The rise of the perfect lawn represents one of the most profound transformations in the history of the American landscape. American Green, Ted Stei...
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reviews
Jul 28, 2011
A gripping page-turner about your lawn? Yes it is possible. Steinberg looks at every facet, from corporate interests to cold war history to color to see why Americans are so obsessed with their lawns when they come at such a price. I learned a lot from his book, such as that fertilizer companies can petty much get away with any pollution they want, that clover is great for the soil because it is a nitrogen producer, and that golf courses make turf specialists live off tums and spite. He arg
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Dec 01, 2009
Steve
rated it: 
Despite clichés about watching grass grow, American Green is riveting and compelling, and much to its credit concludes with concrete ideas about what can and should actually be done to address the problems of turf-mania. Steinberg approaches the subject from a variety of perspectives including chemistry, economics, environmentalism, and cultural history, which makes for both breadth and depth. The one area I would have liked more attention to is the psychological or metaphorical origins and impo
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Sep 06, 2008
Denise
rated it: 
Who knew grass could be so interesting? I picked this book up on a whim from the Staff Picks shelf at the library. It looked quirky, and I like quirky. It gives the history of the American lawn, from its beginnings as a luxury of the wealthy to the democratization of turf for everyone. Yes, I skimmed a few parts because I really don't care about some of the details; for instance, I don't want to know what amounts of which chemicals are in my fertilizer. But I do want to know how they affec
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Mar 22, 2009
Emily
rated it: 
Excellent book! Anyone who owns a yard should read this. Reads quickly with a good mix of story and facts.
Quotes:
It is wrong to draw a sharp line in one's imagination between the "nature" present on the Rocky Mountain front and that available in the suburbanite's own front yard. The natural world found on even the most perfect and stylized of lawns is no less real than that at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Different, yes, but to draw too sharp a distincti More...
Quotes:
It is wrong to draw a sharp line in one's imagination between the "nature" present on the Rocky Mountain front and that available in the suburbanite's own front yard. The natural world found on even the most perfect and stylized of lawns is no less real than that at the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Different, yes, but to draw too sharp a distincti More...
Sep 21, 2011
Matt
rated it:
Steinberg just doesn't like lawns. He uses some pretty outrageous examples in an attempt to paint the lawn care industry as reckless and dangerous. For example, he gives examples of people who improperly used their lawn mowers and lost digits or limbs. Look, some people are stupid. Some people are stupid when it comes to raising their kids; does that mean we should blame their kids for the stupid ways in which they are raised? Lawn mowers can be dangerous if used improperly. If you can't u
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Sep 11, 2009
Juli
rated it:
The suburban lawn tale inside an out...funny and disturbing. I particularly liked the tale of the Wisconsin woman who brandished a butcher knife at town officials who tried to convince her to mow her overgrown lawn (she backed down only after a police officer drew his weapon).
May 26, 2011
Jen
rated it: 
The spine caught my eye while browsing at the library. At first it seemed quirky and informative but then devolved into dry facts and history. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate history. I just think this author and I can agree to disagree on form and format.
Jun 19, 2010
Kristina
rated it:
Pretty interesting - I may never roll around in the grass ever again.
Sep 27, 2007
O
rated it:
Who knew that a book about grass growing could be so interesting!
I got this book on a lark after watching a segment on CBS Sunday morning, because I like non-fiction books about off beat subjects, and this seemed to be one of that type.
But it proved to not be just cut and dried (a grass joke for you)but rather humorous and informative, and easy to read.
I might not purchase it, but I'd get it from the library, for sure!
I got this book on a lark after watching a segment on CBS Sunday morning, because I like non-fiction books about off beat subjects, and this seemed to be one of that type.
But it proved to not be just cut and dried (a grass joke for you)but rather humorous and informative, and easy to read.
I might not purchase it, but I'd get it from the library, for sure!
Jan 21, 2008
Nomi
rated it:
The lawn as a mechanism of social control. The lawn as a death trap full of chemicals leaching into soil and groundwater. Beware of the lawn mower-it maims and kills. Scary stuff. The solution? Embrace a natural garden of native seed. Love the dandelion, or, at least stop trying to murder it.
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