Buy used: $8.72

$3.99 delivery November 21 - 22. Details

Select delivery location

Used: Very Good | Details

Sold by Half Price Books Inc

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items.

Have one to sell?

Sell on Amazon

Flip to back Flip to front

Listen Playing... Paused You're listening to a sample of the Audible audio edition.
Learn more

See this image

Follow the Author

Mike Davis

Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster Paperback – September 7, 1999

by Mike Davis (Author)

64 ratings

See all formats and editions

Price

New from

Used from

Kindle

"Please retry"

$9.99

—

Hardcover

"Please retry"

$27.50

$25.00

$9.13

Paperback

"Please retry"

$18.69

$15.96

$19.24

Paperback, September 7, 1999

$8.72

$23.98

$8.72

"Graced with a bold political and environmental vision, much splendid phrasemaking and a multitude of facts. . . . A truly eccentric contribution."--The New York Times Book Review

Earthquakes. Wildfires. Floods. Drought. Tornadoes. Snakes in the sea, mountain lions, and a plague of bees. In this controversial tour de force of scholarship, unsparing vision, and inspired writing, Mike Davis, the author of City of Quartz, revisits Los Angeles as a Book of the Apocalypse theme park. By brilliantly juxtaposing L.A.'s fragile natural ecology with its disastrous environmental and social history, he compellingly shows a city deliberately put in harm's way by land developers, builders, and politicians, even as the incalculable toll of inevitable future catas-trophe continues to accumulate.

Counterpointing L.A.'s central role in America's fantasy life--the city has been destroyed no less than 138 times in novels and films since 1909--with its wanton denial of its own real history, Davis creates a revelatory kaleidoscope of American fact, imagery, and sensibility. Drawing upon a vast array of sources, Ecology of Fear meticulously captures the nation's violent malaise and desperate social unease at the millennial end of "the American century." With savagely entertaining wit and compassionate rage, this book conducts a devastating reconnaissance of our all-too-likely urban future.

"Dizzying. . . . In Mr. Davis's account, the world ends in fire, and the next time is now."--The New York Times

Print length

496 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Vintage
Publication date

September 7, 1999
Dimensions

5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

0375706070
ISBN-13

978-0375706073
See all details

Mike Davis
228
Paperback
28 offers from $15.61
Mike Davis
198
Paperback
24 offers from $10.36
Mike Davis
30
Paperback
23 offers from $13.44
Mike Davis
166
Hardcover
36 offers from $10.52
Mike Davis
154
Paperback
21 offers from $13.44
Mike Davis
26
Paperback
27 offers from $10.28

Mike Davis
228
Paperback
28 offers from $15.61
Mike Davis
198
Paperback
24 offers from $10.36
Mike Davis
30
Paperback
23 offers from $13.44
Mike Davis
166
Hardcover
36 offers from $10.52
Mike Davis
154
Paperback
21 offers from $13.44
Mike Davis
26
Paperback
27 offers from $10.28

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"Graced with a bold political and environmental vision, much splendid phrasemaking and a multitude of facts. . . . A truly eccentric contribution."--The New York Times Book Review

Earthquakes. Wildfires. Floods. Drought. Tornadoes. Snakes in the sea, mountain lions, and a plague of bees. In this controversial tour de force of scholarship, unsparing vision, and inspired writing, Mike Davis, the author of City of Quartz, revisits Los Angeles as a Book of the Apocalypse theme park. By brilliantly juxtaposing L.A.'s fragile natural ecology with its disastrous environmental and social history, he compellingly shows a city deliberately put in harm's way by land developers, builders, and politicians, even as the incalculable toll of inevitable future catas-trophe continues to accumulate.

Counterpointing L.A.'s central role in America's fantasy life--the city has been destroyed no less than 138 times in novels and films since 1909--with its wanton denial of its own real history, Davis creates a revelatory kaleidoscope of American fact, imagery, and sensibility. Drawing upon a vast array of sources, Ecology of Fear meticulously captures the nation's violent malaise and desperate social unease at the millennial end of "the American century." With savagely entertaining wit and compassionate rage, this book conducts a devastating reconnaissance of our all-too-likely urban future.

"Dizzying. . . . In Mr. Davis's account, the world ends in fire, and the next time is now."--The New York Times

About the Author

A former meatcutter and long-distance truck driver, Mike Davis has taught urban theory at the Southern California Institute of Architecture, was a fellow at the Getty Institute, and was awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. He is the author of Prisoners of the American Dream and City of Quartz. He was born in Fontana, a suburb of Los Angeles, and now lives in Pasadena.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Vintage; 1st edition (September 7, 1999)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 496 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0375706070
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0375706073
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 1 pounds
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1.25 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #555,552 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #597 in Sociology of Urban Areas
- #980 in Ecology (Books)
- #9,388 in U.S. State & Local History

Customer Reviews:
64 ratings

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Videos

Help others learn more about this product by uploading a video!

Upload your video

About the author

Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.

Mike Davis

Brief content visible, double tap to read full content.

Full content visible, double tap to read brief content.

Mike Davis is the author of several books including City of Quartz, Ecology of Fear, Late Victorian Holocausts, Planet of Slums, and Magical Urbanism. He was recently awarded a MacArthur Fellowship. He lives in Papa'aloa, Hawaii.

Customer reviews

5 star		68%
4 star		12%
3 star		14%
2 star		5%
1 star		1%

How customer reviews and ratings work

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Alessandraital

GREAT DEAL!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on September 18, 2022

Verified Purchase

The book came carefully, in my mailbox, which was unusual and a better option. I found a note inside that was heartfelt and honest. I would go back to this seller any chance I got. The book itself was a great deal bc it was a signed, first edition and cost less than all other sellers, who offered much less.

Helpful

12345

Not "very good" condition

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 23, 2021

Verified Purchase

Extensive underlining and comment written in margins. This is not the definition of "very good".

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Aufton Wunderbar

Modern America as a Place and Myth

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 9, 2006

Verified Purchase

This is a very, very fine book that looks at the archetype of Modern America, Los Angles and Southern California. Looking at the interaction of population growth, individualism (greed!), urban growth without planning, and the nature of the environment, this book shows how we are unwilling to acknowledge the normalcy of earthquakes, fires, tornadoes, and wild animal encounters. It is extremely well-written and researched -- and hard to put down! It is social criticism that is "grounded", literally.

5 people found this helpful

Helpful

Cynthia J Kay

Had to be read

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on July 22, 2013

Verified Purchase

I wouldn't say it was a great book but I had to read it for school and the library and Barnes & Noble were out of stock. Somewhat interesting. The price was extremely affordable and arrived quickly.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Rhoni

Four Stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on December 10, 2014

Verified Purchase

gives you new perspective of LA

Helpful

Jesenya Maldonado

davis brings to light an amazing history of this city

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on February 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

as a native angelino i thought i knew my city well....i was so wrong! davis brings to light an amazing history of this city!

3 people found this helpful

Helpful

John Cocking

Five Stars

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 30, 2014

Verified Purchase

Facinating followup to "City of Quartz"

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on January 28, 2015

Verified Purchase

Great quality. Fast shipping.

One person found this helpful

Helpful

Top reviews from other countries

Translate all reviews to English

ogilvie

very good companion volume to "City of Quartz"

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 23, 2016

Verified Purchase

Davis's "The Ecology of Fear" is divided into roughly three parts: scientific, political/economic, and literary. It seems to be a companion volume to "City of Quartz" (which can probably be described as Davis's seminal work). For a companion volume, it is very good. Davis has been criticized by people (recounted in "Salon" magazine) who seem to be rather small minded, though Davis can perhaps be accused of casting his net too widely and blurring distinctions between various wide-ranging topics to fit his overall pattern. I, however, find Davis's wide scope a virtue rather than a fault. The scientific section can be accused of "alarmism." I would call this a four-and-a-half star book, which is an impressive achievement for a companion volume. His updates of Burgess's CBD (Central Business District) concept/diagram is very interesting. For the most part, the three different sections are quite distinct (which is to say, they are likely to appeal to different audiences).

Some readers might find the book overwritten. The literary quality is high and of some pretension, but a simple journalistic style would have made it easier to digest. I tended to gloss over the extensive scientific explanations of extreme weather in California and the like, but science-oriented readers starved for literary writing (which, admittedly, seems like a small demographic) might like these portions. Davis's overwriting is much more tolerable than that of any other academic I'm familiar with.

Arrakis

Un grand livre sur Los Angeles

Reviewed in France 🇫🇷 on October 18, 2015

Verified Purchase

Mike Davis est écrivain hors pair. Ses essais sont à la fois clairs et précis, bien argumentés et fouillés, et en même temps un exemple de prose poignante et efficace. Dans "Ecology of Fear" il dessine une histoire de la Californie du Sud à travers l'imaginaire et la réalité de ses catastrophes environnementales et sociales. Il explore d'abord les conséquences de sa géologie et de son climat de type méditerranéen où les phénomènes "hors normes" sont des évènements difficilement prévisibles mais qui reviennent inéluctablement. Il montre comment l'imaginaire d'une Californie idyllique a permis une explosion urbaine et un développement économique en contradiction avec les données profondes de l'écologie de l'état. Il explore avec finesse les ressorts idéologiques du "catastrophisme" hollywoodien qui fait de Los Angeles la ville la plus détruite du cinéma. Il en retrace l'histoire, les racines et le contenu ancré dans un racisme sous-jacent. Loin de l'imaginaire de la Riviera américaine, la Los Angeles du 21ème siècle est une catastrophe au main d'un capitalisme prédateur.

Translate review to English

See all reviews

Follow the Author

Ecology of Fear: Los Angeles and the Imagination of Disaster Paperback – September 7, 1999

Customers who viewed this item also viewed

What other items do customers buy after viewing this item?

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

About the Author

Product details

Videos

About the author

Mike Davis

Customer reviews

Top reviews from the United States

There was a problem filtering reviews right now. Please try again later.

Top reviews from other countries