggest that this author should read a couple of books and understand the dynamics of population growth because it is almost a neutral in factor in overall economic performance. The structure of the population is far more important than the absolute number of people.

Added June 21, 2013: Perhaps a subtle issue such as the primary drivers of population growth as oppossed to the absolute population does not make for good plot in best selling fiction.