Environment and Nature Books

If you want to get your arms around environmentalism, this is the book for you. I was lost on the universe of information out of the internet. This book provided me with the information I need to better understand my options and to make more educated decisions as to what is my stand on the subject.
I found it easy to read even though English is not my native language and I had no environmentalism background.
I have learned so much from it!

The photographs and text of this book are special to me. I had visited this area twice, several years ago, on photography trips. The book helps me to relive the total feeling of this unique space.

While taking an Introductory course in Oceanography at St.Petersburg Jr.College (FL) I found a copy of this wonderful work in the library. Their acquisition cost was just over $50.00, I see that it now sells for over $100.00, thus I am not sure I wish to buy my own copy. For anyone in the field, it would be a fine additon to their personal library, if one was not in the nearby Public, or College, stacks. While I was particularly interested in the Ecology of Tamp Bay (Fl.) I still found enough basic information which I can related to our Estuary here. I am particularly interested in NEKTON (Blue Crabs and Shriimp) and this text treated them sufficiently well to answer my basic questons. (Net surfers: use your browser on topics such as Estuarine research, Tampa Bay Estuary, etc as a good starting point. This is a fine text, and a scholarly work. It is published by Wiley-Interscience Pubs and certainly carries their fine reputation for worthwhile reading. Those who can handle a modicum of math will enjoy the text, but I rather doubt that the casual reader will ''stay with it'', although it certainly makes a pleasant read, for either an Introductory student, like the undersigned, or for someone who is researching the Science of Oceanography. Too bad it so expensive, it would make a good first year course. As a retired pharmacist, I read many science texts and can only conclude by saying that this one text would certainly fill an important niche in your own personal science library, if you were looking for something on this topic. I guess I will order myself a copy, as I feel that John Day, Charles Hall and W.Mchael Kemp have done a splendid job. Alejandro Yanex-Arancibia brings his vast knowledge of ecology as seen by one from the areas south of the US, in an interesting manner. How would I approve on it? If they ever do an update version, I would love to see chapters on South Pacific benthic organisms, as well as some treatment of life under the Arctic and Antarctic Seas, and maybe throw in some information on other extreme environments such as the Dead Sea, and ocean vent tube worms, that sort of thing... Thanks for the opportunity to review this fine text. William R.Bell, RPh, St. Pete Fla. (14Feb1999) You may contact me at '' Squadcar54@aol.com '' *end of text

Compiled and edited by J. A. Wainwright (Professor of English, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada), Every Grain Of Sand: Canadian Perspectives On Ecology And Environment is a collection of thirteen erudite and knowledgeable essays on environmental issues from a decidedly Canadian perspective. The contributing authors and their presentations range from Lionel Rubinoff's "The World is Your Body", to "Anne Marie Dalton's "Who Cares about the Meadow?", to Onno Oerlemans' "Romantic Origins of Environmentalism", to Ehor Boyanowky's "Cutting a Deal with Attila". Even though the perspectives are Canadian, the issues are universal, making Every Grain Of Sand a very strongly recommended addition to Environmental Studies academic library collections and supplemental reading lists, as well as thoughtful and thought-provoking reading for non-specialist general readers with an interest in nature and environmental issues.

I picked this book up because I wanted to work on doing some summer learning with my 6 1/2 and 7 year olds. I've only just started going through it and LOVE it! Almost every page has an activity related to what it's teaching. It's not about being an environmentalist, but helps explain our planet so we know how we effect it. It's really well written and fun to go through. Great summer read!

This has become one of my favorite books on birds. It is packed with very interesting information. You are guaranteed to learn something new! I bought this book for myself, but whenever I picked it up my children wanted me to read it to them also. The illustrations are wonderful! I have always enjoyed Rebecca Rupp's easy delivery of so much useful information in such an understandable, relaxed, and often humorous fashion. Before I had even read halfway through the book, I ordered my mom-in-law (a fellow bird-lover) a copy for herself. It is a quick, easy read. You'll probably finish the book before you want it to be over. I am thrilled to have added this book to my collection and would highly recommend it for just about anyone interested in birds or learning new things.

It's rare enough simply to hear the story of the chemical industry, but even more compelling is the conclusion. Garcia-Johnson's argument that the environmentalism in industrialized nations stands a chance of being exported to other countries in which those chemical industries operate is both compellingly argued and refreshingly optimistic.

_The Fading of the Greens: The Decline of Environmental Politics in the West_, published in 1994 during the Clinton administration by Yale University Press, by British author Anna Bramwell is a sequel to her 1989 book _Ecology in the 20th Century_ that attempts to show why Green politics has largely failed in the West. Bramwell who lived for a time in a Herefordshire small-holding where she experienced the rural life, has written extensively on environmental and Green politics beginning with a book on Walther Darre. She is obviously influenced by libertarian and free-market ideology and sees an increase in statist influence as detrimental. In her previous books, Bramwell has attempted to trace the heritage of Green politics noting how such movements began as part of a "soft" political right often imbued with romantic ruralism and "blood and soil" mysticism and merged into a "soft" political left often aligning itself with progressive causes, humanitarianism, and feminism. Bramwell maintains that many on the political left have attempted to deny or expunge the right wing heritage of environmental politics. Further, she maintains that such political movements which began as localist and ruralist have been replaced by diabolical influences from Maoists, radical feminists, and other extreme leftists. Bramwell maintains that while nearly everyone agrees that the planet must be saved from catastrophe, that Green politics has largely not succeeded in the Western world. She attributes this to the increasing concern of Greens for other progressive causes as well as their pronounced statist solutions to environmental problems. One issue of conflict that has developed concerns the role that science is to play in Green politics. While some reject science as fundamentally opposed to nature and see post-Enlightenment rationalism as causing the environmental crisis, others believe that science holds the solution to environmental questions.

Bramwell begins this book with an Introduction, in which she distinguishes herself from the Maoists and other revolutionaries who have largely taken over Green politics. She notes how in for example Peter Singer's remarks that one should not distinguish between "loveable" and "unloveable" animals, that the fundamental human trait of judgment is denied. Bramwell distinguishes between two forms that Green politics might take: reform ecologists who believe that ecological goals can be achieved by working through the political system and deep ecologists who believe that the political system itself is at fault and thus are radicals. Bramwell notes the role of new social movements, postmodernism, and the New Age on some Greens. And, she contrasts this to the role that science plays in the thinking of other Greens. Bramwell maintains that while Green politics original arose out of a criticism of modern industrial society which was largely part of the ideology of a "soft" right that later it was to be taken up by a "soft" left. Bramwell further distinguishes between preservationists who want to manage the wilderness for the benefit of humanity (also called "Realos" or realists) and conservationists who believe that even this is exploitative of nature (also called "Fundis" or fundamentalists). Bramwell maintains that Green politics is fundamentally elitist and largely a product of the urban middle classes who hanker for a lost pastoral paradise.

The first part of this book is called "A Historical Survey". Bramwell begins by discussing the Ninteenth-century roots of ecology. Bramwell notes the importance of the discovery of the law of entropy for ecologists and how this led to a general pessimistic understanding of the role of man in nature. Bramwell also mentions the role of the development of the science of biology, mentioning the thinking of Haeckel particularly in this light. Bramwell mentions further such thinkers as Patrick Geddes, Lewis Mumford, Frederick Soddy, and Popper-Lynkeus as early pioneers of ecology. Bramwell maintains that such thinkers and Romantics as Goethe, Paracelsus, Nietzsche, Emerson, and Thoreau played an important role as precursors to modern day Green politics as maintained by R. Bahro. Bramwell also mentions pantheism in Germany and the Wandervogel. Following this Bramwell turns her attention to the "Northern White empire", the empire of largely Northern white Protestant nations including the USA, Germany, and Britain that played an important role in the development of ecological ideas. Bramwell begins by discussing the history of ecology in the USA from 1945 to 1970. Bramwell notes the conflict between preservationists and conservationists, the individualist frontier spirit of American life, the Protestant ethic, and arguments over privatization that were to play an important part in the development of ecological ideas within the USA. Bramwell discusses such early pioneers as Aldo Leopold, John Muir, and Rachel Carson. Bramwell also mentions the role of the Sierra Club that was originally created to conserve the Sierras. Following this, Bramwell turns to the history of ecology in Germany from 1945 to 1970. Bramwell discusses the conflicted past of ecology in Germany. Bramwell mentions such individuals as the critic Herbert Marcuse (a student of Heidegger), the Christian Democrat Herbert Gruhl, Rudolph Steiner proponent of Anthroposophy, and the Green student activists. Following this, Bramwell turns to the history of ecology in Britain from 1945 to 1970. Bramwell mentions the role of ruralism as well as such thinkers as John McCormick, the economist E. J. Mishan, the economist E. F. Schumacher who maintained that "small is beautiful" and was to serve as a guru for later generations of ecologists, and some of the followers of Schumacher such as John Papworth as well as the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament. Bramwell next turns to the USA from 1970 to the present. She mentions the role of the Sierra Club and the rise of the guru, mentioning such thinkers as Ivan Illich (who opposed public schools and what he regarded as "right wing" statism) and Charles Reich (author of _The Greening of America_ who promoted hippie values). Bramwell notes the role of the university campus as an influential force behind environmental politics and notes how 1960s radicals began a "long march through the institutions" as they took over universities. Bramwell also discusses such important formative novels as Edward Abby's anarchistic _The Monkey-Wrench Gang_ and Ernest Callenbach's _Ecotopia_. Following this, Bramwell discusses the bio-regionalism of Kirkpatrick Sale. Bramwell then turns her attention to Germany from 1970 to the present. Bramwell notes the contradictory past of ecologism in Germany and the attempts by leftists to whitewash this past. Bramwell notes the importance of Green movements in Germany as well as the role of student activism. Following this, Bramwell turns her attention to Britain from 1970 to the present. Bramwell discusses the background of the Green party as well as various "doomsday" scenarios.

The second section of this book is entitled "Strategies". Bramwell discusses politics and tactics including the Italian Greens, Britain, and the failure of Green politics in adopting a "global approach". Following this, Bramwell discusses sustainable development, mentioning various arguments put forth about the future of development and the "limits to growth". Next, Bramwell discusses deep ecology and civil disobedience mentioning such thinkers as Bill Devall and Arne Naess. Bramwell also discusses ecocentrism as a viable ideal, contrasting this to anthropocentrism and discusses the idea of the "rights of nature" as well as animal rights.

The third section of this book is entitled "Green Futures". Bramwell begins by discussing environmentalism in Eastern Europe noting the contradictory relationship between Green politics and the communist states. Many Greens see Western civilization and materialism to be at root behind ecological catastrophe and thus are unfairly not nearly as critical of Eastern European and Soviet environmental policies as they should be. Following this, Bramwell discusses the impact of Eastern Europe on Western Greens. The book ends with a chapter discussing the Green future, noting that while Greens have had some success they have largely failed. She explains this failure as partly resulting from an inability to accommodate their past. Bramwell explains the role of the EC as well as the statism of many Greens which she sees as harmful. She also explains the opposition of many Greens to Western civilization.

This book is an excellent sequel to her previous book and offers an excellent survey of Green politics. Bramwell is right in showing how Green politics has been taken over by certain malevolent forces and thus has lost touch with its original localist roots. As such, Green politics has largely failed and remains in decline despite the noble tradition of which it is a part.

The Farm As Natural Habitat: Reconnecting Food Systems With Ecosystems edited by Dana L. Jackson (Associate Director of the Land Stewardship Project, White Bear Lake, Minnesota) and Laura L. Jackson (Associate Professor of Biology, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, Iowa) is a thoughtful, extensively researched and meticulously presented compendium of essays by a variety of learned and expert authors focusing on the interaction between agriculture and the environment. Emphatically rejecting the idea that "ecological sacrifice zones" are required to feed the hungry, The Farm As Natural Habitat reaches out to explore how agriculture and biodiversity can exist in harmony. A first-rate, eye-opening book for farmers around the world, The Farm As Natural Habitat is a strongly urged addition to academic reference collections (especially for agricultural colleges), governmental policy makers and department of natural resources/farm bureau administrative personnel, and the personal reading list for anyone engaged in agriculture ranging from the "family farm" to agribusiness.

Written for broad audience of "stakeholders" in the food system, from consumers to ranchers, Imhoff has done a great job of highlighting farmers and ranchers who are working to protect the environment and sustain family farmers. These farmers and ranchers are inspirational examples, and show that agriculture doens't have to destroy the planet while it feeds us. Carra's photos offer an enticing complement that gives the book a coffee-table feel.