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The Economics of Social Insurance and Employee Benefitsfocuses on non-wage benefits paid to workers in the United States,covering both government-mandated and voluntarily provided benefits.The author argues that benefits affect workplace productivity, andconcentrates on the economic thinking behind how to design non-wagebenefits in order to achieve competitive advantage. Part I briefly introduces these programs and discusses some of theinsurance and economic concepts that are useful both for evaluatingcurrent programs and in analyzing what changes might mean for futurecosts and benefits. Part II deals with mandated social insuranceprograms, while Part III discusses benefits voluntarily provided byemployers. Throughout the book, private sector human resourcepractices and public sector human resource policies are linked tovarious benefit models: the human capital model; the passiveparticipant model; the insurance model; the managed care model; andthe integrated health benefits model. Butler argues that the currentprogram-centered approach to human resource and risk management isoften ineffectual because it (1) ignores overlapping benefits thatmitigate useful cost-sharing mechanisms; (2) often results in theconcentration of benefits among relatively few workers; and (3)sometimes has the unintended consequences of negatively affectingworkers' human capital. In advocating a `worker-specific' approach toemployee benefits, the book offers a unique perspective on how humanresource managers, risk managers, and public policy makers can promotethose institutions and programs that best increase workers'productivity. ... Read more

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Beginning with an Olympic ski race in northern Utah, this heartfelt book from award-winning writer and photographer Stephen Trimble takes a penetrating look at the battles raging over the land--and the soul--of the American West. Bargaining for Eden investigates the high-profile story of a reclusive billionaire who worked relentlessly to acquire public land for his ski resort and to host the Salt Lake City Winter Olympics. In a gripping, character-driven narrative, based on extensive interviews, Trimble tells of the land exchange deal that ensued, one of the largest and most controversial in U.S. history, as he deftly explores the inner conflicts, paradoxes, and greed at the heart of land-use disputes from the back rooms of Washington to the grassroots efforts of passionate citizens. Into this mix, Trimble weaves the personal story of how he, a lifelong environmentalist, ironically became a landowner and developer himself, and began to explore the ethics of ownership anew. We travel with Trimble in a fascinating journey that becomes, in the end, a hopeful credo to guide citizens and communities seeking to reinvent their relationship with the beloved American landscape. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

A Great Read
Real-life non-fiction from a man who cares deeply about the environment in the U.S. West.Steve Trimble tells the story of how relentless corporate interests can be in acquiring and protecting what they want, in this case lands in Utah to build a ski resort in advance of the 2002 Winter Olympics.Reads like a "can't put it down" novel, much like A Civil Action was for me in 90's.

My name is Earl
Utah's acceptance of the 2002 winter games seemed to prove the soundness of Colorado's decision to reject the games decades earlier. As has now been well documented, the award touched off a cascade of corruption, from outright bribery of the International Olympic Committee to various land swindles. It was a seismic event in the rural West, creating a shock doctrine all its own. Here at long last was the perfect excuse for wholesale development at nearly any cost. Honorable state and national legislators morphed into eager enablers.

Steve Trimble wisely opted out of trying to thoroughly assay the political scheming and environmental consequences played out in a spectacular crucible. But he has done something far better. He tracks one emblematic deal -- the transfer of a great swath of prime public land to a driven man who was already one of the largest landholders in the country. Bargaining For Eden is not just another depressing illustration of the corrupting influence of power, but a vibrant montage of unusual suspects expressing quirky aspects of individualism, camaraderie, and Western ethos. The author himself does not stand aside in judgment, but, in going the extra mile for the truth, explicitly implicates himself -- almost shamefacedly detailing his own micro-land development.

I'm grateful that Steve Trimble volunteered to guide us through this minefield of desires and improbable outcomes. His softspoken integrity puts the reader at ease. His own contemplative adventures are mingled deftly with the big doings of "operator" Earl Holding -- a man who, despite the author's careful rendering, seems more bulldozer than flesh and blood. This, above all, makes the book compelling. It is surprisingly easy to read, in spite of the messy wrangling for wilderness and luxury it reveals. In the end, I could not escape the feeling that the author's essential honesty and kindness overshadow even his larger-than-life subjects. He would never concede the point, however. He maintains that we are all Earl Holding, to some degree. That perspective is, at least, instructive and useful for bridge-building. Steve Trimble is harder on himself than on anyone else in this book, and that's saying something. It is therefore the one book about the changing West that every American should read.

Two Books for the Price of One
"Bargaining for Eden" is really two books in one.The first book, and the one that has garnered the most attention, is about self-made billionaire Earl Holding and how he finagled, with the help of powerful friends, to add over 1,000 acres of public land to his Snow Basin ski resort in advance of 2002 Winter Olympics.It's an interesting tale, and author Steve Trimble tells it with careful, well-researched precision.Trimble, a self-avowed environmentalist, treats all sides of the controversy fairly, as witnessed by the reading he gave at the Salt Lake City public library where one of Earl Holding's minions, who probably didn't care much for the book, complimented Steve on his good writing and accurate quoting.

The second book within the book is, to me, really the more important one, because it's about all of us who love and live in the West.As Trimble writes, "On some level I am Earl [Holding]--we are all Earl."Here, Steve chronicles his own adventures as a small-time land developer in Utah's redrock country, and what he thought about and considered as he built a second home for his family on a previously-undeveloped piece of land.As I read this I thought about myself, the places I've lived in Utah, Oregon, and Montana, and how I've impacted those places.I doubt few of us have considered our own impacts and worked to mitigate them in the way Trimble did. I know I haven't.

The last chapter of the book, "Credo: The People's West" is something of a non-sequitur.It's Trimble's rules for living in the West, and it clearly draws on more than what's in this book.I agreed with some of parts of the credo; disagreed with others.My credo would be different from Steve's.So would yours, I imagine.

Overall, the book is fair and even-handed, possibly to a fault.It is not a rant and it steers clear of the self-righteousness so common in environmental tomes.Buy it. Read it.Think about it.

Compelling, readable, important
Steve Trimble's latest book is a compelling look at the tensions between private mega-enterprise and public interests.If you care about the future of open spaces (and not just in the American West), if you care about the future of community, if you care about how to tend to democracy in an age of fracture and fracas, this is a sobering look at a battle in Utah that can stand in for many such battles across the country.Refusing to give into cynical preaching, Trimble offers a nuanced look at his own complicity in questions of ownership and activism, which makes this book even more important.It ends with a hopeful, necessary "Credo," which also was recently published in High Country News.A fine naturalist, photographer and writer, Steve Trimble is a treasure.This book demands to be read, understood--and its lessons put into action by thoughtful citizens everywhere.

Highly recommended
Stephen Trimble tackles the paradox of the modern west:how do people inhabit and develop a rapidly vanishing landscape?Trimble weaves the important tale of public land transformed into a commercial ski resort with his own construction of a second home near a national park.This juxtaposition elevates the book from polemic to a serious discussion of the many facets of land development.Trimble recognizes that there are no easy answers, but argues convincingly that wise land use policy requires the contribution of all of the stakeholders in the landscape:developers, environmentalists, long-time residents and the public in general.

What sets Trimble's book apart is his obvious affection not just for the land, but for the people who have lived on the land for many years.His interviews with men and women whose families have lived on the land for generations provides the reader with an often neglected perspective on the west.Trimble has an ear for the ironic poignancy of how development displaces those families who have lived and loved a particular place for generations, even as that landscape is changed by their own decisions regarding its value and use.

Highly readable, Trimble's natural storytelling ability comes through to illuminate a transformative moment in western history.As a native Montanan and long-time resident of Utah, I recommend it to all those who seek to understand a sense of place.

... Read more

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Is the Internet destined to upset traditional political power in the United States? This book gives an emphatic "no." Author Richard Davis shows how current political players such as candidates, public officials, and the media are adapting to the Internet and assuring that this new medium benefits them in their struggle for power. In doing so he examines the current function of the Internet in democratic politics, i.e. educating citizens, conducting electoral campaigns, gauging public opinion, and achieving policy resolution, and the roles of current political actors in those functions. Davis unconventional prediction concerning the Internet's impact on American politics warrants a closer look by anyone interested in learning how this new communication medium will affect us politically. ... Read more

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Over the past century, solutions to natural resources policy issues have become increasingly complex. Multiple government agencies with overlapping jurisdictions and differing mandates as well as multiple interest groups have contributed to gridlock, frequently preventing solutions in the common interest. Community-based responses to natural resource problems in the American West have demonstrated the potential of local initiatives both for finding common ground on divisive issues and for advancing the common interest. The first chapter of this study diagnoses contemporary problems of governance in natural resources policy and in the United States generally, then introduces community-based initiatives as responses to those problems. The next chapters examine the range of successes and failures of initiatives in water management in the Upper Clark Fork River in Montana; wolf recovery in the northern Rockies; bison management in greater Yellowstone; and forest policy in northern California.The concluding chapter considers how to harvest experience from these and other cases, offering practical suggestions for diverse participants in community-based initiatives and their supporters, agencies and interest groups, and researchers and educators. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Not the best for the topic
The book leans towards resource extraction too much for my taste. Not concerned with wilderness preservation, but rather with how to get various philosphies to come in line with the authors' set of moral rights.

Good cases and an overview of what we need to learn
This is a nice discussion of community based initiatives (stakeholder groups) for solving intractable environmental problems.The case of the Quincy Library Group is particularly fascinating, but I haven't read all four cases yet. The intro and closing chapters by Ron Brunner present a theoratical discussion of what we can and need to learn from community-based efforts to come to grips with environmental problems in the western United States, where environmental politics is often polarized.

These groups seem to have been successful at bringing together opposing interests in communities throughout the west; and movign away fromadesire to exploit or protect everything to a discussion of sustainable management strategies.Yet they have also been criticized by environmentalists for their susceptibility to parochial interests of communities in affected areas; and to influence by resource extractors.The environmental NGO's, for their part, seem too often willing to oppsoe everything without ever really addressing management questions (shall we simply export all our environmentally destrcutive industries?).Corporations, on the other hand, are too often willing to come to the table and act reasonably when they see no other choice.Can local stakeholder groups bridge the gap? Science aids understanding, but is both uncertain and unable to answer questions of what we value.Worth reading. ... Read more

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A Hachette Kindle book. ... Read more

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Current events related to energy policy skyrocketing gasoline prices, the 2003 Northeast Blackout, the Kyoto Protocol s enactment, passage of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, and the influence of recent Gulf Coast hurricanes on energy supplies and prices demand innovative approaches towards conceptualizing the relationship between energy and American society.

This book takes on a central quandary in the study of energy and environmental policy: What myths continue to exist in American culture concerning energy, the environment, and society? It enrolls twenty-four of the nation s top experts working on energy policy in industry, government laboratories, utilities, nonprofit organizations, and universities to debunk and contextualize thirteen energy myths relating to electric power, renewable energy, energy efficiency, transportation, and climate change.

While the book focuses on the American experience, it will be of interest to those working in the fields of energy policy, energy and the environment, and technology assessment worldwide. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

This book will teach you something about energy
I should state that I had the benefit of being a student in Professor Brown's class where we utilized this book.

That being said, many of the "myths" in this book are misconceptions that perhaps most of society today falls victim to. The book presents evidence from leading scholars in the fields of energy technology, public policy and economics which shed some much needed light on these topics and shows how interwoven they really are.

If you have an interest in where this country and the rest of world is heading in terms of energy reform, and what obstacles (both technological and political) lay in their paths, then this is an excellent book for you.

A readable, excellent resource
This is an excellent introduction to real energy issues, written by experts, with many useful references for further study.Energy mythinformation (inadvertent or otherwise) propagates all too easily, and this book does a good job of debunking the common myths.

Anyone involved in policies regarding energy&climate change should be familiar with this material, and that includes ordinary citizens, especially those who might care about the US economy and environment seen by any grandchildren.

I'd summarize the book as saying:
a) We face serious problems, as we *will* run out cheap oil, and then cheap gas [look up "Peak Oil" in Wikipedia], and if we keep burning coal without sequestering CO2, we will push the planet into a much hotter state with serious economic downsides. Right now, the US economy depends on cheap oil, and of course, it might be better not to be selling off big chunks of the US economy to other countries to feed our oil habit forever.

b) However, we actually have pretty good solutions for many of the problems, mostly without requiring magic technology leaps.There is no one silver bullet, but a myriad of small actions to be taken to stop wasting energy, many of which actually save money right away.

c) Most of the actions required are actually policy choices, with help from widespread use of existing technologies, plus rational R&D investments.Low electicity-per-capita use in some states has been achieved with no obvious economic catastrophes.[Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and California are not usually considered poor places.]Of course, we have much further to go, but in many cases, it really is a matter of choosing to do the right things.

The editors provide an introduction and summary bookending 13 myth discussions by (mostly) other authors.Following is a list of the 13 myths, with comments on a few of the chapters:

1. Today's Energy Crisis is "Hype"

2. The Public is Well Informed About Energy

3. High Land Requirements and an Unfavorable Energy Balance Preclude Biomass Ethanol from Playing a Large Role in Providing Energy Services
- This is an especially important chapter, as the topic engenders much confusion. Not all biofuels need be from corn, and there is more land available than many think.

4. The Hydrogen Economy is A Panacea
- Dr. Joseph Romm shows why hydrogen (especially for vehicles) is a long way off, if ever, compared to PHEV/FF (plug-in-electric-vehicles with flex-fuels).He shows why research is appropriate, but not spending huge $$ for premature deployment, especially to the detriment of truly useful steps doable much sooner.

I also his recommend Joe's website http://climateprogress.org/, and his book Hell and High Water: Global Warming--the Solution and the Politics--and What We Should Do.

5. Price Signals are Insufficient to Induce Efficient Energy Investments

6. The Barriers to New and Innovative Energy Technologies are Primarily Technical:
- The Case for Distributed Generation
- In many ways, distributed generation of electricity would be more efficient, but power companies are geared for centralized generation, even with expensive long-distance distribution.

7. Renewable Energy Systems Could Never meet Growing Electricity Demand in America

8. Worldwide Power Systems are Economically and Environmentally Optimal
- Tom Casten and Robert Ayres show how far off we are, illustrating the efficiencies gotten with waste-energy recycling / cogeneration ... that are strongly inhibited by regulatory issues and market distortions, compared with places like Denmark or The Netherlands, etc.See Casten's website: http://www.recycled-energy.com/index.html

9. Energy Efficiency Improvements have Already Reached Their Potential
- Amory Lovins shows why not, why "negawatts" are really cost-effective, and whynuclear plants don't seem very cost-effective compared to other options.I especially liked his description of his Rocky Mountain house that lacks a conventional heating system, but whose design cuts heat losses to within 1% of various free heat gains."The last 1% can come from a 50-watt dog, adjustable to 100W by throwing a ball..."

10. Energy Efficiency Measures are Unreliable, Unpredictable, and Unenforceable

11. Energy R&D Investment Takes Decades to Reach the Market

12. Climate Policy will Bankrupt the US Economy
- California is pretty aggressive on this, because we have to be, as all the impacts of global warming will cost us money.Nevertheless, California is hardly poor, and we expect that reworking our infrastructure for energy efficiency, and heading towards minimal use of fossil fuels as early as we can, will only make us more competitive in the face of increasing oil costs.

13. Developing Countries are Not Doing Their Part in Responding to Concerns about Climate Change

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This is a very useful book.I expect to study many chapters in further depth and chase down references.

... Read more

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The oceans, and the challenges they face, are so vast that it-s easy to feel powerless to protect them. 50 Simple Ways to Save the Ocean, written by veteran environmental journalist David Helvarg, focuses on practical, easily-implemented actions everyone can take to protect and conserve this vital resource. Well-researched, personal, and sometimes whimsical, the book addresses daily choices that affect the ocean's health: what fish should and should not be eaten; how and where to vacation; storm drains and driveway run-off; protecting local water tables; proper diving, surfing, and tidepool etiquette; and supporting local marine education. Helvarg also looks at what can be done to stir the waters of seemingly daunting issues such as toxic pollutant runoff; protecting wetlands and sanctuaries; keeping oil rigs off shore; saving reef environments; and replenishing fish reserves. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

50 reasons people need editors when writing a book
As someone who spent community service hours educating children on the environment and monitoring the actual effects on rivers by commercial industries, I'm insulted.

What idiot can't tell nitrogen for nitrites?Nitrogen HELPS soil and is 80% of our air.NITRITES cause anaerobic red algae blooms.

Is the cause farming? No, it's not processing farm runnoff.Which, by the way, organic farming crates more of.

The books recommends more never-thought-through stuff like having a wedding at a beach (beach wedding are monitored and cleaned up professionally or it is illegal to have a wedding and all that trash, depending on the beach.The beaches that are worse off due to trash, by the way, are the ones where it's illegal) to donating to charities without recommending researching where your money actually goes, to complaining to the manager if you see endangered species on the menu of a restaurant (this is an almost entirely made up myth; managers know where their food comes from, so if they serve endangered species, that's a job for the police), to boycotting tortoise shell products (another job for the police).

This book depends on the gimmick of saving the environment, uses bad logic, offers nothing but guilt trips and ideas too silly for a Captain Planet episode.

Research a good charity or organization that really gets things done and gets their own homework right too.Even if you don't give, they'll answer your questions on how you can still help the environment, now matter where you live.

Many ideas for protecting the world's oceans and the creatures therein...
I picked up a copy of this book at the 2007 Hawai'i Conservation Conference, where author David Helvarg was a keynote speaker.Helvarg is president of the Blue Frontier Campaign, an ocean advocacy group.

50 Ways to Save the Ocean is a book with a mission.That mission is to convince the reader that:

1.The oceans are in trouble and need your help.

2.There are things each person can do to assist in the conservation of our oceanic resources, even if you live in Kansas.

Most of the ideas are good, and I appreciate that Helvarg went beyond the "donate money to..." strategies that most Americans get in their weekly mail solicitations (although he encourages you to donate money to a variety of causes and organizations).He promotes activism:volunteering, writing, and lobbying.He notes the power of consumerism in affecting how the ocean's resources are exploited ("follow the money").

I found that I do about 3/4 of the actions he recommends.The question is, how does this information get into the hands of those who are not already involved in ocean protection issues?

An Inconvenient Truth
If you saw An Inconvenient Truth and are wondering what you and your family can do about global warming, take a look at 50 Ways to Save the Ocean. It will help you through the thicket with lots of practical and yes, simple, ways each of us can participate in saving our planet.

An informed introduction to the innovative ways anyone can use to help preserve Earth's oceans and aquatic-life
Fifty Ways To Save The Ocean by environmental activist David Helvarg (founder of Blue Frontier) is an informed introduction to the innovative ways anyone can use to help preserve Earth's oceans and aquatic-life. Expertly guiding readers through diverse ways to effectively contribute to bettering the condition the great oceans, Fifty Ways To Save The Ocean provides a keen understanding of which fish should not be eaten and which species are endangered or could impact adversely human health; how to save energy and how that might help out the seas; proper diving, surfing, and tide pool equipment; support for local marine education; and keeping an ocean-friendly aquarium. Fifty Ways To Save The Ocean is enthusiastically recommended reading, especially for environmentalists hoping to do their part in contributing to the best health of Mother Earth's oceanic environments.

Great Family Book!
This is an excellent book to help teach your family about caring for our oceans!The ideas and illustrations are fantastic to read with kids.Almost all of the suggestions can be accomplished as a family, too.Going to the beach, going on a whale-watching trip, visiting tide pools, eating healthy and sustainable seafood, etc., are all great family activities!This book makes it easy to get your whole family together and interested in saving our oceans.Also really helpful in giving extra meaning to family activities, as everything can be prefaced with an interesting suggestion from this book.It will certainly also improve your kids' self-esteem, knowing they are helping the environment.On top of that, it is a great read! ... Read more

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Workers everywhere feel the tug-of-war between work and home: Do they go to a child's game or stay late to finish up a spreadsheet? How should they respond when a boss wants to talk about a new project just as they're leaving home to attend a religious service? How do they justify an unexpected, weeklong business trip to a spouse? Managers struggle as well. How much on time should they expect from their employees? How can they allocate work properly when many employees serve as irreplaceable caregivers to children and elderly parents? Should organizational needs prevail over family come crunch time? Welcome to the world of work in the twenty-first century, where 24/7 work obligations and always-on electronic tools ensure that work and family conflict on a daily basis. Michele Paludi and Presha Neidermeyer offer solutions by bringing together leading thinkers on the problem of balancing home and family life. Going far beyond commonplace prescriptions, their new approaches and insights for both individuals and organizations offer hope to those caught in the vise of conflicting expectations.

Work, Life, and Family Imbalance showcases the most current and innovative practices in solving the work-life crisis. These practices will shed new light on the issues and help individuals find a sane, yet productive, approach to balancing work and life. And they will help organizations promote family-friendly policies that benefit both individuals and the organization. Applying insights from the fields of management, ethics, sociology, and law, the authors go beyond traditional approaches to offer fresh thinking and methods for individuals and organizations, as well as groups with special needs: nontraditional families, academic families, and those with care-giving responsibilities. Along the way, Paludi and Neidermeyer dispel common myths and misconceptions regarding work/life balance, and they offer practical strategies for achieving balance from both the individual's and organization's point of view. Most important, the book concludes with a series of templates for developing workplace policies and training programs that promote employee well being and corporate profitability.Managers and business leaders of all stripes will find Work, Life, and Family Imbalance an invaluable aid in creating policies that keep employees and their families happy while not just maintaining but boosting the bottom line. What's more, they'll learn a few things about maintaining a productive balance in their own lives.

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Internet genealogy expert, Nancy Hendrickson, uses a case study to illustrate the genealogy and non-genealogy resources available on the Internet. Using the same five steps, you can learn how to track your ancestors with the skill of an accomplished detective.

Hendrickson is a contributing editor at Family Tree Magazine and the author of Finding Your Roots Online, published by F&W.She researches Hendrickson, Faulkenberry, Snow, Shore, Dimmitt, Dearing, Hatton, and Gregory. ... Read more

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Post-World War II Oregon was a place of optimism and growth, a spectacular natural region from ocean to high desert that seemingly provided opportunity in abundance. With the passing of time, however, Oregon’s citizens—rural and urban—would find themselves entangled in issues that they had little experience in resolving. The same trees that provided income to timber corporations, small mill owners, loggers, and many small towns in Oregon, also provided a dramatic landscape and a home to creatures at risk. The rivers whose harnessing created power for industries that helped sustain Oregon’s growth—and were dumping grounds for municipal and industrial wastes—also provided passageways to spawning grounds for fish, domestic water sources, and recreational space for everyday Oregonians.

The story of Oregon’s accommodation to these divergent interests is a divisive story between those interested in economic growth and perceived stability and citizens concerned with exercising good stewardship towards the state’s natural resources and preserving the state’s livability. In his second volume of Oregon’s environmental history, William Robbins addresses efforts by individuals and groups within and outside the state to resolve these conflicts. Among the people who have had roles in this process, journalists and politicians Richard Neuberger and Tom McCall left substantial legacies and demonstrated the ambiguities inherent in the issues they confronted. ... Read more

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By the end of the millennium, many Americans realized they had made some serious misjudgments in their nation's interactions with the natural world. America's treasured national parks, while remaining immensely popular, were not immune to this damaging phenomenon, and it had become clear that preservation alone would no longer be enough. By this time, repair and restoration were necessary. Can the United States reverse the mistaken policies that severely damaged the crown jewels of its national park system? This thoughtful and hopeful book, in turns analytical and personal, delves into that important question, focusing on several of America's most-loved public institutions. William Lowry, an eminent analyst of U.S. natural resource policy, focuses on four ambitious efforts to reverse environmental damage in America's national parks: the reintroduction of wolves in Yellowstone; reducing the impact of vehicle traffic in Yosemite; restoring fresh water to the Everglades; and, removing structural impairments to river flows in the Grand Canyon. "Repairing Paradise" combines authoritative policy analysis with extensive personal experience on the ground.Lowry has spent time in all four of the parks, personally observing conditions and talking to the most informed decision makers. He deftly combines this field research with solid public policy analysis to paint an instructive portrait of the mission to restore the natural health and glory to some of the world's most wondrous places. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

An effective analysis of the political coalitions behind ecosystem repair

Humans' destruction of the environment is sufficiently pervasive that we have damaged several of our best-loved national parks: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, and the Everglades.The environmental harms inflicted on these special places has been firmly politically entrenched, making change possible.In this book, Lowry examines how to create the political conditions for repairing the damage done over the last century.

Lowry argues that change requires a strong advocacy coalition, which can include interest groups, journalists, researchers, and agency officials.The coalition needs to change how the problem is defined, show that reform is economically beneficial, provide scientific evidence that change will improve the environment, and obtain strong commitments from state and federal agencies.Those conditions aren't really surprising, but they provide a useful analytical hook on which Lowry can hang his story.

The strength of this book is the four stories: wolf reintroduction in Yellowstone, dealing with automobile congestion in Yosemite Valley, restoring natural flows of the Colorado River in Grand Canyon and of the Everglades hydrologic system.Only the first of these has been successful, though Everglades restoration has begun.His analytical framework helps explain these successes and failures.

The book is well-written and would be a welcome addition to the bookshelf of anyone interested in environmental politics and policy.If you're unfamiliar with the cases, he presents the stories well; even if you know them well, his perspective will bring you some new insights into them.

Valuable book for anyone studying environmentalism.
This is a great book, well-written and easy to read and to follow the ideas in it. Lowry has a good way of writing that makes the topics interesting for people with or without familiarity with environmentalism. He also writes a very balanced view of the issues, making sure to give a voice to all sides. It's also clear that a lot of quality research and passion went into the writing of this book.

A must read for those who love America's national parks....
Repairing Paradise: The Restoration of Nature in America's National Parks by William Lowry details why America's national parks are at risk and what it will take to reverse the damage from misguided past policies.William Lowry, one of the country's leading experts on natural resource policy, writes with intense detail but includes personal experiences that make the book not merely factual but entertaining as well.

As Repairing Paradise: The Restoration of Nature in America's National Parks relates, identifying physical problems in the parks is only the start of the restorative process.No positive effort comes about without intensive coalition for change, and there are many reasons why the status quo comes with an inertia that is fiercely hard to break.In the Everglades, for example, any number of physical problems have been identified, funds have been allocated, and yet the grim prospect of "too little, too late" still looms.If the Everglades are to be saved, much still needs to be accomplished.

Dr. Lowry mentions that, "Advocacy coalitions contain not just interest groups but also journalists, researchers, and agency officials who `seek to influence public policy' in a particular domain."Advocacy efforts also must convince the larger public of the need for change.Repairing Paradise: The Restoration of Nature in America's National Parks addresses the changing polices in our national parks and the effort to repair damage from past policies.The book specifically analyzes the reintroduction of wolves at Yellowstone, the attempt to reduce automobile impacts at Yosemite, restoring water to the Everglades, and removing impediments to river flows in the Grand Canyon.

Perhaps the reader of this review has personally enjoyed a trip to the Grand Canyon, Yosemite, Yellowstone or the Everglades.If so, the reader will understand how vital it is that the "crown jewels" of the United States be preserved for all future generations.The issues involved are far more complex than this review can spell out.For anyone who cares about preservation, the urgency of the situation and the importance of reading Repairing Paradise: The Restoration of Nature in America's National Parks cannot be spelled out strongly enough.Start taking action; read this book!

A strong pick that should not be ignored for environmental studies history collections
The natural history of America is important. "Repairing Paradise: The Restoration of Nature in America's National Parks" tells the story of the national park system and America's movement towards conservation. Speaking of the flaws that led to the formation of these systems to the triumphs of the return of the wolves to Yellowstone, undamming the Grand Canyon, and so much more, William R. Lowry paints a comprehensive history of the National Park Movement in America. "Repairing Paradise" is a strong pick that should not be ignored for environmental studies history collections. ... Read more

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Author and pastor Elaine Flake crafts a womanist theology and praxis of preaching to the population most overlooked and overwhelmed in our pews: wounded women—women who are wounded by virtue of their gender and more particularly black women who are also wounded by virtue of their race.

Customer Reviews (2)

Rites of Passage
This is a gift from the Father through His daughter to us. And as such it is to be passed on to other daughters..granddaughters, nieces, friends.
A must read!!!

Brilliant.....Vivid......Honest....
A must read for all Christians, especially females, who are seeking a better understanding of the role of the woman in the church and in the world.The author examines the lives of women in the Bible and allows the reader to see the lessons of their lives and how it connects to ours.The material is fresh, new and insightful.I could not put it down, stayed up all night to finish reading. ... Read more

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Stedman Graham, bestselling author of You Can Make It Happen, teaches that in the 21st century your talent and skills above all else will define your value. In Diversity: Leaders Not Labels, Graham shows you how to break out of the box that keeps you from growing to your full potential, and reveals that success is truly based on results, performance, and excellence.

Diversity is literally changing the face of our nations. Workers of all backgrounds are merging into a global marketplace, while businesses are challenged by a shortage of talent and the need to integrate a wide range of cultures. In this global environment, diversity has become a permanent business characteristic; opportunities will be plentiful for both people and businesses. Graham indicates that we do not have to become a member of anyone else's culture to play a key role, but must maintain and assert our own identities while respecting others' uniqueness in our workforces and communities. He helps us to understand that developing leaders rather than accepting labels is ultimately the best way to preserve culture and create a legacy.

Diversity: Leaders Not Labels studies diversity as no one has before, exploring different cultures and their histories to help you understand that everyone has had challenges and that the transformation process is the same for each of us. Hard work, sacrifice, talent, and self-motivation are the tools you need for the future. By showcasing individuals who have successfully transcended labels to become leaders, Graham helps readers begin to move from their history to carving their own individual pathways to success, based on authenticity as well as the talents and skill they bring to the workforce.

"What is most important is breaking through labels and understanding who you are," says Graham. "Realize that everyone brings uniqueness, talents, and skills that add value to our experiences, work environments, businesses, and communities. When you operate from this perspective, you will emerge in the 21st century as a true leader to yourself, to others, and to society." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

About Time Such a Fabulous Easy to Read Book is Printed
Better than many multicultural classes I was required to take during my college career, Stedman Graham believes an ethnic person should not have to put aside their culture and multicultural experiences in order to better conform to society and to become more successful. In this book, he teaches others how to break free from stereotypical labels in order to most effectively reach their full potential in life and to live a life of tolerance. He shows us that developing leaders rather than accepting labels is the best way to protect a diverse culture. Each chapter discusses a different multicultural group, and includes an excellent historical timeline throughout each chapter outlining a group's hardships and successes, with thought-provoking discussion questions at the end of each chapter. I recommend this book for use in the college and high school classrooms, in small and large corporations as discussions about race and equality between workers and for families of all variations. For more info and to pre-register, contact Ed Ranta at ed.ranta @ phoenix dot edu.

interesting read...
This book was a required text for a class of mine in the library/information science profession.It reads sort of like a motivational piece that highlights the importance of skills talent over "labels" in the 21st century.It's written by Stedman Graham, a close associate of Oprah Winfrey.For those interested in such topics, this a decent find.It could be used as a supplement to other works available.

Pass This Around!
Stedman Graham asks, "What do you do with your twenty-four hours?" I say give this book to everybody you know.

Mr Graham is very well grounded in his thinking and gives a fundamental and practical guideline for not only business people, but for all of us who believe that we can change the world one thought, one person at a time. This should be required reading from high school on into college.

Stedman is a true thought leader
Stedman Graham is a master of leadership. His work on diversity is rich with insight.His concept of leaders not labels is brilliantly relevant to not only the US culture but eqally critical to optimize the benefits of this new "flat world" global economy. The richness of our differences is one of the keys to our competiveness and innovation both as organizations and individuals.This is a book every one should read if they want to improve thier quality of life and influence.Buy it, read it and live it. ... Read more

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Adam J Banks is Brilliant
This book was extremely helpful for the work I was doing on my Masters Thesis, looking at how systemic whiteness is performed in cyberspace.

In the introduction, he starts by quoting Kali Tal's article, "The Unbearable Whiteness of Being: African American Critical Theory and Cyberculture." from Wired Magazine, Oct 1996. He quotes Tal:

"In cyberspace, it is finally possible to completely and utterly disappear people of color. I have long suspected that the much vaunted 'freedom' the shed the 'limiting' markers of race and gender on the Inernet is illusory, and that in fact it masks a more disturbing phenomenon-- the whitenizing of cyberspace..."

Banks then tells the reader the goal of his book:

"This project is an attempt to chart some ways African Americans have struggled to make real difference in a nation whose existence depends on rigorous commitments to technological advancement and exclusions based on race. African American rhetoric as read through a technological lens allows a thorough documentation of that struggle, and ways it can contribute to broader digital and rhetorical theory. It can also help us all-- leaders, activists, scholars, and lay persons involved in dismantling the system supports for racism-- reconfigure a sense of what that collective struggle might mean and how it can be taken up at such a difficult time in American history." (page 2)

On page 3 he continues with

"My understanding of African American rhetoric acknowledges and builds on the focus of the power of the spoken word and Black orators, but also attempts to open it up to all of the means employed throughout Black history-- to value the uses to which rhetors have employed design, visual communication, electronic communication, and performance that are often appreciated by dealt with only tangentially."

If you're looking for a brilliant, coherent and well written book that brings technology, critical race theory, and african american rhetoric to the table, Banks' book is the one. ... Read more

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A top leadership theorist offers a compelling proposalfor renovating the way religious education is practiced today.

Christian colleges and seminaries have not been immune from thecultural influences shaping contemporary education. Challenging theconventional wisdom advanced by the educational debate during the lastfifteen years, Robert Banks here builds an innovative new model oftheological education based on how ministry formation took place inbiblical times. Banks takes full account of key issues raised by ourcurrent educational context and shows how a "missional model" ofeducation is more holistic, inclusive, and practical than recentversions. ... Read more

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Missional paradigms for theological education
Robert Banks, Reenvisioning Theological Education: Exploring a Missional Alternative to Current Models (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1999)

Banks, one of Australia's foremost theologians and most progressive theological educators, applies missional thinking to models for theological education. He revisits biblical models of ministry and character formation, overviews ongoing discussions amongst theological educators over the last three decades, and draws on his experience of teaching in seminary, university and marketplace contexts. Dissatisfied with abstract learning, the clerical paradigm and learning too much too soon, he argues for a thoroughgoing overhaul of training that is more field-based, life-encompassing and inclusive of all of God's people. He offers practical suggestions for interdisciplinary subjects, celebrating the arts and popular culture, centering on ministry practice rather than classrooms, having internships at the centre not the end of courses, and involving lecturers in grassroots ministry and students as co-workers with their teachers, offering interdisciplinary subjects, and celebrating the arts and popular culture. Some missional churches and networks and some colleges are developing new paradigms for training, and this book offers a helpful framework for combining learning in community, character development, spiritual formation and action-refection.

Originally reviewed for D Cronshaw "The Emerging Church: Pioneering Leadership and Innovation Reading Guide", Zadok Paper (Forthcoming 2010).

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Many blacks in the workplace face a set of dynamics unique to being African American in a traditionally white, male-dominated world. In this landmark book, authors Ancella Livers and Keith Caver— co-facilitators of the Center for Creative Leadership's African-American Leadership Program for the past five years— explain how the leadership experience for blacks is radically different from the experiences of their white colleagues. These differences, of which most white managers are unaware, can lead to miscues and distortions in communication and ultimately get in the way of effective performance and optimal productivity for organizations. In Leading in Black and White, the authors not only clearly explain how things go wrong, they also provide sensible solutions for both the white manager and the black manager on how to make them right. ... Read more

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Unlocking the Value of Your Potential
In corporate America, it is important to recognize that difference "really does matter".Assuming that all leaders experience the same challenge in the workplace situates blacks on unequal footing; say Ancella Livers co-author of the book Leading in Black and White and author of Harvard Business Review "Dear White Boss".Moreover, she is right.Leading in Black and White examines the workplace dynamics often faced by the African American leader and illuminates the experience using real examples and techniques professionals can use to navigate the corporate forest. The examples are ones you will recognize if you are an African American leader. The concept of "miasma" is introduced early in the book setting the foundation for frank discussion and candor on the topics of development needs, career strategies, personal and professional development.I was challenged by this book to understand my environment--how well did (or do) I read the organization; understand self--how self-aware was I and, to understand my abilities and competencies in my current role.It also provided me with an opportunity to openly put forth a question to my organization: how well do they understand the African American leader.The book equipped me with specific strategies in the areas of education, relationship building, trust and coping skills.It also provides tools for non-blacks.It challenged them to look deeply into their actions and responsibilities in perpetuating attitudes, behaviors, and methods that benefit their own group while "quietly disempowering" others.This is necessary read for leaders: black and white. ... Read more

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More people need to know about it
This book takes a great look at how sportsmen's efforts have really shaped our enviroment.These people work behind the scenes making a real deifference and this book goes a long way in exposing these efforts for the whole world to know.Help spread the word and give the book to a friend. ... Read more

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NOT A DESCRIPTION TO ADD--BUT A REQUEST

You added the description I sent at the beginning of the week, but you have to click on additional reviews to find it.PLEASE could you put the description on the opening page for the book -- like it is for other books.Thankyou ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

This story happens every day
I have only read part of the book, which is thorough if sometimes overcrowded with detail. The story will be shocking only if you aren't from coal country. Here the devastation of the land is constant and ongoing. The struggles of citizens vs. industry and politicians alike are constant too, and the wins few.

Mountain Top Removal Is Wrong
"Moving Mountains" is a stirring, reality story and facts of the corporate greed of the "Big Shots" who control the mining industry. Penny Loeb is investigative journalist who spent nine years following this story.

The community of Pie suffered environmental devastation to their homes, property, wells dried up, foundations cracked, residents dealing with respiratory illnesses, and the removal of mountain tops.

Patricia Bragg led the battle and pursued law suits against the coal companies. Bragg v. Robertson is the suit that made national news, and became one of the state's largestshut down of the mines.

Mountain Top Removal is wrong. It is wrong for the people who live there,the environment, and the destruction that is left behind untouched for generations. Once the mountains are destroyed, you can never replace them. God commanded us to take care of the world we live in.

This book is a an eye opener and you must read it. This book is used as one of our text books for an Appalachian Studies class led by Dr. Harvard Ayers.

Hard to believe this horror story is non-fiction
Time and again when reading Moving Mountains, I found myself exclaiming, "They can't do that!" The "they" in this case being either the state regulators and politicians that we like to assume are acting in our best interests, or the 300-pound gorilla in West Virginia, King Coal.

By the end of this epic living history, you find yourself wondering if it was really written in the United States, with our cherished principles of rule of law and every man equal, or if Penny Loeb wandered into a Third World country and forgot to tell us. But no - it's all true. Until you see the complete evisceration of the land that is mountaintop removal mining, or see and hear firsthand the wanton abuses of King Coal on the land and the people, it's hard to believe that some of the things in this book actually happened.

But they did (and still are). Loeb relates them in vivid and most excruciating detail, by telling the stories of a small handful of West Virginians who had finally had enough of King Coal's daily abuses, affronts to their dignity and assaults on their health, homes and families. If she has a fault, it is that she tries to be too fair to all sides, which dilutes the power of the opposing viewpoints; and her drive to be all-inclusive of all the individuals and groups involved in the fight against King Coal and for social justice of necessity leaves out or minimizes the roles of some key players (the Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition is a good example of the latter).

Moving Mountains is both a gripping, deeply person narrative about the underdog going up against the corporate behemoth, and a cautionary tale about what our nation's insatiable hunger for energy is doing to one state, West Virginia, which truly is becoming America's Energy Sacrifice Zone.

MOVED
MOVING MOUNTAINS IS A SMART ENCOUNTER WITH THE TRUTH...AND THE TRUTH HURTS.I WAS AMAZED BY 2 ACTS OF PERSEVERANCE AROUND THIS BOOK.THE FIRST BEING TRISH BRAGG AND HER PERSONAL DRILLING DOWN TO THE CORE OF WHAT SAVES A COMMUNITY AND ITS PEOPLE AND SECOND, OF THE AUTHOR, PENNY LOEB, AND HER DRIVE TO STAY WITH A STORY IN THE SMALLEST OF TOWNS WHERE YOU HAD TO WONDER IF ANYONE WOULD REALLY CARE.I DID, JOE LOVETT DID AND TRISH GAVE ME A GREATER APPRECIATION OF THE POWER OF ONE, THE POWER OF A FEW AND THE THE AMERICAN WAY...FIGHTING FOR WHAT IS RIGHT AGAINST THE ODDS.I AM SURE THERE IS A METAPHOR IN SAVING THE COMMUNITIES WELL WATER...I AM JUST GLAD THE TOWNSPEOPLESTILL HAVE WATER TO DRINK.THATS A LESSON FOR US ALL.

AMAZING!
The title says it all... "MOVING MOUNTAINS"!It is one thing to be there and share the experience, but it is another to be able to write about it.This is such a wonderful book...the author paints such a vivid picture!I was actually able to capture the heart-felt emotion and put myself within it as though I were there. It is so true when we say that there is strength in numbers, but it was the faith, prayers, and courage of Trish and her community that brought forth justice.I would love to see a movie develop from all of this... it would be a BEST SELLER!If you love to read a book of great quality, buy this one... I promise you wonn't be disappointed.Keep up the good work Penny!!! ... Read more