The Quiet World
Saving Alaska's Wilderness Kingdom, 1879-1960
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- $14.99
Publisher Description
“Douglas Brinkley has written a sweeping, blow-by-blow account of the struggle to preserve the last great remnants of American wilderness. An engaging appraisal of the crucial skirmishes in the battle over wild Alaska, The Quiet World is populated not only by the requisite luminaries like John Muir and Ansel Adams, but also by a cast of quirky, unexpected characters. The Quiet World is a fascinating and important read.” — Jon Krakauer
In this follow-up to his New York Times bestseller Wilderness Warrior, acclaimed historian Douglas Brinkley offers a riveting, expansive look at the past and present battle to preserve Alaska’s wilderness.
Brinkley explores the colorful diversity of Alaska’s wildlife, arrays the forces that have wreaked havoc on its primeval arctic refuge—from Klondike Gold Rush prospectors to environmental disasters like the Exxon-Valdez oil spill—and documents environmental heroes from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower and beyond. Not merely a record of Alaska’s past, The Quiet World is a compelling call-to-arms for sustainability, conservationism, and conscientious environmental stewardship—a warning that the land once called Seward’s Folly may go down in history as America’s Greatest Mistake.
Customer Reviews
Fantastic.
Great book on one of our greatest states. Well written and never slow.
Brilliant haunting history of Alaska's wilderness
Douglas Brinkley, the noted historian and biographer, has done it again- he's written a masterpiece about the beauty of Alaska's wildlife and the efforts taken to preserve it. The story begins shortly after Alaska was sold to the US (for a pittance in 1867) and continues to Alaska's statehood in 1959.
Along the way we meet noted figures such as Theodore Roosevelt, who did more to protect Alaska's wilds than any other President and who also had a firmer grasp on biology than nearly all of them. The battles Roosevelt and other conservationists fought against developers and their champions will remind one of today. Let's just say that there was a Tea Party back then and that they were calling TR a socialist! Other major figures include John Muir, Aldo Leopold, and Rachel Carson.
Brinkley brings rich detail to his story, and the book is free of glaring errors. One bonus feature is the color photographs (about 60!) - these appear even better than those found in most printed books. I highly recommend this book for any lover of nature.