Reviews
"Ted Steinberg's book is a delight. [H]e shows how nature and natural events were influential in ways too often overlooked: for example, the role of climate in shaping the events and outcomes of the Civil War.... A coherent and well written overview of an extremely complex subject."-- Stephanie Pincetl, Department of Geography, University of Southern California, The American Historical Review "With this book, Ted Steinberg boldly places the environment at the center of an important new synthesis of American history.... Down to Earth elegantly synthesizes the most recent work in the field and presents the author's own interpretations."--Linda Nash, Department of History, University of Washington, The Journal of American History "Steinberg produces one of the best environmental histories ever written, a naturalist's version of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel . Like Richard White and William Cronon, who worked this ground before him, he insists that our interaction with the land is a complex give-and-take that still leaves room for surprises."--Bruce Barcott, Outside Magazine "A challenging new look at American history describing how the environment has played a key role in every aspect of American development.... Richly researched and filled with fascinating details, this book takes an important new look at history and may cause readers to pause and consider the consequences of their lifestyle."-- Library Journal "The most exciting and fundamentally new view of the national past in a generation. American history, in every sense, has never looked greener."--Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz, The Ecology of Fear , and Late Victorian Holocausts "Steinberg chronicles the ecological effects of the clear-cutting of forests, the great push west, the building dams and railroads, and the rise of the cattle and car industries, heady endeavors that have diminished biodiversity and created vast quantities of hazardous waste and garbage. A socially conscious sibling to Tim Flannery's Eternal Frontier , Steinberg's scintillating environmental panorama reveals the ripple effect of every choice we make, from creating nuclear weapons to eating fast food, driving SUVs, and maintaining perfect lawns."-- Booklist "In this pioneering work, Ted Steinberg offers a bold new critical synthesis of American environmental history, the most ambitious that any scholar has attempted since the founding of the field more than a quarter century ago. By demonstrating the myriad but too often unackowledged ways in which familiar historical events have been intimately tied to the transformation and exploitation of the natural world, Down to Earth changes the way we think not just about our past, but our future as well."--William Cronon "Steinberg is a refreshing historian because he writes from an environmental perspective. And he's a refreshing environmentalist because he's not hysterical."-- Toronto Globe and Mail "Steinberg's accessible survey will prove useful as a reference for green-inclined readers in and out of school."-- Kirkus Reviews, "Steinberg chronicles the ecological effects of the clear-cutting offorests, the great push west, the building dams and railroads, and the rise ofthe cattle and car industries, heady endeavors that have diminished biodiversityand created vast quantities of hazardous waste and garbage. A socially conscioussibling to Tim Flannery's Eternal Frontier, Steinberg's scintillatingenvironmental panorama reveals the ripple effect of every choice we make, fromcreating nuclear weapons to eating fast food, driving SUVs, and maintainingperfect lawns."--Booklist, "Steinberg's accessible survey will prove useful as a reference forgreen-inclined readers in and out of school."--Kirkus Reviews, "In this pioneering work, Ted Steinberg offers a bold new critical synthesis of American environmental history, the most ambitious that any scholar has attempted since the founding of the field more than a quarter century ago. By demonstrating the myriad but too often unacknowledged ways inwhich familiar historical events have been intimately tied to the transformation and exploitation of the natural world, Down to Earth changes the way we think not just about our past, but our future as well."--William Cronon, "Ted Steinberg's book is a delight. [H]e shows how nature and natural events were influential in ways too often overlooked: for example, the role of climate in shaping the events and outcomes of the Civil War.... A coherent and well written overview of an extremely complex subject."--Stephanie Pincetl, Department of Geography, University of Southern California, The American Historical Review, "Steinberg is a refreshing historian because he writes from anenvironmental perspective. And he's a refreshing environmentalist because he'snot hysterical."--Toronto Globe and Mail, "Ted Steinberg's book is a delight. [H]e shows how nature and natural events were influential in ways too often overlooked: for example, the role of climate in shaping the events and outcomes of the Civil War.... A coherent and well written overview of an extremely complex subject."-- Stephanie Pincetl, Department of Geography, University of Southern California, The American Historical Review"With this book, Ted Steinberg boldly places the environment at the center of an important new synthesis of American history.... Down to Earth elegantly synthesizes the most recent work in the field and presents the author's own interpretations."--Linda Nash, Department of History, University of Washington, The Journal of American History"Steinberg produces one of the best environmental histories ever written, a naturalist's version of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. Like Richard White and William Cronon, who worked this ground before him, he insists that our interaction with the land is a complex give-and-take that still leaves room for surprises."--Bruce Barcott, Outside Magazine"A challenging new look at American history describing how the environment has played a key role in every aspect of American development.... Richly researched and filled with fascinating details, this book takes an important new look at history and may cause readers to pause and consider the consequences of their lifestyle."--Library Journal"The most exciting and fundamentally new view of the national past in a generation. American history, in every sense, has never looked greener."--Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz, The Ecology of Fear, and Late Victorian Holocausts"Steinberg chronicles the ecological effects of the clear-cutting of forests, the great push west, the building dams and railroads, and the rise of the cattle and car industries, heady endeavors that have diminished biodiversity and created vast quantities of hazardous waste and garbage. A socially conscious sibling to Tim Flannery's Eternal Frontier, Steinberg's scintillating environmental panorama reveals the ripple effect of every choice we make, from creating nuclear weapons to eating fast food, driving SUVs, and maintaining perfect lawns."--Booklist"In this pioneering work, Ted Steinberg offers a bold new critical synthesis of American environmental history, the most ambitious that any scholar has attempted since the founding of the field more than a quarter century ago. By demonstrating the myriad but too often unackowledged ways in which familiar historical events have been intimately tied to the transformation and exploitation of the natural world, Down to Earth changes the way we think not just about our past, but our future as well."--William Cronon"Steinberg is a refreshing historian because he writes from an environmental perspective. And he's a refreshing environmentalist because he's not hysterical."--Toronto Globe and Mail"Steinberg's accessible survey will prove useful as a reference for green-inclined readers in and out of school."--Kirkus Reviews, "In this pioneering work, Ted Steinberg offers a bold new criticalsynthesis of American environmental history, the most ambitious that any scholarhas attempted since the founding of the field more than a quarter century ago.By demonstrating the myriad but too often unackowledged ways in which familiarhistorical events have been intimately tied to the transformation andexploitation of the natural world, Down to Earth changes the way we think notjust about our past, but our future as well."--William Cronon, "Ted Steinberg's book is a delight. [H]e shows how nature and natural events were influential in ways too often overlooked: for example, the role of climate in shaping the events and outcomes of the Civil War.... A coherent and well written overview of an extremely complex subject."-- Stephanie Pincetl, Department of Geography, University of Southern California, The American Historical Review "With this book, Ted Steinberg boldly places the environment at the center of an important new synthesis of American history.... Down to Earth elegantly synthesizes the most recent work in the field and presents the author's own interpretations."--Linda Nash, Department of History, University of Washington, The Journal of American History "Steinberg produces one of the best environmental histories ever written, a naturalist's version of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. Like Richard White and William Cronon, who worked this ground before him, he insists that our interaction with the land is a complex give-and-take that still leaves room for surprises."--Bruce Barcott, Outside Magazine "A challenging new look at American history describing how the environment has played a key role in every aspect of American development.... Richly researched and filled with fascinating details, this book takes an important new look at history and may cause readers to pause and consider the consequences of their lifestyle."--Library Journal "The most exciting and fundamentally new view of the national past in a generation. American history, in every sense, has never looked greener."--Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz, The Ecology of Fear, and Late Victorian Holocausts "Steinberg chronicles the ecological effects of the clear-cutting of forests, the great push west, the building dams and railroads, and the rise of the cattle and car industries, heady endeavors that have diminished biodiversity and created vast quantities of hazardous waste and garbage. A socially conscious sibling to Tim Flannery's Eternal Frontier, Steinberg's scintillating environmental panorama reveals the ripple effect of every choice we make, from creating nuclear weapons to eating fast food, driving SUVs, and maintaining perfect lawns."--Booklist "In this pioneering work, Ted Steinberg offers a bold new critical synthesis of American environmental history, the most ambitious that any scholar has attempted since the founding of the field more than a quarter century ago. By demonstrating the myriad but too often unackowledged ways in which familiar historical events have been intimately tied to the transformation and exploitation of the natural world, Down to Earth changes the way we think not just about our past, but our future as well."--William Cronon "Steinberg is a refreshing historian because he writes from an environmental perspective. And he's a refreshing environmentalist because he's not hysterical."--Toronto Globe and Mail "Steinberg's accessible survey will prove useful as a reference for green-inclined readers in and out of school."--Kirkus Reviews, "Ted Steinberg's book is a delight. [H]e shows how nature and natural events were influential in ways too often overlooked: for example, the role of climate in shaping the events and outcomes of the Civil War.... A coherent and well written overview of an extremely complex subject."-- Stephanie Pincetl, Department of Geography, University of Southern California,The American Historical Review "With this book, Ted Steinberg boldly places the environment at the center of an important new synthesis of American history....Down to Earthelegantly synthesizes the most recent work in the field and presents the author's own interpretations."--Linda Nash, Department of History, University of Washington,The Journal of American History "Steinberg produces one of the best environmental histories ever written, a naturalist's version of Jared Diamond'sGuns, Germs, and Steel. Like Richard White and William Cronon, who worked this ground before him, he insists that our interaction with the land is a complex give-and-take that still leaves room for surprises."--Bruce Barcott,Outside Magazine "A challenging new look at American history describing how the environment has played a key role in every aspect of American development.... Richly researched and filled with fascinating details, this book takes an important new look at history and may cause readers to pause and consider the consequences of their lifestyle."--Library Journal "The most exciting and fundamentally new view of the national past in a generation. American history, in every sense, has never looked greener."--Mike Davis, author ofCity of Quartz, The Ecology of Fear, andLate Victorian Holocausts "Steinberg chronicles the ecological effects of the clear-cutting of forests, the great push west, the building dams and railroads, and the rise of the cattle and car industries, heady endeavors that have diminished biodiversity and created vast quantities of hazardous waste and garbage. A socially conscious sibling to Tim Flannery'sEternal Frontier, Steinberg's scintillating environmental panorama reveals the ripple effect of every choice we make, from creating nuclear weapons to eating fast food, driving SUVs, and maintaining perfect lawns."--Booklist "In this pioneering work, Ted Steinberg offers a bold new critical synthesis of American environmental history, the most ambitious that any scholar has attempted since the founding of the field more than a quarter century ago. By demonstrating the myriad but too often unackowledged ways in which familiar historical events have been intimately tied to the transformation and exploitation of the natural world,Down to Earthchanges the way we think not just about our past, but our future as well."--William Cronon "Steinberg is a refreshing historian because he writes from an environmental perspective. And he's a refreshing environmentalist because he's not hysterical."--Toronto Globe and Mail "Steinberg's accessible survey will prove useful as a reference for green-inclined readers in and out of school."--Kirkus Reviews, "Steinberg is a refreshing historian because he writes from an environmental perspective. And he's a refreshing environmentalist because he's not hysterical."--Toronto Globe and Mail, "Written in a crisp, articulate style, Down to Earth aims at informing the debate on ecology rather than promoting simplistic solutions. The advice which Steinberg does offer, however, is both succinct and perceptive. Americans need 'to embrace a more humble view of human agency,' he writes,'and acknowledge the unpredictability involved in incorporating nature into human designs."--Ed Voves, Januarymagazine.com, "Steinberg chronicles the ecological effects of the clear-cutting of forests, the great push west, the building dams and railroads, and the rise of the cattle and car industries, heady endeavors that have diminished biodiversity and created vast quantities of hazardous waste and garbage. Asocially conscious sibling to Tim Flannery's Eternal Frontier, Steinberg's scintillating environmental panorama reveals the ripple effect of every choice we make, from creating nuclear weapons to eating fast food, driving SUVs, and maintaining perfect lawns."--Booklist, "Steinberg chronicles the ecological effects of the clear-cutting offorests, the great push west, the building dams and railroads, and the rise ofthe cattle and car industries, heady endeavors that have diminished biodiversityand created vast quantities of hazardous waste and garbage. A sociallyconscious sibling to Tim Flannery's Eternal Frontier, Steinberg's scintillatingenvironmental panorama reveals the ripple effect of every choice we make, fromcreating nuclear weapons to eating fast food, driving SUVs, and maintainingperfect lawns."--Booklist, "The most exciting and fundamentally new view of the national past in ageneration. American history, in every sense, has never looked greener."--MikeDavis, author of City of Quartz, The Ecology of Fear, and Late VictorianHolocausts, "A challenging new look at American history describing how the environment has played a key role in every aspect of American development.... Richly researched and filled with fascinating details, this book takes an important new look at history and may cause readers to pause and consider theconsequences of their lifestyle."--Library Journal, "Steinberg relentlessly relates the exploitation of America's staggering natural resources and 'the environmental decline and fall of the American republic', a proposition that is provocative, to say the least. It has grand sweep, from the arrival of the first European settlers on the easternshores, through the expansion to the west, conquest of the native peoples, civil war, and the emergence of the United States.... A marvelous weave, connecting societies and cities, agriculture and industry, slavery and revolt, work and leisure to the environment, itself both imposing on and beingaffected by them. All of this is well illustrated by frequently shocking photographs."--Roy Herbert, New Scientist, "In this pioneering work, Ted Steinberg offers a bold new criticalsynthesis of American environmental history, the most ambitious that any scholarhas attempted since the founding of the field more than a quarter century ago.By demonstrating the myriad but too often unacknowledged ways in which familiarhistorical events have been intimately tied to the transformation andexploitation of the natural world, Down to Earth changes the way we think notjust about our past, but our future as well."--William Cronon, "Steinberg relentlessly relates the exploitation of America's staggeringnatural resources and 'the environmental decline and fall of the Americanrepublic', a proposition that is provocative, to say the least. It has grandsweep, from the arrival of the first European settlers on the eastern shores,through the expansion to the west, conquest of the native peoples, civil war,and the emergence of the United States.... A marvelous weave, connectingsocieties and cities, agriculture and industry, slavery and revolt, work andleisure to the environment, itself both imposing on and being affected by them.All of this is well illustrated by frequently shocking photographs."--RoyHerbert, New Scientist, "A challenging new look at American history describing how the environmenthas played a key role in every aspect of American development.... Richlyresearched and filled with fascinating details, this book takes an important newlook at history and may cause readers to pause and consider the consequences oftheir lifestyle."--Library Journal, "Steinberg produces one of the best environmental histories ever written,a naturalist's version of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. Like RichardWhite and William Cronon, who worked this ground before him, he insists that ourinteraction with the land is a complex give-and-take that still leaves room forsurprises."--Bruce Barcott, Outside Magazine, "Steinberg produces one of the best environmental histories ever written, a naturalist's version of Jared Diamond's Guns, Germs, and Steel. Like Richard White and William Cronon, who worked this ground before him, he insists that our interaction with the land is a complex give-and-take thatstill leaves room for surprises."--Bruce Barcott, Outside Magazine, "Written in a crisp, articulate style, Down to Earth aims at informing thedebate on ecology rather than promoting simplistic solutions. The advice whichSteinberg does offer, however, is both succinct and perceptive. Americans need'to embrace a more humble view of human agency,' he writes, 'and acknowledge theunpredictability involved in incorporating nature into human designs."--EdVoves, Januarymagazine.com, "With this book, Ted Steinberg boldly places the environment at the center of an important new synthesis of American history.... Down to Earth elegantly synthesizes the most recent work in the field and presents the author's own interpretations."--Linda Nash, Department of History, Universityof Washington, The Journal of American History, "The most exciting and fundamentally new view of the national past in a generation. American history, in every sense, has never looked greener."--Mike Davis, author of City of Quartz, The Ecology of Fear, and Late Victorian Holocausts
