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The Control of Nature Paperback – September 1, 1990

by John McPhee (Author)
4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 660 ratings
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The Control of Nature is John McPhee's bestselling account of places where people are locked in combat with nature. Taking us deep into these contested territories, McPhee details the strageties and tactics through which people attempt to control nature. Most striking is his depiction of the main contestants: nature in complex and awesome guises, and those attempting to wrest control from her - stubborn, sometimes foolhardy, more often ingenious, and always arresting characters.

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  1. Print length
    288 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Farrar, Straus and Giroux
  4. Publication date
    September 1, 1990
  5. Dimensions
    5.45 x 0.75 x 8.2 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0374522596
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0374522599
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Master how-it-works writer John McPhee has instructed his readers in the arcana of how oranges are commercially graded, how mountains form, how canoes are built and oceans crossed. In The Control of Nature he turns his attention once more to geology and the human struggle against nature. In one sketch, he explores the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' unrealized plan to divert the flow of the Mississippi River into a tributary, the Atchafalaya, for flood control; in another, he looks at the ingenious ways in which an Icelandic engineer saved a southern harbor on that island from being destroyed by a lava flow; in a third, he examines a complex scheme to protect Los Angeles from boulders ejected from mountains by compression and tectonic movement. As always, McPhee combines a deep knowledge of his subject with a narrative approach that is wholly accessible; you may not have thought you were interested in earthquakes and flood control, but he gently leads you to take a passionate concern in such matters.

Review

“All three elemental battles recounted by the masterly McPhee are unified by the most uncontrolled and stubborn of all forces: human nature.” ―R. Z. Sheppard, Time

“It is difficult to put these stories aside. If the stories bear witness to the ultimate triumph of nature over human engineering, they also testify to the triumph of art over nature.” ―Stephen J. Pyne, The New York Times Book Review (front page)

“This book is unmistakable McPhee: the silky narrative, with keen detail and sharp dialogue, the finely drawn characters, the nimble metaphors.” ―Stephen MacDonald, The Wall Street Journal

“Some of his passages left me gasping for breath…This book gave me more pure enjoyment than anything I've read in a long time.” ―Christopher Shaw, The Washington Post Book World

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Farrar, Straus and Giroux; Reprint edition (September 1, 1990)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 288 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0374522596
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0374522599
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 10.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.45 x 0.75 x 8.2 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.5 4.5 out of 5 stars 660 ratings

About the author

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John McPhee

John McPhee

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John McPhee was born in Princeton, New Jersey, and was educated at Princeton University and Cambridge University. His writing career began at Time magazine and led to his long association with The New Yorker, where he has been a staff writer since 1965. The same year he published his first book, A Sense of Where You Are, with FSG, and soon followed with The Headmaster (1966), Oranges (1967), The Pine Barrens (1968), A Roomful of Hovings and Other Profiles (collection, 1969), The Crofter and the Laird (1969), Levels of the Game (1970), Encounters with the Archdruid (1972), The Deltoid Pumpkin Seed (1973), The Curve of Binding Energy (1974), Pieces of the Frame (collection, 1975), and The Survival of the Bark Canoe (1975). Both Encounters with the Archdruid and The Curve of Binding Energy were nominated for National Book Awards in the category of science.

Customer reviews

4.5 out of 5 stars
660 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book surprising, entertaining, and a great read. They praise the writing style as nice, talented, and superb. Readers appreciate the interesting and good information. They also appreciate the storytelling brilliance and artful construction.

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ReadabilityWriting styleInformation qualityNarrative qualityWit
54 customers mention "Readability"54 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, a great book to learn about different aspects of nature. They also describe it as a quick, engaging read that is worth the time. Readers also mention the non-fiction writing is truly awe-inspiring.

"...simultaneous uprising of the mountains around Los Angeles, was equally fascinating...." Read more

"...On balance a fine book that many will enjoy, especially if they have spent time in the places McPhee discusses." Read more

"...Great read and, as a geologist, thoroughly impressed with his complete/easy to understand mechanisms behind the forces of Nature." Read more

"...I started with The Pine Barrens. Which was a quick engaging read. I have not read this one yet but have skimmed a bit and look forward to it." Read more

37 customers mention "Writing style"31 positive6 negative

Customers find the writing style nice, talented, and clear. They appreciate the superb skills at description, characterization, and unflinching honesty. Readers also mention the fantastic vocabulary and artful construction.

"...He is able to write in paragraphs that are truly graphic, taking three-dimensions and making the visual, verbal...." Read more

"...McPhee writes with intelligence and grace, and has a gift for finding colorful witnesses. However the chapters are not of equal quality...." Read more

"Another well-researched, well-written book documenting the eternal ignorance and arrogance of humans...." Read more

"...Not only does he bring his superb skills at description, characterization and narrative flow to these three linked stories; he manages to set out a..." Read more

32 customers mention "Information quality"32 positive0 negative

Customers find the information in the book interesting and good. They appreciate the great research and extended pieces. Readers say it's an important book from a technical geoscience, instructive for engineers and politicians, and an excellent example of interdisciplinary studies. They also mention the book never goes too deep.

"...Reviewer Opinion: This is a very important book from a technical geoscience point of view because it successfully integrates human history and..." Read more

"Another well-researched, well-written book documenting the eternal ignorance and arrogance of humans...." Read more

"...All were good subjects for examination however, his writing style jumps around a bit and in some cases it's obvious he didn't have enough material..." Read more

"...I was surprised with his proper usage of geologic terms and, as always, his ability to manipulate words allowing readers to picture the landscapes..." Read more

8 customers mention "Narrative quality"8 positive0 negative

Customers find the storytelling brilliance and artful construction of the book interesting. They say the three scenarios presented are compelling and worth every minute of their time. Readers also mention the book appeals to their interests in challenges faced by people.

"...Not only does he bring his superb skills at description, characterization and narrative flow to these three linked stories; he manages to set out a..." Read more

"...and hubris - you'll marvel at this book as much for its storytelling brilliance and artful construction as for its subject matter...." Read more

"...Against the Mountains" is worth the money alone - as harrowing as it is extraordinary. John McFee is an incredibly gifted writer...." Read more

"...It reads easily and appeals to my interests of challenges faced by people, how we alter the natural world and it's consequences, and quality..." Read more

5 customers mention "Wit"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book entertaining, engaging, and personable. They also mention it incorporates stories and humor along with geological concepts.

"...McPhee clearly loves the people and places he describes, and treats them in a witty, friendly way that left me laughing and wanting more." Read more

"...In fact I think I'm going to get more of his books. He incorporates stories and humor in along with geological concepts...." Read more

"Lots of technical information written in an informal, engaging style." Read more

"Enjoyable." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

John M. Cape, Author of UnZeroed? and Poorly Zeroed
5.0 out of 5 stars Nonfiction Stories Beyond My Imagination
Reviewed in the United States on January 21, 2023
Verified Purchase
Truly one of the most amazing books I have ever read.

I spent two years in northern Saudi Arabia as an engineer for the US Army Corps of Engineers, working on an eight-billion-dollar military construction project. I had met several Corps employees on that project who had worked in the legendary Vicksburg District. However, I did not comprehend the project's incredible audacity or scale at the time. It's an organization that is even more incredible than I remembered and one that is challenged to contain the mighty Mississippi in its present riverbed.

The third story, about the phenomenal and periodic disintegration and simultaneous uprising of the mountains around Los Angeles, was equally fascinating. Chaparral areas drive multi-decadal fires every few decades, which explains the phenomenon. The fires induce germination and also result in massive runoff from storms that cause runaway debris flows that pulverize houses in the area. Newcomers learn of the problem when their cars and homes slide down mountains.

Had these stories been nonfiction, they'd have been dismissed as too fantastic to believe. Reality is genuinely more incredible than most of us can imagine. A tribute to courage and a must read!
5 people found this helpful
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Walter H. Pierce
5.0 out of 5 stars Review of The Control of Nature by John McPhee
Reviewed in the United States on March 9, 2010
Verified Purchase
In The Control of Nature published in 1989 (paperback) by John McPhee combines three essays from the New Yorker. Each of the three topics deals with the relationship of man to earth processes. Geologically speaking the processes include in the First Topic fluvial geomorphology and delta mechanics of the Mississippi River. In the Second Topic volcanism and the formation of igneous rocks on an island, Heimaey - off the south coast of Iceland, dominate the discussion. There is also a small section on Hawaii. In the Third Topic the focus is on the slope processes (mass wasting - debris flows) on the rising and eroding San Gabriel Mountains, bounding Los Angeles on the north.

Also, in varying degrees, the essays deal with a spectrum of difficulty or success which man has had in confronting Nature. McPhee is an honest reporter, he finds facts, often reporting directly the words of people he has interviewed. He focuses on important crucial information. This work is valuable to both layman and expert. It is not just that he one of the best expository writers to confront geoscience, but that he had the intellect to recognize what is both important and interesting. In each circumstance he exposes the human history context. Along the Mississippi this history goes back at least as far as the War of 1812, and the transition from natural levees to the man-created levees which now dominate and shape the problems with living beside the third largest river system in the world. McPhee also develops the history of the Corp of Engineers with its influential and costly history to present day.

Heimaey history, pronounced "hay may" is short, recent history. Beginning in February, 1973, a volcanic eruption in the northern Atlantic begins and threatens the lively hood of a prosperous fishing community. What does man do? This is, perhaps, an economic success case of Man's control of nature.

In California the canyons and "foot-of-the-mountain" area of the southern San Gabriel Mountains are subject to a spectacular phenomena called debris flows. Clay, mud, sand, and enormous boulders are carried down slope through canyons in an ugly slurry-like form called debris flows destroying homes and buildings. Today at great expense to the taxpayer (state and national) man runs a complicated, high-cost, high-maintenance program to protect man from this natural geologic process. McPhee's delineation of the history of how we go to this present state of affairs reminds me of the story of the frog in the pot which is brought very slowly to a boil. Would we do it the same way if we had understood the result or geomorphic process.

In my paperback version of The Control of Nature there is only one figure on page 226, and a very schematic figure at that. McPhee flouts the dictum that a "picture is worth a thousand words." He is able to write in paragraphs that are truly graphic, taking three-dimensions and making the visual, verbal. The rest of us require diagrams and maps. As I was reading about the conurbation of the Atchafalaya, the Red River, the Mississippi River, the Old River, the old River Control Structure, and the Old River Control Auxiliary, I eventually had to break down, go out on the INTERNET and find some maps. It isn't just that these all have unique locations, but also that the locations evolve and have a history. For some things words alone will not suffice. That is this reviewers opinion.

Reviewer Opinion: This is a very important book from a technical geoscience point of view because it successfully integrates human history and geologic process. From a layman point of view it underlines the importance of geologic process to man. In my opinion the Core of Engineers is often given a bad rap for merely doing what we have asked them to do. Our representatives (Congress) not the Corps set the objectives.

I recommend this book. The Control of Nature deserves to be read and re-read and will not go out of date.
11 people found this helpful
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Neurasthenic
4.0 out of 5 stars Would benefit from illustrations
Reviewed in the United States on September 26, 2019
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This is a collection of three essays about man’s attempts to control nature. the first chapter is about the lower Mississippi River. The second is about an Icelandic volcano. And the book ends with the San Gabriel mountains around Los Angeles. McPhee writes with intelligence and grace, and has a gift for finding colorful witnesses. However the chapters are not of equal quality. The first in particular suffers from the book’s lack of photos or diagrams, and the written descriptions of flood control measures and their modes of failure sometimes fall short.

On balance a fine book that many will enjoy, especially if they have spent time in the places McPhee discusses.
10 people found this helpful
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Hugh Franks
5.0 out of 5 stars Read This Book
Reviewed in the United States on April 15, 2024
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Another well-researched, well-written book documenting the eternal ignorance and arrogance of humans. Stupidity is perhaps our most defining trait, a point clearly and succinctly made by Mr. McPhee in this outstanding book. Read it, remember it, and try to find a way in your life to overcome the shortcomings in our society it addresses.
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James D. DeWitt
5.0 out of 5 stars Nature Bats Last
Reviewed in the United States on February 24, 2006
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This is among my favorite McPhee books. Not only does he bring his superb skills at description, characterization and narrative flow to these three linked stories; he manages to set out a subtle subtext without ever being explicit.

In a lot of ways, humanity's history on this planet is a struggle against nature. McPhee focuses here on three instances of modern struggles against geologic forces. River flooding, and in particular the channel of the lower Mississippi River; volcanism, and in particular lava flows in Iceland and Hawaii; and erosion, and in particular mass-wasting in the San Gabriel Mountains in Los Angeles.

The message in each case is that mankind can triumph - or at least cope - in the short term, but in the long term, the natural forces will prevail. The Mississippi River will change its channel, despite the sometimes arrogant, sometimes defensive efforts of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lava flows will eventually overwhelm Vestmannaeyjar, Iceland. The naive and credulous Angelenos who build their homes in the steep valleys of the San Gabriels, despite the mudflow management efforts of the County, are eventually doomed. Nature bats last. The rabbit runs for his life; the coyote runs for his supper. The Corps has to succeed each time; the Mississippi only has to succeed once.

McPhee is far too good a writer to ever come out and say this. Instead, he reports what he has seen and what he has been told and lets his narrative convey his points. That reporting is simply brilliant. As I have argued in other reviews, McPhee is America's greatest living expository writer. This is one of his best books.

Highly recommended.
21 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

Valente Souza
5.0 out of 5 stars Great book !!
Reviewed in Mexico on March 13, 2019
Verified Purchase
A brilliant description of major engineering like the Mississippi control system.
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Dr C Sydes
5.0 out of 5 stars A tour de force
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 26, 2019
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We already know that as a species we have an overinflated belief in our own abilities. The heroes of these incredible battles with the overwhelming forces of nature - water, lava and mountain building (in Los Angeles!) seem to agree that not even they can win.
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Andrew Burns
5.0 out of 5 stars easy, entertaining
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 16, 2016
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As with all of his books, easy, entertaining, insightful well written.
Very interesting
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James Caithness
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on November 2, 2016
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very good
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