Product Description
This innovative new text uses a distinctive combination of words, illustrations and photographs to convey information about environmental science in a dynamic way. Relying heavily on art, photographs and videos, this book is especially designed for visual learners. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (11)

abused book
This book came to me in poor condition, with pages torn and missing and the cd nowhere to be found. I had to tear out or tape in hanging pages and reshape the book by weighting it down with heavy objects for a couple days.

Very happy
I received this product within just a couple of days and it was in excellent condition. It was actually brand new!! I would deal with this person again!!!

Helped a lot with online school
This book helped me a lot ofter enrolling in U of P and there is no way I would have done as well as I did if I had to read the whole book online too. Aced the final with flying colors!

FAST SHIPPING
I was amazed on how fast they expedited and sent my order. I will definitely be using them in the future.

Visualizing Environmental Science
This text was very well organized and had awesome pictures. Very easy to read and continues to serve as a reference text in my other classes. ... Read more

Product Description
This Thirteenth Edition of TAKING SIDES: ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES presents two additional current controversial issues in a debate-style format designed to stimulate student interest and develop critical thinking skills. Each issue is thoughtfully framed with an issue summary, an issue introduction, and a postscript. An instructor’s manual with testing material is available for each volume. USING TAKING SIDES IN THE CLASSROOM is also an excellent instructor resource with practical suggestions on incorporating this effective approach in the classroom. Each TAKING SIDES reader features an annotated listing of selected World Wide Web sites and is supported by our student website, www.mhcls.com/online. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Purchase Review
The seller was great.I received my order in a very timely manner.The book was in pristine condition, not even a crease or wrinkle.I highly recommend this seller.

Environmental Issues: Taking Sides - Clashing Views on Environmental Issues
I used this book for a recent class as it was required reading.The book was informative and was the basis for much of the research for my final paper.

Taking Sides
The book absolutely delves into the rights and wrongs, goods and bads, of global warming and environmental catastrophes.It gives the reader a chance to see two different points of view on each environmental issue current in the world today.

great
Everything was good, didnt take more then a week to recieve my package and it was all in great condition.Saved alot of money compared to school bookstores. ... Read more

Product Description
Growing recognition of the complexity of animals' physical, social, and psychological lives in the wild has led both zookeepers and the zoo-going public to call for higher environmental standards for animals in captivity.

Bringing together the work of animal behaviorists, zoo biologists, and psychologists, Second Nature explores a range of innovative strategies for environmental enrichment in laboratories and marine parks, as well as in zoos. From artificial fleeing-prey devices for leopards to irregular feeding schedules for whales, the practices discussed have resulted in healthier, more relaxed animals that can breed more easily and can exert some control over their environments.Moving beyond the usual studies of primates to consider the requirements of animals as diverse as reptiles, amphibians, marine mammals, small cats, hooved grazers, and bears, contributors argue that whether an animal forages in the wild or plays computer games in captivity, the satisfaction its activity provides—rather than the activity itself—determines the animal's level of physical and psychological well-being.

Second Nature also discusses the ways in which environmental enrichment can help zoo-bred animals develop the stamina and adaptability for survival in the wild, and how it can produce healthier lab animals that yield more valid test results. Providing a theoretical framework for the science of environmental enrichment in a variety of settings, the book renews and extends a humane approach to the keeping and conservation of animals. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

The best book of environmental enrichment
This book is a masterpiece, cause the articles inside showed us in Brazil what we can do to promote welfare to our zoo animals. All chapters are essentials for any biologist that works with ex-situ conservation. I recommend this book.

Useful book for vets.
This is an extraordinary book, very useful and easy to read. Every zoo should have one.

Excellent book, a must have for zoologists
I am a zookeeper in an accredited zoological institution and this book is a must read as we care for captive animals. A comprehensive enrichment program is critical for wild animals in captive environments as these programs provide the animals with choices, complexities, and change. The guiding principle for enrichment is based on the animal's natural history. This book very appropriately emphasizes the requirement of enrichment for the animal's well being. Read this book and it will give you hope.

Excellent book!
This is my must have book (bible) for my research on environmental enrichment.If you work with animals in a captive situation, you need to read this book.The book also deals with stereotypy.A lot of excellent information on enrichment and its implications for captive animals.If you are at all interested in environmental enrichment or currently implement an enrichment program for your animals, do yourself a favor and read this book.

A nice surprise
I bought "Ethics on the Ark" at the same time as this book, and was disappointed with that book.This book, however, was a very nice surprise.I felt it gave a unbiased view of captive animal enrichment, and the ethics behind keeping animals in captivity.I appreciated the completeness of this book, starting from a historical perspective, straight through to modern reasoning.I would say this is a must have for anyone working with animals in a captive environment. ... Read more

Product Description
For courses in Environmental Sociology and Environmental Issues, taught in departments of Sociology, Environmental Studies, Anthropology, Political Science, and Human Geography. This integrative book about human-environment relations connects many issues about human societies, ecological systems, and environments with data and perspectives from different fields of study. While the viewpoint is primarily sociological, coverage is specifically designed to relate to a diverse audience and encompass viewpoints from a variety of natural and social science approaches. ... Read more

Product Description

Provides readers with an introduction to geology with a focus on real-world applications.Case histories in nearly every chapter help emphasize the relationship between geology and engineering. Has a solid background in the basics of geology including mineralogy, igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks, structural geology and plate tectonics, weathering and erosion, rivers, coastlines, and glaciers. New material covers geologic resources, geologic hazards, and environmental challenges in the current century. A new overview covers the implications of population growth, the use and depletion of energy and water resources, the employment opportunities for geologists, potential effects of climate change.A useful reference for anyone in the fields of civil engineering or environmental/earth science.

Product Description

Product Description
This book describes the physical microenvironment of living organisms. It presents a simplified discussion of heat and mass transfer models and applies them to exchange processes between organisms and their surroundings. Emphasis is placed on teaching the student how to calculate actual transfer rates, rather than just studying the principles involved. Numerous examples are provided to illustrate many of the principles, and problems are included at the end of each chapter to help the student develop skills in using the equations and to gain an understanding of modern environmental biophysics. The book is an engineering approach to environmental biology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

An excellent introductory text or quick reference
Campbell's text is a classic. It stands up as well today as when it was first published. The book provides a thoughtful and clear introduction to biophysics and its many practical applications. While this book may not have the depth of information on specific topics as some others, it provides a thorough foundation for those interested in the field and is an the perfect springboard to more advanced text. It is also and excellent quick reference for those who study land-atmosphere processes on a daily basis. It is replete with the equations and tables of physical parameters that are commonly used and give clear instructions on their proper application. I would strongly recommend this book as a classic in the field.

A dense book for a complex topic
Campbell is thorough in his approach to biophysical analysis of multiple environmental scenarios.As a text book, it is fairly dense and provides hints on how to solve specific problems throughout the text.However, finding those hints is sometimes fairly tricky.The equations presented are the latest version of the equations, but some may produce skewed answers in extreme condtions.Living in interior Alaska, some of Campbell's formulas and tables just don't cut it for winter and high-latitude conditions.All in all a solid book though, despite it's initial density and sometimes insufficient clarity.

excellent and unique update in the subject
This text is an excellent companion for anybody dealing with transfers of energy and water in the biosphere, particularly at the plant-canopy level. Badly needed since the only comparable textbook is Monteith & Unsworth- a little outdated and more physically based than this one, which is morebio-oriented and includes current remote sensing use. Excellent reference,and well organized course textbook. There are some mistakes but I know of asecond edition appearing this year which will correct them. ... Read more

Product Description
Drawing on 20 years of experience, Sam Ham presents an unusually diverse collection of low-cost communication techniques that really work. Aside from its step-by-step, 'how-to' approach, the book is set apart by its solid theoretical foundation. Readers learn not only how to communicate their ideas more forcefully, but why the methods work.

More than 200 illustrations, photos, and technical insets provide simple instructions for designing and implementing effective education programs in forests, parks, protected areas, zoos, botanical gardens, extension and community programs, & in all kinds of agriculture & natural resource management programs.

Some 20 case studies, carefully selected from throughout the Western Hemisphere, stimulate the imagination & show how others have successfully applied what this book is about-environmental interpretation. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Good book
This is a pretty good book, but if I had to have only one on hand for interpretation this would not be it. I appreciated a lot of the information-especially the case studies of what other people have done, but the slide shows info. and making interp. signs seemed outdated or unrealistic.


Conductiong Meaningful Interpretation was/is a much better book in my opinion, but this is an interesting read.

A 'Must Have' for Interpreters
This fun-to-read, chock-full of useful ideas book should be in any Interpreter's library.In fact, if I could only buy one book for my interpretive library, this would be it.Several rangers I know (inc. myself) refer to this book as 'the Bible'.This was the book I chose for the required textbook for the Interpretive training course for docents at the Desert Botanical Garden. The chapters are concise and full of examples of interpretive theory IN ACTION.Lots of whimsical pictures to illustrate main points-- but don't think just because it has pictures that it is full of fluff.It's a reference book you will pick up again and again to review interpretive techniques.Definitely a 'how-to', hands-on book. ... Read more

Product Description
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE will inspire and equip you to make a difference for the world. Featuring sustainability as their central theme, authors Tyler Miller and Scott Spoolman emphasize natural capital, natural capital degradation, solutions, trade-offs, and the importance of individuals. As a result, you will learn how nature works, how you interact with it, and how people have sustained?and can continue to sustain?our relationship with the earth by applying nature's lessons to economies and individual lifestyles. Engaging features like "Core Case Studies," "How Would You Vote" questions, and "Thinking About" exercises demonstrate the relevance of issues and encourage critical thinking. This edition has been updated with new learning tools, the latest content, and an enhanced art program. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Its what i needed
The book was in good condition just like the seller said. And the price was just right. And the best part was it was on time getting to me. So im happy with the order.

env. sci. txtbook
although this book wasn't used much in my class it was very useful as supplemental reading. there is lots of info, easy to understand. the authors make this relative to the modern person's life ... Read more

Product Description
The text is written for both Civil and Environmental Engineering students enrolled in Wastewater Engineering courses, and for Chemical Engineering students enrolled in Unit Processes or Transport Phenomena courses.It is oriented toward engineering design based on fundamentals.The presentation allows the instructor to select chapters or parts of chapters in any sequence desired. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Lacks Explanations for Many Problems, Lots of Typoes and Incorrect Information
This is possibly one of the worst texts I have ever used. Many of the example problems contain typos or diagrams that do not match the given problem. Numbers are often pulled out of thin air without explanation. Many of the "answers" in the back of the text are incorrect. Some chapter problems cover material not covered in the chapters. Additionally, the solutions provided by the publisher are often incorrect. This textbook needs a significant overhaul before it can be considered appropriate for use in undergraduate or graduate programs!!

Great Condition FAST delivery
Great project needed the book for a project and ordered thursday afternoon and received on friday (with a little extra fee for shipping of course)

Excellent book
This book is a must for those who want to get involved in water treatment.

Unit Operations and Processes in Environmental Engineering
Good and well organized book for a graduate class in environmental/sanitary engineering.Unlike the traditionally used book, it is organized for easy reference and study.It includes most of the unitprocesses to consider in the desing of wastewater and water treatmentplants.I wish it would expand a litte more in the water part. Thewastewater is covered very well. It is a good book to keep as a reference.Answer to key problems are provided for easiness of verification ofprocess. Couple of formulas are outdated in the air transfer chapter, notmajor problem. ... Read more

Product Description
Bell et al’s Environmental Psychology is considered to be the most authoritative textbook available for this course. It is the only environmental psychology book to appear in five editions.  It is noted for its focus on the application of science and theory to the solution of problems involving natural and altered environments. The book reviews the application of practical solutions to everyday environmental problems. The authors integrate theory, research, and application using their unifying, eclectic model to demonstrate human-environment interaction. The book reviews how we are a product of our environment, our biology, and the interaction of the two. It discusses how our physical environment such as noise and weather impact us. It also reviews how we can modify our environment through design principles such as aesthetics, and how we modify our environment when we disregard the impact other people and/or elements have on our ecological system. Each chapter addresses both micro and macro- environmental influences, including the short- and long-term effects of both.
 
The opening chapter provides a historical context and introduces the reader to the research methods central to the discipline. The next 4 chapters introduce environmental attitudes, values, and ethics and the principles that apply to environmental assessment; models of perception & cognition, including how we process and store environmental information; and the major theories of human-environment interaction.  The next 6 chapters explore a variety of environmental influences such as noise, climate, natural disasters (including the effects of pollution), crowding, and city life, and how they impact us. The next 2 chapters examine how environmental psychology principles can be applied to residences, institutional settings (i.e.schools) and work and leisure environments. The book concludes with a chapter on how we can change behavior that harms the environment. The book is intended as a text for courses on environmental psychology, environment and behavior, social ecology, architectural psychology, ecological psychology or environmental design or studies, taught in departments of psychology, sociology, environmental science, and biology. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Thank you
My textbook arrived quickly and in the condition described by the seller.Great transaction!

Take Care With This Edition
I am deeply disappointed with the very bad graphic quality of this edition. It is a xerox edition; it is so poor that you cannot satisfactorily visualize the pictures. I really think that the authors do not know what the publishers did with that important oeuvre. It is a shame, no matter the price went down and down. Take care with this edition. It reflects the decadence of environmental psychology ?

An excellent resource for introductory environmental psych..
This is an introductory book on `Environmental Psychology'.... which features more than a normal person can imagine ..... it is NOT a book related to common sociological issues on global warming, nuclear waste disposal, environmental strikes and demonstration etc...., This book is related to psychology and features on content related to the environment and the behaviour of people. It is explained in psychological perspectives and is suitable for readers with a basic depth in understanding terminology related to psychology. There are theories on relationship between environmental and behaviour, environmental perception (such as Gestalt psych etc.,) Additionally descriptions on extraneous factors of noise, temperature, barometric pressure and attitude, wind, heat and cold, physical built structures (clusters etc.,), on behaviour.

Furthermore, there are chapters on disasters, Toxic Hazards and pollutions, and most interesting of all, the concepts of personal space and territorial behaviour, high density and crowding .....the effects of life in urban city in contrast to rural outback areas....theories on Architecture, Design and Engineering for Human Behaviour. Additionally topics on `design in residential and institutional environments', `work, learning and leisure environments', and the psychology perspective to changing people's behaviour towards saving the environment etc.,,

This book is worth every penny of it.....it is worth keeping it as a resource material ! ... Read more

Product Description
How can you use philosophical to make progress toward solving environmental problems? ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS: AN INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL PHILOSOPHY introduces you to ethical theory in new and easily understood ways. But most of all, this environmental ethics textbook shows you how we can work together to build a better future. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Absolute Gibberish!
I had to buy this 4th edition book for an environmental ethics class. I find the author's attempt to make the book long enough to be qualified as a text book down right PATHETIC. He adds way too many "big" words and unnecessary sentances. I'm sure he has some good points.But his endless babble will completely throw you off the trial, it's not worth the effort.It is a very difficult to read book, and even my professor admited that each chapter has to be read about 4 times to actually understand that point.Why my professor still uses this book is beyond me.By the way, this book is rediculously priced.I have to take this class for my environmental sustainability degree, but if that were't the case, you couldn't pay me $70 to read it. THIS BOOK IS A WASTE OF TIME.

Interesting topics, very thought provoking
I purchased this book for an environmental ethics class, and found it to be very interesting!The many changes in our environment are truly thought-provoking, and to look at them through the eyes of an ethicist was enjoyable.The reading is compelling, and good fodder for many interesting dinner table conversations.

Environmental Ethics: An Introduction to Environmental Philosophy
Book arrived in great shape and in a very timely fashion

Well written outlines of major ideas
This review is based on the 2nd edition. This book presents a good introduction to the major ideas of ethical thinking about the environment. He presents ideas on how rights might be derived as a gradation from purely human interest, rights based on whether animals suffer, and nature with its own right.Throughout the book questions of individual versus community rights are discussed. Each chapter starts with a short essay that highlights some of the complexities; for example whether Mountain Goats should be introduced or eliminated in Olympic National Park. Each chapter is concluded with discussion questions that also help the reader grapple with the issues.

He presents many of the major ideas and criticisms of animal rights, energy use, the land ethic, deep ecology, and ecofeminism.Particularly in the areas of deep ecology he presents the diversity of views. Perhaps he is weak in presenting third world views and the impact that "Deep ecology" might have on poor and agrarian populations. He is lacking discussion of religious based environmental ethics ("Theocentric ethics"). Christian Ecology seeks to develop a stewardship view, and Native American, and Eastern religions center on respect for nature.I think this book works best when read with selections from the authors discussed; for example read some of Leopold's "Sand County Almanac", then read the chapter on "The Land Ethic."

Thinking Deeply about the Environment, and Why it Matters
I read the first edition of this book (1993) and have no doubt that the third edition will surpass its scope and clarity.In a few hundred pages, Joseph Des Jardins unspools the thread of western philosophical tradition and makes it relevant for today's urgent environmental issues.Each chapter begins with a timely case study--salmon and economic develoment, nuclear waste and the rights of future generations to a clean environment--then develops the philosophical arguments required to more deeply understand just what is at stake in these and similar issues.Des Jardins' style is easy-going and eminently accessible.He wastes no words, gets to heart of the matter, and leaves the reader wanting more.Footnotes and additional readings lead to original material if the reader wants to delve more thoroughly into the topics.But you can just stop with Des Jardins if you are not a scholar, and still gain a firm grasp on how the big thinkers of western philosophy brought us to a critical divide in our environmental future.Edition One included late-breaking news from the social environmental and eco-feminist fronts, and I am confident the 2000 edition will be just as current. ... Read more

Product Description
The Practice Problems book written to accompany the Environmental Engineering Reference Manual (ENVRM2; ISBN 1-888577-98-3) offers 372 problems (24 of them new) that span the full range of exam topics. Most problems are in the same multiple-choice format as the exam. Solutions are shown in both customary US and SI units.

The problems are organized to coordinate with ENVRM2 chapters. You can either study ENVRM2 first, then reinforce what you have reviewed by solving problems, or you can solve problems first, then refer to topics in ENVRM2 where you find you need extra review. After you've attempted each problem, you can refer to the solution to check your work. Each solution takes you step by step through the process, providing a clear, complete explanation of how to reach the answer most efficiently. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Practice Problems helped!
The practice problems were very helpful in understanding how to take the test.Make sure you take it with you to the exam and make sure you create a TOC to refer to during the exam!

Practice Problems for the Environmental Engineering PE Exam: A Companion to the Environmental Engineering Reference Manual(2nd E
This is an excellent study guide for the PE examination.It's format is aligned with current exam format and covers most of its topics.Strongly recommend this book as one of your examination references and practice tools.

I beg to disagree with the other review, this book was helpful.
I used this book with the Env Eng Ref Manual for the PE and found it very helpful. My only complaint is that it lacks practice problems for the remediation and environmental assessment topics.

[Weak]
Contains exact material from Lindeburg's Practice Problems for the Civil Engineering PE Exam, except it is sold under a the Environmental title. ... Read more

Product Description
"Environmental Psychology for Design" introduces the discipline of environmental psychology in different and more meaningful ways to design students and does it in a way that encourages students to embrace the concepts as well as incorporate them into their daily practices. The book will consider the historical context of human habitation, scientific research on the interaction between environments and human behaviours, as well as individual differences related to age, gender, and cultural background. Through concise discussions of research, philosophical perspectives, and illustrations of design in practice, the author integrates fundamental environmental psychology theories into the applied art of the design fields. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Sara Sandoval
An excellent book and knowledge bank for architects and interior designers. A literary must-have for students and masters of design interested to understand the factors that impact human behavior in the built environment. The gestalt of humane design is a responsibility of all participants of the expressions in space.

has potential but ultimately left me wanting more
This was a required school text which I was very excited to buy, but I found the level of information was more general than I wanted. The author has certainly pooled together great amounts of research in each chapter (eg. children, elderly, commercial space) and admittedly gives plenty of references to delve further into, which I did. As an interior design senior with children and aging parents who has worked in corporate and retail spaces, the information provided seemed more in the common sense arena. Maybe it's just me.

I also found the repetitive nature of the text a little tedious, and the core information could have been compressed considerably. The review sections and then further questions to ponder after each chapter struck me as more high school than senior level, or maybe the book is the culmination of powerpoint slide shows the author delivers in class?

I'm sure readers will find it interesting but in the end I was disappointed at the value added versus book cost. Ouch.

Environmental Psychology for Design
This book is a must for anyone studying architecture and or interior design as well as those practicing professionals who desire an understanding of environmental psychology. It is organized in easy to comprehend chapters by subject. This book is loaded with information that addresses issues design professionals need to consider in their design process. This book is filled with practical ideas and solutions. You will understand how important good design plays on the overall well being of the end user.

No architecture or design curriculum should be without this book as required reading.
... Read more

Product Description
This reader provides over 40 selections of enduring intellectual value--classic articles, book excerpts, and research studies--that have shaped our contemporary understanding of the environment. ... Read more

Product Description
This expanded edition of Environmental Health and Safety Audits brings you up-to-date on changes in EPA and OSHA auditing policies, issues currently confronting auditing programs, and state-of-the-art strategies for managing and conducting audits.The author discusses new developments in information generation and availability, including new chapters on meeting ISO 14000 auditing guidelines, auditing dilemmas, and auditing tips. He also includes new tools for building a successful audit program. Those tools include seven model program stages: EH&S audit program manual, pre-audit questionnaire, pre-audit checklist, EH&S audit opening conference presentation, environmental audit report, EH&S audit appraisal questionnaire, and management report. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Cahill's Environmental Auditing Textbook Review
Overall, it is a very useful textbook offering a generic approach to environmental audits which can easily be expanded to health, safety and security issues. The author(s) does a very thorough job in discussing the activities and protocols involved with the 3 phases of the auditing process: 1. Pre-audit Phase; 2. On-site Audit Phase; and 3. Post-Audit Phase. The textbook utilizes the input from several different authors which results in some duplication of information, but repetition is good in this much changing field.

Needs to be updated and expanded with respect to a few more current issues: Impact of the Sarbanes-Oxley law, current ISO 14001 issues, plus some others. A more detailed chapter on Root-Cause Analysis would be beneficial with more examples. This type of analysis seems to be the most prevalent in deciding upon Corrective Actions and Recommendations needed to mitigate future deficiencies of a similar nature.

An instructor's manual containing some general or specific discussion questions for each chapter would also be helpful. The references contained within each chapter are useful. Placing current "Insights" - articles or case law relevant to the chapter material would also enable the authors to keep current with fewer new chapters in subsequent editions. More sample examples of Audit Instruments (checklists) and detailed suggestions for Corrective Action follow-up would be useful.
This textbook is currently being used at the Master's level assuming little or no pre-requisite knowledge of the auditing process. It is being taught in on-campus and on-line classes.

Bruce Hill, PhD
Risk Management ... Read more

Product Description
This book narrates the mutually mortal historical contest between humans and nature in Latin America. Covering a period that begins with Amerindian civilizations and concludes in the region's present urban agglomerations, the work offers an original synthesis of the current scholarship on Latin America's environmental history and argues that tropical nature played a central role in shaping the region's historical development.Seeing Latin America's environmental past from the perspective of many centuries illustrates that human civilizations, ancient and modern, have been simultaneously more powerful and more vulnerable than previously thought. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Excellent introduction if you're largely ignorant!
This book is excellent.Eminently readable, it moves swiftly but provides impressive depth regarding the topics selected.Those desiring to study in greater depth will be pleased with the lists for further reading, provided in the back.Miller explains the roots of current environmental problems, punctures popular current myths about the ecological past of native peoples, and shows that the survival of civilization has always involved trade-offs, whether in human or environmental terms.Miller is also adept at explaining cultural differences in perception, so that I was easily able to understand the differences.I checked this book out from the library, but I will certainly be buying this for my own shelves.In sum, this is a quick and easy read, but certainly not a light-weight.

an indispensable introduction to the topic
An Environmental History of Latin America is a short, vigorous, engaging introduction to the story of human beings' endeavor, before and after European contact, to survive and thrive in a region that Miller dubs the "Neotropics."Miller ranges widely in time and space, exploring topics as diverse as Mesoamerican farming on chinampas and bicycle commuting in contemporary South America.He is particularly illuminating on the size and complexity of pre-contact Native American civilizations and the puzzling question of how early European explorers overlooked them.The prose is strong and though Miller's tone is occasionally more personal than one expects in an academic work, the effect is engaging, not jarring.All in all, this is a great book, accessible and interesting even to readers who are not experts on Latin America. ... Read more

Product Description
In this expanded and revised edition of a fresh and original case-study textbook on environmental ethics, Christine Gudorf and James Huchingson continue to explore the line that separates the current state of the environment from what it should be in the future. "Boundaries" begins with a lucid overview of the field, highlighting the key developments and theories in the environmental movement. Specific cases offer a rich and diverse range of situations from around the globe, from saving the forests of Java and the use of pesticides in developing countries to restoring degraded ecosystems in Nebraska. With an emphasis on the concrete circumstances of particular localities, the studies continue to focus on the dilemmas and struggles of individuals and communities who face daunting decisions with serious consequences. This second edition features extensive updates and revisions, along with four new cases: one on water privatization, one on governmental efforts to mitigate global climate change, and two on the obstacles that teachers of environmental ethics encounter in the classroom."Boundaries" also includes an appendix for teachers that describes how to use the cases in the classroom. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

An insightful and scholarly read, highly recommended
As the world expands, its natural resources are in more debate than ever. "Boundaries: A Casebook in Environmental Ethics" discusses the current environmental landscape in the eyes of business and the law and how respect for the environment and maintaining its integrity and allowing it to continue to provide for it in the future. But privately owned water, climate change, forests, and more are the topics that will plan the world and its growth in the future. "Boundaries" is an insightful and scholarly read, highly recommended.
... Read more

Product Description
Environmental anthropologists organize the realities of interdependent lands, plants, animals, and human beings; advocate for the neediest among them; and provide understandings that preserve what is needed for the survival of a diverse world. Can the things that anthropologists have learned in their studies of small-scale systems have any relevance for developing policies to address global problems? Townsend explores this dilemma in her captivating, concise exploration of environmental anthropology and its place among the discipline's subfields. Maintaining the structure and clarity of the previous edition, the second edition has been revised throughout to include new research, expanded discussions of climate change, and a chapter devoted to spiritual ecology. In the historical overview of the field, Townsend shows how ideas and approaches developed earlier are relevant to understanding how today's local populations adapt to their physical and biological environments. She next presents a closer look at global environmental issues--rapid expansion of the world economic system, disease and poverty, the loss of biodiversity and its implications for human health--to demonstrate the effects of interactions between local and global communities. As a capstone, she gives thoughtful consideration to how, as professionals and as individuals, we can move toward personal engagement with environmental problems. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

The Best Human Ecology Text for Undergrads
This is in my view the best text for instructors to use in an introductory course in human ecology or ecological anthropology. Just 118 pages, it is easy to read, yet covers the history of the subject all the way from Julian Steward to the influence of Roy Rappaport and his pigs to, most important for the new century, current climate change, globalization, and spiritual ecology. Students will appreciate the $14 price. I promise instructors that this is one of those rare books that will influence students for the rest of their lives. --- Thomas N. Headland, anthropologist, SIL International and University of North Dakota

Introduction to Environmental Anthropology
This book is a short introduction to current topics in environmental anthropology, both at theoretical and practical levels. The author defines environmental anthropology as the use of anthropology's methods and theories that contribute to the understanding of local or global environmental problems. In a more general sense, the author refers to environmental anthropology as the involvement of anthropologists in environmental issues, with a variety of methods, theories, and specialized research interests. Under this umbrella are included the approaches known as ecological anthropology, evolutionary ecology, historical ecology, political ecology, ethnoecology, and others.

This book covers a wide variety of selected topics, including the relationship of the technology used in production to the environment in which it is used, the way how societies respond to changes in their environment and their culture core, the role of religious rituals in the regulation of the ecosystem pressures by local groups, the study of traditional ecological knowledge, the hunting practices of indigenous peoples in the rainforest, the agricultural pressures on the environment in complex societies, the effects of land and water pollution on local populations as a result of mining activities, the assessment of risks associated with natural disasters, the relationship between population growth and environmental degradation, the association between biodiversity, medicinal plants and human health, issues in common property regimes and the increase of forest fires, the analysis of carrying capacity and the growth of environmental movements, among many other topics.

The author also examines in a brief way the ideas of key authors who have made the most important contributions to environmental anthropology, including Fredrik Barth, Harold Conklin, Arturo Escobar, Clifford Geertz, Emilio Moran, Robert Netting, Darrell Posey, Roy Rappaport, Marshall Sahlins, Julian Steward, Eric Wolf, among many other representative authors. The book somehow follows a historical path, covering the period between 1940's until 2000. However, the author frequently includes references from earlier periods and is not limited by the constraints of the particular period at hand when trying to illustrate a topic.

From my perspective, the book is an especially important source of knowledge for students that are not familiar with the issues that are the subject of environmental anthropology, and also for students who have become acquainted with these issues in a fragmentary way. By providing a general overview of the different topics covered in this area of concentration, it opens up and stimulates the reader's desire for further exploration. It provides a general framework to understand the wide array of areas covered in environmental anthropology, ranging from the contributions of classical author's to contemporary global problems.

This book is also a very important source of knowledge for students from different disciplines who wish to understand current environmental problems from an anthropological perspective. An outstanding factor is that it is written in a simple language, without assuming that readers are already familiar with the concepts and ideas common in anthropology. It starts explaining what anthropology is and how it is organized, and where environmental anthropology is located in relation to the anthropological subdisciplines and related areas of concentration. From that point, it moves forward in a smooth way, without creating unnecessary complications for the readers, even when dealing with complex issues like the formula to understand the relationship between population growth and environmental impacts, or the comparison between the carrying capacity of lands under different systems of food production.

An important limiting factor identified in the book is that, considering the introductory nature of its contents, it does not provide adequate orientation for further exploration of the topics, except for the references section. A personal recommendation is that subsequent editions could include this sort of information, including calls to bibliographic sources that cover with more detail the specific topics considered, links to Websites where to obtain more detailed information, and brief descriptions of other introductory books to environmental anthropology, mentioning their general orientations and levels of detail provided.

At a personal level, this book provided me with very useful insights to understand environmental anthropology from a holistic perspective. Through the analysis of the different issues considered, I become familiar with the differences and similarities across topics, creating an enriched perspective on a wide range of environmental problems. Of particular interest for me were the sections related to the relationship between population and the environment, the social impacts of environmental pollution as a result of mining activities, the use of concepts drawn from disciplines like ecology, demography, and biology, integrated in the illustration of the topics considered, among other topics of interest.

The way the author presented the information was also a very important factor for me. The presentation of the topics based on the environmental topics provides not only clear information that facilitates the understanding of environmental problems, but also provides a context for a better understanding with the authors' ideas and methodological insights. This topic-centered approach resulted in a very illustrative way, which I found more useful than chronological versions of different authors, or the theoretical paradigms they are associated with, which are the main orientations in traditional introductory books in anthropology.

Among other limitations identified, one important issue is related to the section about threats to biodiversity. The book includes only half a page on this issue. Considering their relevance for the current practice of environmental anthropology in applied settings, it results clearly insufficient. A personal recommendation is to enlarge this section considerably. Another limitation identified is that some concepts mentioned in the book lack a proper explanation of their meaning, like in the case of cultural core, ecological footprint, recycling, or sustainability, which have different meanings according to the different contexts in which they are employed. The provision of a glossary as an appendix is not very useful if there are not references in the text that call for a review of their meaning at a different part of the book. A recommendation for improvement is to include the references for the definition of controversial terms embedded in the body of the text to facilitate their understanding.

Very Useful
This is a useful book for those planning on getting into Environmental Anthropology (because there are so many of us).Gives a good introduction on what Env. Anth is all about

Very Useful
Very useful if you're planning on getting into Environmental Anthropology (because there are so many of us) to help understand the different areas available to study.Good intro book

A useful book for the general public interested in ecology
I have twice used Townsend's book in a mixed graduate/undergraduate class on cultural ecology and found it quite satisfactory.The style and vocabulary are accessible to anyone with a high school education.The author presents the basic concepts of human and environmental ecology in a brief and comprehensible way. The book could be of use in either a general introductory course, I specialized class like mine, or an area class on the South Pacific.I recommend it highly. ... Read more

Product Description
The third edition of this well-received textbook delivers a concise overview of global and individual environmental pollution for undergraduate courses, presenting students with the tools to assess environmental issues. With more than 30% new material, Hill assesses pollution from an international perspective, including air and water pollution, global warming, energy, solid and hazardous waste, and pollution at home. Both the sources and impacts of pollution are addressed, as well as governmental, corporate, and personal responsibility for pollution, and pollution prevention is emphasized throughout. Non-technical language encourages greater understanding of these often complex issues, and thought-provoking 'Delving Deeper' exercises are included, increasing engagement with the text and enabling students to apply what they have learned. A new chapter on the chemistry basics of pollution links to sections on toxicology and risk assessment, helping students understand concerns over chemicals and their regulation. An essential review of environmental pollution for environmental science students. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Very Helpful
I bought this book as a reference for a college project I did about air pollution. It turned out to be the most valuable resource I had. Hill presents sophisticated information in an easy-to-understand manner. This book also made me realize the huge connection between air pollution and many other issues that the world faces today, and it helped me create a straight-forward list of actions my class mates could take to lower their personal contributions to air pollution. I got an "A" on my project, and I have a much better understanding of how my everyday choices cause air pollution, the consequences of those choices, and what I can do about it.
Furthermore, even though I focused on the sections involving air pollution, this book also has great information on other types of pollution such as water and solid waste. It is a great introduction to the pollution problem and makes a wonderful resource for a project, an environmental science class, or just personal curiosity. ... Read more