The Green Revolution: The American Environmental Movement, 1962-1992 (A Critical Issue) [Paperback]

Kirkpatrick Sale (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1, 1993

The Hill and Wang Critical Issues Series: concise, affordable works on pivotal topics in American history, society, and politics.

The Green Revolution documents the tremendous change in public awareness and attitudes since the publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. Sale assesses the growth of national environmental organizations and the influence of scientists and their theories about global warming, the greenhouse effect, acid rain, toxic waste, and biodiversity. And he shows how environmental concerns affect all levels of society and much of our government's legislative and regulatory work.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Noted environmentalist Sale ( Dwellers in the Land ) here offers a brief but effective survey of American environmentalism. He cites Rachel Carson's 1962 Silent Spring as the spur to the modern environmental movement, then describes four periods of activism. During the "protest generation" years from 1962 to Earth Day in 1970, environmentalists focused on preserving nature for the preservation of man. During the 1970s, the "doomsday decade," environmental groups formed a professionalized Washington power center, leading to much federal legislation. During "the Reagan reaction" years from 1980 to 1988, Sale argues, the United States ignored the growing environmental peril, cutting regulatory agencies, while veteran environmental groups became cautious insiders, prompting the growth of grassroots and radical activism. Though environmentalism has spread in the fourth, post-Reagan period, Sale warns that the earth is still in great danger. He suggests that environmentalists can continue to operate as a reformist citizens' lobby--though he doesn't cite a hierarchy of priorities, which would be useful--or they can address the much tougher question of our society's fundamental priorities.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal

Sale ( The Conquest of Paradise: Christopher Columbus and the Columbian Legacy , LJ 10/15/90) briefly surveys the rapid growth of the American environmental crusade. As a participant in the Green Movement, Sale knows of what he writes. Citing the 1962 publication of Rachel Carson's Silent Spring as the impetus to the movement, he divides the next 30 years into four periods: Sixties Seedtime, 1962-70; Doomsday Decade, 1970-80; The Reagan Reaction, 1980-88; and Endangered Earth, 1988-92. Organizations, legislation, events, and personalities comprise this story of a movement that has altered American consciousness and forever changed the way we live. It is a high drama of successes, failures, and unmet challenges, all presented in a lively, readable style. Recommended for lay readers.
- Patricia Owens, Wabash Valley Coll., Mt. Carmel, Ill.
Copyright 1993 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 128 pages
• Publisher: Hill and Wang; Critical edition (July 1, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080901551X
• ISBN-13: 978-0809015511
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #279,153 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Adequate, February 8, 2007

By 

Nathan Carlton - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Green Revolution: The American Environmental Movement, 1962-1992 (A Critical Issue) (Paperback)

While Sale demonstrates a sound background on the subject, the book reads more like a rough draft. The chapters are divided into seperate periods within the environmental movement but the events within each chapter are not presented in chronological order. Sale tends to jump back and forth between events which makes it somewhat difficult to bring the entire picture together. In short the information is fairly complete but rather disjointed in its presentation. This is a bit disappointing for a book whose purpose is specifically to present a historical overview of the era. All things considered, for a few more pages there are other books on the subject that are much better.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro to the American environmental movement, August 24, 2002

By 

K Scheffler (Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Green Revolution: The American Environmental Movement, 1962-1992 (A Critical Issue) (Paperback)

Anyone who wants to get a better understanding of the evolution of the Green movement in the United States will find this short, concise book a worthwile read. The book covers the first three decades of the movement, which essentially began when Rachel Carson published Silent Spring in 1962. Environmentalism really established itself quickly after the publication of this book; the threats that Carson discussed struck a nerve with the American people. This growing concern led to the establishment of a number of organizations like the Sierra Club and Greenpeace, as well as forcing politicians to start paying attention to environmental issues. But as Sale points out, the environmental movement has experienced numerous setbacks. First off, the political establishment has persisted in its resistance to legislating truly effective environmental policies. Second, there has been a considerable backlash from big business. Thirdly, many of the idealistic organizations of the 1960s and 1970s have essentially sold out in their effort to play hardball with the big boys, thus diluting the revolutionary aspect of environmentalism and, hence, giving rise to "radical" environmentalists. All in all, this is a good book, very well and clearly written and bountiful in relevant information for those wanting a better understanding of the environmental movement in the United States.