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Thoreau’s Legacy: American Stories about Global Warming

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Hayes, Richard, ed., Thoreau's American Stories about Global Warming

159 pages, Hardcover

First published June 1, 2009

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Michelle Cacho-Negrete

4 books1 follower

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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
Profile Image for Jimmy.
Author 6 books288 followers
May 6, 2021
Published in 2009 by the Union of Concerned Scientists. As you would expect, things have only gotten worse and show no signs of getting better. Human ignorance knows no bounds.

Here are some samples of the short vignettes in this book:

Marian Wineman talks about how sugar maples are slowly disappearing in New England. They are being tapped as early as January because winters have been warming and spring comes earlier.

Melissa Juchniewicz bemoans the loss of amphibians. Their delicate skin makes them the canaries in the proverbial coal mine. They will die from global warming (and are dying out) before the rest of us do.

Terril L. Shorb discusses how the deserts of Arizona are growing and water is becoming more scarce for wildlife.

Carol Ellis writes about how Glacier National Park will soon no longer have a glacier. It is disappearing.

Craig Quirolo photographed examples of how coral is disappearing.

Kristan Hutchison writes about global warming's effects on the Alaskan tundra.

Mark Hixon laments the disappearing coral reefs, those magnificent ecosystems.

Katherine McGlaughlin writes about the effects of climate change on clams.

Chavawn Kelley explains how cold weather is necessary to stop the spread of the pine bark beetle. It is now spreading throughout our forests with the warmer weather in winter.

Bronwyn Mitchell writes about another canary in the coal mine: Southern Louisiana. It is losing land at the rate of one acre every 15 minutes. 75% of our country's population live in coastal zones. Enormous disasters are staring our future in the face.

Sarah Wolpow defends travel by bicycle.

Randall Curren explains why warming oceans mean bigger storms for New Orleans.

Jennifer Freeman tells us that doing favors for the planet is good for your soul.

Curtis Childs bemoans the loss of the red-bellied snake. Like him, I have seen the disappearance of reptiles and amphibians that I love dearly.

Daniel Blumstein bemoans the loss of pikas which live on the tops Mount Rainier. The snow tops are disappearing. And with them goes the melting that brings all life fresh water.

Susan Tweir writes about monarch butterflies. At my home we work on raising them in our yard.

David Beebe speaks about ocean acidification and the decline of fish species.

Matthew Sleeth is trying to get the evangelical movement to be more concerned about the environment. For starters, he ought to get them the hell out of the Republican party and libertarian movement, the most dangerous ideology in the world today.

Profile Image for Kate.
2,362 reviews1 follower
April 12, 2025
"Published in 2009 by the Union of Concerned Scientists. As you would expect, things have only gotten worse and show no signs of getting better. Human ignorance knows no bounds.

"Here are some samples of the short vignettes in this book:

"Marian Wineman talks about how sugar maples are slowly disappearing in New England. They are being tapped as early as January because winters have been warming and spring comes earlier.

"Melissa Juchniewicz bemoans the loss of amphibians. Their delicate skin makes them the canaries in the proverbial coal mine. They will die from global warming (and are dying out) before the rest of us do.

"Terril L. Shorb discusses how the deserts of Arizona are growing and water is becoming more scarce for wildlife.

"Carol Ellis writes about how Glacier National Park will soon no longer have a glacier. It is disappearing.

"Craig Quirolo photographed examples of how coral is disappearing.

"Kristan Hutchison writes about global warming's effects on the Alaskan tundra.

"Mark Hixon laments the disappearing coral reefs, those magnificent ecosystems.

"Katherine McGlaughlin writes about the effects of climate change on clams.

"Chavawn Kelley explains how cold weather is necessary to stop the spread of the pine bark beetle. It is now spreading throughout our forests with the warmer weather in winter.

"Bronwyn Mitchell writes about another canary in the coal mine: Southern Louisiana. It is losing land at the rate of one acre every 15 minutes. 75% of our country's population live in coastal zones. Enormous disasters are staring our future in the face.

"Sarah Wolpow defends travel by bicycle.

"Randall Curren explains why warming oceans mean bigger storms for New Orleans.

"Jennifer Freeman tells us that doing favors for the planet is good for your soul.

"Curtis Childs bemoans the loss of the red-bellied snake. Like him, I have seen the disappearance of reptiles and amphibians that I love dearly.

"Daniel Blumstein bemoans the loss of pikas which live on the tops Mount Rainier. The snow tops are disappearing. And with them goes the melting that brings all life fresh water.

"Susan Tweir writes about monarch butterflies. At my home we work on raising them in our yard.

"David Beebe speaks about ocean acidification and the decline of fish species.

"Matthew Sleeth is trying to get the evangelical movement to be more concerned about the environment. For starters, he ought to get them the hell out of the Republican party and libertarian movement, the most dangerous ideology in the world today."
~~reader review

These were all short essays, and all very inspiring. They made me want to do even more than I do towards stopping global warming/climate change. Andrea Burns wrote:
"Our home is a piece of work and a work in progress. Designed and built by my husband, it includes straw-bale walls, solar electricity, passive solar heating and cooling, superefficient appliances, natural roofing (living plants and cedar), local nontoxic materials, radiant floor heating, water heated by a wood stove, plenty of daylight, insulated curtains, an indoor greenhouse, and a garden that feeds us for much of the year."

Wow. If I ever won the lottery,. that's exactly what I would build! And it makes me feel ashamed, that I can't even get superefficient appliances.

This was an easy read as all the essays were short and accompanied by photos. And very inspiring!
Profile Image for Tim.
433 reviews34 followers
February 15, 2012
A collection of more than 70 essays about global warming collected and compiled by the Union of Concerned Scientists. As with any collection the style and emphasis vary a bit from page to page, but there are many nice moments found here. What the authors make clear is that our natural environment has deep, personal meaning for a lot of people and that climate change is slowly degrading a form of cultural heritage just as much as it is reworking our ecosystems.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews