I was about a third of the way through this book when it finally dawned on me why I like Bill Bryson so much: he reminds me of Mark Twain! Like Twain,I was about a third of the way through this book when it finally dawned on me why I like Bill Bryson so much: he reminds me of Mark Twain! Like Twain, he can write about absolutely anything, no matter how mundane, and make it funny. Many on here have commented on his negative disposition towards his subject in this book, and while that it true, it is also true that it is easier to be funny while being negative, and I think his main goal is to produce a humorous book. One serious element he ably highlights is the growing consumerism and rash of look-alike chain stores that are cheapening and homogenizing America.
As an aside, since this book is over 20 years old now, it also offers a glimpse into the history of America, not just the view of a "semi-outsider." It's interesting how things have changed in those years. Prophetically, when visiting Detroit, he comments about the high crime rate and fearfully ponders what will happen to the city if the American auto industry crashes. Well, now we know......more
I have a friend working on a Ph.D. in "Parks and Recreation," and after reading this book, I finally have a fuller understanding of what makes this fiI have a friend working on a Ph.D. in "Parks and Recreation," and after reading this book, I finally have a fuller understanding of what makes this field so fascinating.
This book is on one hand a history of Yellowstone National Park, but mostly it is an ecological consideration of the dilemmas of resource and people management in designated parks. Yellowstone evolved first as a place to preserve rare geological wonders, then a place for people and their recreation, then a preserve for animals (first prey species, then eventually predator species), and finally a "living laboratory" for scientific study. (One interesting point raised is how little money the National Park Service has actually spent on scientific studies in the park--it has largely been dependent upon the science of other organizations). Modern ecology wrestles with its task of enabling usage of such spaces but also preserving them intact and for the future, often conflicting aims. And given that even before Europeans officially arrived in the park area, they had already affected its ecology, what does it mean to preserve the place in its "natural state"? What is "natural" anyway, when you're describing an ever-changing ecosystem? And does it become part of the park's task to preserve the early history of the national park itself, i.e., the historic lodges and buildings that were themselves built originally simply for the sake of enjoying the park's natural wonders?
Some of the strengths of the book are its discussion of the rise of the concept of an "ecosystem," in which species of flora and fauna are not seen or dealt with in isolation but seen as part of a larger "elegant tapestry." Specifically, the book discusses the rise and general acceptance of the idea of the "Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem," in which it is recognized that the health of Yellowstone is interrelated with that of a much broader swath of land than the political boundaries drawn around the park. Another strength is the book's discussion of the ecological realization that nature doesn't remain in some sort of even equilibrium, but tends to change in dramatic fits and spurts, like rivers suddenly changing their course, fires on a massive scale, and dramatic changes in animal population numbers. Thus, "Parks and Rec" must grapple with nature's volatility and find a way to tolerate it, all the while keeping in mind the more linear nature of human demands upon "wild" spaces.
Are national parks truly the last wild places left, or simply some sort of artificial freak show (a "park")? Or do they appear unusual because of all the damage we've done to the rest of the land? How do we know what is "normal" in these places, and is it possible/desirable to restore that?
One interesting aside is that the #3 most common visitor activity in Yellowstone (right behind "walking for pleasure" and "going to a visitor center or museum") is "shopping," while less than 10% of visitors enter the backcountry. (p. 251)
All in all, this is a fascinating book and highly recommended. I shall end with the quote the book ends with, which is John Muir writing about Yellowstone:
"Now comes the gloaming. The alpenglow is fading into earthly, murky gloom, but do not let your town habits draw you away to the hotel. Stay on this good fire-mountain and spend the night among the stars. Watch their glorious bloom until the dawn, and get one more baptism of light. Then, with fresh heart, go down to your work, and whatever your fate, under whatever ignorance or knowledge you may afterward chance to suffer, you will remember these fine, wild views, and look back with joy to your wanderings in the blessed old Yellowstone wonderland." (p. 265)...more
This is mostly a book of photography with short essays to begin each section. The photographs are striking (though I'm no expert judge), focusing equaThis is mostly a book of photography with short essays to begin each section. The photographs are striking (though I'm no expert judge), focusing equally on the beautiful, strange landscapes and the people who live there. The essay that begins the book is quite striking, describing the desert as not barren but rich spiritually in its stripping away of the non-essentials. I learned some interesting things, such as that the Sahara desert alone is larger than the continental United States.
However, the essay about the Sahara was much better and long than those for some of the other deserts, which felt a bit perfunctory. And lastly, I didn't discover the maps in the back of the book until I'd read the rest of the book. It's my own fault, but I would've enjoyed it better had I seen the maps to begin with....more
This is an wonderful, enjoyable introduction to the United Kingdom. The pictures are beautiful and interesting, and the text fluidly moves between subThis is an wonderful, enjoyable introduction to the United Kingdom. The pictures are beautiful and interesting, and the text fluidly moves between subjects of history, culture, local color, geography, politics, religion, etc. Obviously, it doesn't go into immense depth on any of these subjects, but it gives the reader a nice interweaving of all of them. The maps are well-done and helpful. Definitely recommended....more
People have critiqued the sprawling nature of this book, but such a nature seems fitting for a book on something as large (geographically, historicallPeople have critiqued the sprawling nature of this book, but such a nature seems fitting for a book on something as large (geographically, historically, geologically) as the Atlantic Ocean. Besides, overall he groups his material into considering the Atlantic from various angles: geological, exploration history, commercial history, military history, and environmental impact. I listened to this book as an audiobook, and it was simply a pleasure to have Winchester in my car for several weeks, telling me what he knows about the Atlantic.
One of the lasting impressions this book made upon me is his discussion of the geological span of the Atlantic, namely that even though it began a long time ago and will last long into the future, the Atlantic is temporal and short-lived in comparison to the planet. And thus humans are just a blip in the history of the Atlantic Ocean, which is itself just one chapter in the history of the Earth. Such a perspective properly situates the human race, as well as casts a dramatic lens on the impact we are having on the ocean (overfishing, global warming & rising sea levels, water-borne pollution, etc.). Still, the Atlantic and the Earth will carry on long after humans; but the return to homeostasis of the planet may eliminate humans in the process. I think Winchester was just trying to be judicious about the evidence for global warming, but at points he comes across as skeptical about what is a well-established scientific fact.
This is a fascinating, intricate book, and highly-recommended!...more
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