Our Natural History: the Lessons of Lewis and Clark
describes the wilderness of the American West as the two explorers
encountered it during their journey 1804-1806, and compares it to
today’s American West as shaped by industrial civilization. Long
the subject of historians, the famous journals also offer author
Daniel B. Botkin, a leader in conservation biology, a wealth of
ecological data:
“… I was surprised to discover
how rich their notes about nature were. As an example, I discovered
I could make an estimate of the presettlement density and abundance
of grizzly bears simply from the expedition’s encounters with these
fierce animals.”
Botkin teaches the essentials
of landscape and biology in a memorable way, and for sheer effect
this book could well replace a dozen fat texts. The technical
passages are solid, yet never dull or jargon-bound, and the prose
is seasoned with anecdote and essay. His treatment also extends to
the realm of emotions and values:
“Not only is
the classic “balance of nature” a false solution to environmental
problems but it alienates human beings from their surroundings. If
everything we do must be wrong for nature by definition, then we
have no place in nature. A false dualism is set up, one that is
both untrue and psychologically uncomfortable. Nature is never
constant.”
Botkin charts us a clear course: from
healthy, natural curiosity to a developed ecological
wisdom.
A Grosset/Putnam Book, published by G.P.
Putnam’s Sons, 200 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10016. Hard cover:
$25.95. 300 pages.
*C.L.
Rawlins
This article appeared in the print edition of the magazine with the headline Lessons of Lewis and Clark.
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