A Companion to American Environmental History

“A Companion to American Environmental History gathers together a comprehensive collection of over 30 essays that examine the evolving and diverse field of American environmental history.”  (Native American Encyclopedia, 8 January 2014)

“No short review can do justice to the richness and variety of the essays contained in this lengthy volume, which will prove useful to advanced undergraduates, graduate students, and seasoned scholars alike.”  (Journal of the History of Biology, 2011)

"The volume admirably covers material and cultural approaches to environmental history... I was impressed with the thoroughness and clarity of almost all the entries. (Environmental History, 1January 2012)

 The American Society for Environmental History was organized in 1976, and this companion volume celebrates its members' achievements during the past one-third century. The book presents diverse perspectives and topics in 32chapters, including "Fire," "Air," "Race and US Environmental History," "Class," "Gender," "Flora," "Fauna," "Cities and Suburbs," "Who Cares about Forests?" and "Oceans." No individual chapter focuses on pollution or environmental degradation, though these topics appear in several contexts. Many chapters offer revisionist history, bypassing traditional environmental heroes or emphasis on wilderness, conservation, and preservation. Instead, they discuss Indians, herdsmen, lumbermen, and farmers. Indians, not invariably stewards of the environment, became part of European trade networks and were favorably impacted by the introduction of horses. Dams improved economies but also degraded fisheries. All but one chapter have excellent bibliographies. Most bibliographies emphasize books, and the Society's journal, Environmental History, does not receive any special attention. Anyone who wishes to study or research a topic in American environmental history can quickly learn from one or more chapters what has already been written on the subject and how environmental historians evaluate that particular literature. Although there are no illustrations, diagrams, or maps, this volume is a critical acquisition for all academic library reference collections." (CHOICE, December 2010)