Product Description

As America and the world grapple with the consequences of global environmental change, writer and activist Bill McKibben offers this unprecedented, provocative, and timely anthology, gathering the best and most significant American environmental writing from the last two centuries.

Classics of the environmental imagination—the essays of Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and John Burroughs; Aldo Leopold’s A Sand County Almanac; Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring—are set against the inspiring story of an emerging activist movement, as revealed by newly uncovered reports of pioneering campaigns for conservation, passages from landmark legal opinions and legislation, and searing protest speeches. Here are some of America’s greatest and most impassioned writers, taking a turn toward nature and recognizing the fragility of our situation on earth and the urgency of the search for a sustainable way of life. Thought-provoking essays on overpopulation, consumerism, energy policy, and the nature of “nature” join ecologists’ memoirs and intimate sketches of the habitats of endangered species. The anthology includes a detailed chronology of the environmental movement and American environmental history, as well as an 80-page color portfolio of illustrations.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #15952 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-17
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 900 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Starred Review. In his introduction to this superb anthology, McKibben (The End of Nature) proposes that "environmental writing is America's most distinctive contribution to the world's literature." The collected pieces amply prove the point. Arranged chronologically, McKibben's selection of more than 100 writers includes some of the great early conservationists, such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and John Burroughs, and many other eloquent nature writers, including Donald Cultross Peattie, Edwin Way Teale and Henry Beston. The early exponents of national parks and wilderness areas have their say, as do writers who have borne witness to environmental degradation-John Steinbeck and Caroline Henderson on the dust bowl, for example, and Berton Roueché and others who have reported on the effects of toxic pollution. Visionaries like Buckminster Fuller and Amory Lovins are represented, as are a wealth of contemporary activist/writers, among them Barry Lopez, Terry Tempest Williams, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Pollan, Paul Hawken, and Calvin deWitt, cofounder of the Evangelical Environmental Network. McKibben's trenchant introductions to the pieces sum up each writer's thoughts and form a running commentary on the progress of the conservation movement. The book, being published on Earth Day, can be read as a survey of the literature of American environmentalism, but above all, it should be enjoyed for the sheer beauty of the writing. 80-page color illus, not seen by PW. (Apr. 22 [Earth Day])
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Review
“In his introduction to this superb anthology, McKibben (The End of Nature) proposes that "environmental writing is America's most distinctive contribution to the world's literature." The collected pieces amply prove the point. Arranged chronologically, McKibbin's selection of more than 100 writers includes some of the great early conservationists, such as Henry David Thoreau, John Muir and John Burroughs, and many other eloquent nature writers, including Donald Cultross Peattie, Edwin Way Teale and Henry Beston. The early exponents of national parks and wilderness areas have their say, as do writers who have borne witness to environmental degradation—John Steinbeck and Caroline Henderson on the dust bowl, for example, and Berton Roueché and others who have reported on the effects of toxic pollution. Visionaries like Buckminster Fuller and Amory Lovins are represented, as are a wealth of contemporary activist/writers, among them Barry Lopez, Terry Tempest Williams, Barbara Kingsolver, Michael Pollan, Paul Hawken, and Calvin deWitt, cofounder of the Evangelical Environmental Network. McKibben's trenchant introductions to the pieces sum up each writer's thoughts and form a running commentary on the progress of the conservation movement. The book, being published on Earth Day, can be read as a survey of the literature of American environmentalism, but above all, it should be enjoyed for the sheer beauty of the writing.”
—Publisher’s Weekly

About the Author
BILL MCKIBBEN, editor, is the author of many books including The End of Nature (1989), the first account of global warming for a general audience, and most recently Deep Economy: The Wealth of Communities and the Durable Future (2007). Since 2006, he has organized the largest demonstrations against the causes of global warming in American history. He is scholar in residence at Middlebury College.

Customer Reviews

LOA has finally Sold Out - $$ Junk Literature $$
For the editors to publish what by all intents and purposes looks to be the single LARGEST Volume in LOA History (Ive been a member for OVER TEN YEARS) as a compendium of 'Modern Environmental Writings' and dress it up with a foreward by none other than Al Gore, is inexcuseable if not outright disgusting.

'American Earth'? What? There is no American Earth. To project such a controversial and inflammatory figure such as Mr. Gore onto the LOA readership is also extremely distasteful, disrespectful and insulting.

While Mr. Gore's beliefs (more realistically his financial livelyhood) may be very agreeable to a percentage of America, an equal if not larger percentage is not falling for it.

'American Earth' may contain some respectable content, but it is equally laden with propaganda, deception and geological opinion. This is akin to LOA publishing a Volume by Nathan Bedford Forrest entitled something like "Writings on American Racial Equity". Or perhaps only if Tim McVeigh had time to write something entitled "Writings on American Government" we'd be getting that in the mail next month... Or better yet, how about a book on 'American Conservatism' with a nice cozy introduction by the honorable Dan Rather. I bet thats next. GET REAL.

After a solid 10+ years of paid membership, I have cancelled my Library of America subscription ("volume continuity" as their phone rep defined it... (?)...) and regret only that the Editors at LOA have lost another long-term customer due to extremely idiotic and trendy editorial decision-making on their part.

Maybe it doesnt matter, many will be happy that the likes such as myself are no longer a part of their "club" of bandwagoneers, but I suspect I am not alone... in 20 years LOA may well look back and realize their choices were poor in 2008.

An excellent collection of Nature writings:
With over a hundred authors contributing and Al Gore's blessing, you cannot ask for a better collection of writings from some of the best minds around. After you get a taste, it will inspire you to seek out the full editions of the books. The Library of America series has always selected top notch authors and works; they also print the books on wonderful paper with sturdy bindings. The editor- Bill McKibben was able to give a brief summary of the authors works and life that contributed, which helps put the works into perspective.

Highly recommended to environmental studies collections focusing on college level discussion
Environmental concerns are not a strictly recent development - it has been heavily discussed ever since the writings of Henry David Thoreau. "American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau" is a complete and comprehensive collection of writing covering scholarly essays and writings throughout history addressing the concerns of America, and how America should manage its relationship with the planet it sits on. Enhanced with a foreword from former Vice President and avid Environmentalist Al Gore, "American Earth: Environmental Writing Since Thoreau" is highly recommended to environmental studies collections focusing on college level discussion.