Environment : An Interdisciplinary Anthology

by Selected, Edited, and with Introductions by Glenn Adelson, James Engell, Brent R

• ISBN13: 9780300126143
• ISBN10: 030012614X
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Trade Book
• Copyright: 2008-01-21
• Publisher: Yale University Press

Summary

This major anthology is the first to apply a fully interdisciplinary approach to environmental studies. A comprehensive guide to environmental literacy, the book demonstrates how the sciences, social sciences, and humanities all contribute to understanding our interrelationships with the natural world. Though not specialized,Environmentis a book that even specialists can learn from. Ten innovative case studies--climate shock, species endangerment, nuclear power, biotechnology, sustainable development, deforestation, environmental security, globalization, wilderness, and the urban environment--are followed by readings from specific disciplines. These can be integrated with the case studies to shape individual interests and teaching strategies. The volume presents an imaginative array of texts, from scientific papers to poetry, legal decisions to historical accounts, personal essays to economic analysis. Taken together, these selections provide a balanced, authoritative, and up-to-date treatment of key issues in environmental studies.

Author Biography

Glenn Adelson has taught conservation biology at Harvard University and is coauthor of Biodiversity: Exploring Values and Priorities in Conservation. James Engell is Gurney Professor of English; professor of comparative literature; chair, English and American literature and language; and faculty member of the Harvard University Center for the Environment. Brent Ranalli is senior analyst at The Cadmus Group, Inc., an employee-owned environmental consulting firm. K. P. Van Anglen teaches English at Boston University and is author, editor, or contributor to various publications on Thoreau and other American and English writers.

Table of Contents

Interconnections: Cross-Listed Selections for Chapters in Part One, Concepts and Case Studies
Why Environmental Studies?	p. 1
The Design and Use of This Book	p. 6
Overture: Nature and Human Perception	p. 9
Concepts and Case Studies
Climate Shock	p. 17
Species in Danger: Three Case Studies	p. 50
Nuclear Power: Three Mile Island, Chernobyl, and the Future	p. 83
Biotechnology and Genetically Manipulated Organisms: Bt Corn and the Monarch Butterfly	p. 117
The Paradox of Sustainable Development	p. 138
Deforestation	p. 172
War and Peace: Security at Stake	p. 213
Globalization Is Environmental	p. 248
What Is Wilderness and Do We Need It?	p. 280
The Urban Environment: Calcutta and Los Angeles	p. 311
Foundational Disciplines and Topics
Biological Interactions
Biodiversity and Conservation Biology	p. 362
Soil and Agriculture	p. 412
Air and Water	p. 449
Energy	p. 492
Toxicology	p. 531
Human Dimensions
The Inner Life	p. 560
Ethics, Philosophy, Gender	p. 594
Poetry	p. 622
History and the Environment	p. 649
Nature Writing	p. 676
Social Connections
Politics and Public Policy	p. 710
Law and Environmental Justice	p. 746
Economics	p. 774
Human Population	p. 807
Anthropology	p. 831
Conviction and Action	p. 859
Web Connections	p. 889
About the Editors	p. 897
Acknowledgments	p. 899
Selection Credits	p. 901
Index	p. 915
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.