American Environmentalism: Readings In Conservation History [Paperback]

Roderick F Nash (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0070460590 | ISBN-13: 978-0070460591 | Publication Date: August 1, 1989 | Edition: 3

This collection of readings contains comprehensive primary and secondary works in the field of conservation, emphasizes the history of ideas and attitudes about conservation, and gives a chronology of important conservation events in U.S. history from the beginning to the present. Edited by a national leader in the fields of conservation, environmental management, and education, this well-organized anthology is appropriate for courses dealing with American environmental studies and ecology.

Product Details

• Paperback: 398 pages
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Humanities/Social Sciences/Languages; 3 edition (August 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0070460590
• ISBN-13: 978-0070460591
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #129,462 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #56 in Books > Science & Math > Environment > Environmentalism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A worthy addition to the tree-hugger's bookshelf, June 14, 2001

By 

Corinne H. Smith (Athol, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: American Environmentalism: Readings In Conservation History (Paperback)

What a joy to see that this book is back in print! When our nature book discussion group chose it as a monthly selection several years ago, we had to scramble to find copies. I was one of the lucky ones who got one, read it all, and underlined a whole slew of passages for later reference.

Here are some of my favorite quotes:

"Man is everywhere a disturbing agent. Wherever he plants his foot, the harmonies of nature are turned to discords." (George Perkins Marsh, 1864)

"Environment is to the would-be cultured man what air is to the animal -- it is the breath of life." (Benton MacKaye, 1928)

"When you have reached the edge of an abyss ... the only progressive move you can make is to step backward." (David R. Brower, 1977)

Then the compiler adds his answer to the question "Why do we love wilderness?" by giving seven reasons: scientific value, spiritual values, aesthetic value, heritage value, psychological value, cultural value, and intrinsic value. His explanations make this selection the one I most often pass on to other people. (Roderick Frazier Nash, 1988)

My advice is to buy this book as a present for your favorite environmentalist friend. Sure, you could go instead with _The Quotable Nature Lover_, a Nature Conservancy book edited by John A. Murray. But _American Environmentalism_ puts those kinds of quotes back into context; the editor not only provides full text but also explains what was going on at the time of its writing. Selections are arranged chronologically and are short enough to hold anyone's interest. And we're not talking just Thoreau, Muir, Carson and Leopold here, as the excerpts above show. There are names you might not recognize at first glance. Amateur environmentalists can use this compilation as a starting point for further reading, as full citations are always provided. Though it's not entirely current (1989) this book is still useful.

Give it to a graduating senior, or to anyone else who has the potential to save the planet. They'll be inspired.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good reader, May 22, 2000

By 

S. Shewmake - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: American Environmentalism: Readings In Conservation History (Paperback)

This isn't the type of book someone could pick up and get a good view of the American Environmental movement. It does well in teaching about past movements but ignores modern movements like Environmental Justice and the controversy surrounding Market Based Incentives. It is a good book for teaching if coupled with extra material as it is very readable and interesting.