The Anthropocene, the concept that the Earth has moved into a novel geological epoch characterised by human domination of the planetary system, is an increasingly prevalent concept in academic and in wider culture. I explore and review the origins of and history of the concept, and the arguments around its geological formalisation and starting date. I examine perspectives and critiques of the concept from the Earth system sciences, ecological and geological sciences, and from the social sciences and humanities, exploring its role as a cultural zeitgeist and ideological provocation. I conclude by offering a personal perspective on the concept of the Anthropocene and its usefulness