Love Canal: The Story Continues

by Lois Marie Gibbs

The young housewife who organized the residents of the Love Canal neighborhood to publicize their plight and protest to state and federal officials updates the struggle to persuade government officials to act

Genres: History, Environment, Nonfiction

240 pages

First published April 1, 1998

Reviews

[Jess · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois Gibbs is not an author. I liked that about this book. It was like talking to a friend, and having her tell me her story.
While it wasn't the greatest book I've ever read, I'm really interested in the subject matter, and that enough is worth 5 stars.

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love that Mrs. Gibbs went against her personal grain to accomplish the task she set. Normally she was quiet and shy but she believed so strongly in the cause that she stood against everyone, including her own nature.

[Anna Engel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ms. Gibbs went to great lengths to protect her family and community, but her efforts were frustrated by political, regulatory, and bureaucratic barricades. It's easy to see how she felt take advantage of, especially when she realized that the various stakeholders - state, federal, homeowners - weren't all working together as a unit, but rather were pursuing different agendas. And the safety of her family and community seemed to barely rank on those agendas.

Other reviewers have comments on the lack of sophistication in her writing. I think it makes the book that much more powerful. That much of the writing is amateur is perfectly appropriate and in line with the style of the book. She's a regular person trying to make her way in a world that doesn't welcome her presence. Also, she learned a lot about environmental contamination and health effects in a very short amount of time. Pretty good for a housewife. She used logic in place of empirical science, but empirical scientists failed her time and again.

Although Ms. Gibbs understanding of causation vs. correlation is somewhat flawed, her instincts were correct. She mistakenly attributed causation of illnesses to chemicals based on proximity and simple exposure (i.e., without taking into account dose or duration). But, again, she was right about the short- and long-term effects of the Love Canal contamination.

I thought this quote was particularly appropriate: "If I've learned anything from this experience, it's that science is not separate from politics, no matter how much the scientists pretend it is."

[Rose Richter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love canal tells a tragically common story by peeling away the facts, science, laws, data, news reports and bureaucracy to expose not only the toxic conditions but also an environmental injustice. Lois Gibbs walks us through a first-hand account of the discovery of the toxins, rallying against those in power, and a victory of relocation of over 900 families. However, many other Love Canals laid dormant in the U.S. at the time this book was published. Families remind silent, unsure what to do and unsure if they could do anything. Lois Gibbs makes it undeniably clear that this could happen to you, the reader. Just as the residents struggled to make visible the health effects of the toxic waste, this book makes visible the problem of dumping and toxic waste on a national scale. By rattling our faith in science, politics, and the system, it pulls at our emotional heartstrings and make this issue personal.

[Victoria Brown · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a book about a normal housewife from Niagra Falls who became a sensation when she challenged her city..state..and country to clean up her town which was built on the Love canal which was a toxic waste dumping site. I was so torn between loving and disliking this book. It started out as an intresting and shocking read then slowly transformed into a slightly boring list of meetings and facts. I guess I was hoping for a more of a personal story with more details of how it personally affected the people of the town..not the governement side of it all. I cant say its not a good book or badly written or voice any specific complaints..its just not was I was hoping for or expecting.

[Mr. Caprow · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lois Gibbs does an exceptional job describing the trials and tribulations of the residents of Love Canal and the fight that they successfully win over New York State and the federal government for relocation due to the contamination. I highly recommend her book. Gibbs' work is inspirational to show the power of the everyday people to stand up for what is right.

[David Little · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very interesting read.

[Susan Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding! Full review coming soon.