Buffalo for the Broken Heart: Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch

Amazon.com

Some 20 years ago, Dan O'Brien, intoxicated by the Black Hills region of South Dakota, purchased the Broken Heart Ranch and began running cattle on more than a thousand acres. Though the decision ultimately cost him his marriage and, at times, his peace of mind, he feels a connection to the land and the lifestyle that continues to justify the decision. When necessary, he has even worked as an endangered-species biologist or English teacher in order to support his ranching habit. His engaging book, Buffalo for the Broken Heart, details both the rebirth of his ranch as well as himself.

"Desperate to rediscover purpose" in his life and disillusioned with working like a serf for the bank while supporting cows--those lumbering, small-brained icons of the plains that O'Brien describes as "a sort of reverse beast of burden. I was carrying them!"--he made a snap decision one day in January 1998 to take in 13 orphaned buffalo calves from a fellow rancher. Later, after much soul searching and contemplation of both practical and emotional matters, he decided to jump headlong into buffalo ranching. He expected differences between the two animals, of course, but was pleasantly surprised by the buffalo's self-sufficiency. Since buffalo are native to the plains, they are much gentler on the land and are able to find most of their own food and water. Plus, their meat is healthier than beef (and delicious to boot), and buffalo do not need the heavy doses of antibiotics, steroids, and hormones that cattle require--a process O'Brien likens to "locking children in a room with ice cream and potato chips and treating the health problems that result with expensive medicine."

O'Brien is a splendid storyteller, and his narrative is a skillful weave of the history of the buffalo on the Great Plains, colorful portraits of fellow ranchers, descriptions of the plains' rugged beauty, and a clear-eyed account of the harsh realities of ranching in this unforgiving landscape. --Shawn Carkonen

Book Description

For twenty years Dan O’Brien struggled to make ends meet on his cattle ranch in South Dakota. But when a neighbor invited him to lend a hand at the annual buffalo roundup, O’Brien was inspired to convert his own ranch, the Broken Heart, to buffalo. Starting with thirteen calves, “short-necked, golden balls of wool,” O’Brien embarked on a journey that returned buffalo to his land for the first time in more than a century and a half.

Buffalo for the Broken Heart is at once a tender account of the buffaloes’ first seasons on the ranch and an engaging lesson in wildlife ecology. Whether he’s describing the grazing pattern of the buffalo, the thrill of watching a falcon home in on its prey, or the comical spectacle of a buffalo bull wallowing in the mud, O’Brien combines a novelist’s eye for detail with a naturalist’s understanding to create an enriching, entertaining narrative.

Customer Reviews:

Worth Reading.......2007-09-10

I picked this up a few days ago during a stop in South Dakota on my way from Wyoming back to Chicago. It's been a pleasure having it around to share my trip with. The only downside is that I'm almost finished, and I'm dying to know what's happened to the people, the land, and (naturally) to the buffalo herd since the book was published in 2001.
It's clear how much he loves his subject and there were times reading his descriptions of the Great Plains that it was all I could do to get back in the car and keep heading East. It's hard to explain why landscape that can be so harsh and unforgiving can be so easy to love, but Mr. O'Brien does it a fair turn. If you're thinking of heading out to South Dakota and you have any interest in what life is like for the people who struggle to survive there, then this book is a good place to start.

First hand knowledge of the Great Plains struggle.......2006-08-22

As I've been involved in agriculture my whole life, I tense up when I start reading generalizations about the industry. But this author has lived it himself and presents alternatives and kindly criticism in a very non judgmental way. It was interesting, provocative, and exciting to see someone so passionate about their calling in life. A great read for entertainment or to make you think.

A Dose of Optimism.......2006-03-27

These are tough days for those of us who care about wild places. Our society is embarked on a blind crusade to fragment, pave and develop landscapes at all possible speed. Our environmental movement is stuck in the mud, beset with clashing personalities, fighting the wrong battles, and spending more time squabbling with its natural allies than fighting real foes. Into this scene comes a book with a plan. Dan O'Briens' proposal to return the native fauna to his ranch in the west isn't new, but his novel advances the idea with force, grace, and even a certain magic. He makes a strong case for an alternative set of values, one that reminds me of Aldo Leopolds' Ecological Land Ethic. O'Brien makes a case that by being responsible stewards of the land we will save not just ecological communities, but also our own souls. It is a much needed message of hope. A friend lent me the book saying only "I think you will like it". Like it I did. Dan O'Brien gets it like few people do, and his writing complements the power of his ideas. This guy is flying under the radar, but I'm glad to have stumbled across this book.

Making it right.......2005-09-07

This book is full of thrilling ideas - that the grass and the prairie birds and insects remember and revert to the way they lived together when bison shaped the land; that individual humans can really help heal the land. This story was riveting and that is unusual for me to say about non-fiction. The science was good and the personal drama seemed genuine. This is my favorite book of the year so far.

Really Good.......2004-09-11

I loved this book. A few years ago I drove across the U.S. and was awestruck by South Dakota; something I really didn't expect. I was captivated by the beautiful, often stark, surroundings and always wondered how the people ranching there lived their lives. This story of one man's journey into ranching was really interesting, personal and just a very nice, casual read. He tells honestly of his hardships, loneliness and all about the bison he cared for, which was quite fascinating. I actually sent him a note telling him how much I enjoyed the book; the first time I was ever compelled to do this, which he kindly responded to. I don't think you'll be disappointed in this book if you're at all interested in animals, wilderness or "finding yourself."

Buffalo for the Broken Heart. Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch.

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Buffalo for the Broken Heart. Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch.
Dan O'Brien
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000NUUUFW

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Buffalo For The Broken Heart Restoring Life to a Black Hills Ranch
O'Brien Dan
Manufacturer: Random House
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000UEBRN0

Book Description

Practical, informative and user-friendly, the Globetrotter Travel Guide to Tunisia highlights the major places of interest, describing their principal attractions and offering sound suggestions on where to tour, stay, eat, shop and relax. This guide is ideal for the first time visitor. It includes over 35 full-color area maps, town plans and locator maps, and over 95 full-color photographs. (5 x 7, 128 pages, color photos, color maps)

Tunisia Travel Pack (Globetrotter Travel Packs)

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Tunisia Travel Pack (Globetrotter Travel Packs)
Ann Jousiffe
Manufacturer: New Holland Publishers (UK) Ltd.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

Tunisia | Africa | Travel | Subjects | Books

General | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1845378539

Book Description

The handy pocket-size guide is packed with useful information, tips and recommendations, accompanied by colour photographs, charts and maps for the first-time traveller who wants to experience the major highlights that Tunisia has to offer. This travel book surpasses other guides in that it incorporates essential information in an easy-to-carry and easy-to-read format that is attractive and useful at the same time. It provides a visitor with an invaluable introduction to Tunisia by concisely highlighting the country’s ‘must see’ areas in a practical and user-friendly format, thus encouraging the tourist to make the most of his/her available time. All the essential information you need to get around an unfamiliar country is compacted into useful and practical ‘At-a-Glance’ sections at the end of each chapter. The fold-out map of Tunisia is ideal for tourists and visitors. In addition to the main map of Tunisia, it features 6 detailed area maps, 1 site plan and 15 town plans.

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Polynesian Triangle
Erick Berry
Manufacturer: FUNK & WAGNALLS PUBLISHING CO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000SFMNSO

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The Polynesian Triangle
Erick and Herbert Best Berry
Manufacturer: Funk & Wagnalls
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000GRALI8

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Polynesian Triangle
Erick Berry
Manufacturer: FUNK & WAGNALLS PUBLISHING CO
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W0A4C2

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The Polynesian triangle,
Allena (Champlin) Best
Manufacturer: Funk & Wagnalls
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

General | History & Historical Fiction | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
Australia & Oceania | Explore the World | People & Places | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B0006BU9T0

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Samoa, the Polynesian paradise;: An introduction to ancient and modern Samoa and the Polynesian triangle
Kipeni Suápaía
Manufacturer: Expositon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Australia & Oceania | History | Subjects | Books | Australia | Fiji | General | Marshall Islands | New Zealand | Papua New Guinea | Polar Regions
ASIN: B0007E4YRE

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The Polynesian Triangle
Erick & Best, Herbert Berry
Manufacturer: Funk & Wagnalls
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000W3O9Q6

Customer Reviews:

Highly Interesting.......2003-12-29

This is an excellent book for anyone interested in the origin of man. However, you must approach the book with an open mind, as the author does not promote the "out of Africa" religion that currently dominates the field. This book is a good update to Carletoon Coon's excellent books.

Book Description

Advances in Modal Logic is a unique forum for presenting the latest results and new directions of research in modal logic broadly conceived. The topics dealt with are of interdisciplinary interest and range from mathematical, computational, and philosophical problems to applications in knowledge representation and formal linguistics.

Volume 3 presents substantial advances in the relational model theory and the algorithmic treatment of modal logics. It contains invited and contributed papers from the third conference on "Advances in Modal Logic", held at the University of Leipzig (Germany) in October 2000. It includes papers on dynamic logic, description logic, hybrid logic, epistemic logic, combinations of modal logics, tense logic, action logic, provability logic, and modal predicate logic.

Amazon.com

Anyone who has ever read James and the Giant Peach or Charlie and the Chocolate Factory knows that Roald Dahl is a man capable of working magic on young people. The wonderfully weird worlds he evokes are so perfectly in tune with children's imaginations that--PRESTO!--he has completely enchanted kids (and adults, we admit) around the world.

This splendidly illustrated treasury--which we discovered with unfettered glee--showcases excerpts from the above books, along with short stories, rhymes, memoirs, unpublished poetry, and personal letters. A host of Dahl's best-loved characters are here, from the Enormous Crocodile to Willie Wonka. The whole shebang is fabulously illustrated by Quentin Blake, Ralph Steadman, and a myriad of other fine artists. Young Roald Dahl fans will devour this book eagerly, and those who have never met Charlie Bucket, Matilda, or the Vermicious Knids will want to get their hands on everything he's ever written. (All ages)

Book Description

This extraordinary collection takes readers on a fascinating journey into Dahl's unique imagination. At over 400 pages, it contains excerpts from Dahl's best-loved fiction for children and his autobiographical material. There are stories, rhymes, and memoirs as well as unpublished poetry and letters. Lavishly produced and illustrated in full-color, it features artwork by such prominent illustrators as Quentin Blake, Lane Smith, and Raymond Briggs.

Customer Reviews:

Wonderful assortment of Dahl's childrens work.......2003-08-04

This is a beautiful book full of colorful illustrations, which is always a major plus, most of which are by Quentin Blake. This has some of Roald Dahl's poetry (such as his hilarious fairy tale retellings), short stories, excerpts from his children's novels, recipes, letters from fans, and other nice little tidbits, like a sheet Dahl filled out about his birthday, favorite color, food, etc. I think this book is well worth the money, because I got this a few years ago and haven't grown out of it since!

A superb, fantastic, and wonderful book.......2003-07-26

This book, like all other books of Rohld Dahl, is detailed, humorous, and just plain good. I spent 9 hours just sitting in a chair, reading this book, defanatly another fanatic book of Rolhd Dahl. I loved it. WOW!

What I liked and didn't like about the Dahl Treasury.......2002-02-09

I am nine and a half years old. I liked the variety of stories and poems, but I was frustrated at first because I thought I would be reading entire stories. Instead, I found that the Treasury included only chapters of some stories. Short stories, like the Enormous Crocodile, were entirely included.

This book left me searching for the complete works of Roald Dahl.

an awesome book.......2000-01-23

The Roal Dahl Treasury is really great because aside from the extracts, it includes poems, letters, and true stories from Roald's past. An excellent book for all ages.

Excellent author, but doesn't include complete stories........1999-11-18

My daughters favorite author is Roald Dahl, but she was really frustrated when we got the book because it contains mostly excerpts from various books he has written. It would be much better if it had complete stories. We had to go out and buy the full versions of the stories. It is marketed as a complete treasury but falls short. The illustrations are neat.

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THE ROALD DAHL TREASURY.

Manufacturer: Ted Smart
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Similar Items:

Roald Dahl's Revolting Rhymes

ASIN: B000HI5U2S

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator / The BFG / James and the Giant Peach - 4 Book Set

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Charlie and the Chocolate Factory / Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator / The BFG / James and the Giant Peach - 4 Book Set
Roald Dahl
Manufacturer: Puffin
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000U658ZG

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Roald Dahl Treasury-Puf
Dahl Roald
Manufacturer: Puffin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OJOSHS

Customer Reviews:

Those who can, teach.......2007-08-26

This book gave me hope for those mired in the public school system. It brought to mind another teacher book with heart, The Tales of the Dolly Llama, by Guy Kuttner. These books are inspirational and provide the appropriate tonic for those tired out by the system.

To Teach: The Journey of a Teacher book.......2007-02-07

I was very pleased with my book. It was in the exact shape as the site described it and it arrived right on time! Thanks Amazon

JOurney of a Teacher.......2006-07-16

I thought this book was good. It gave me some good ideas to use in the classroom. I think teachers should always be looking for new ways to teach.

A very challenging book.......2005-08-14

I really appreciated this book. Ayers is very passionate about a teacher's responsibility to help their students become complete human beings. Reading this book, and Grant Wiggins Understanding by Design, in a graduate class renewed my passion for teaching, which is really a passion for learning. Education should be about the big questions of life, not just the details and basic skills that are tested and required by the state and federal government.

Ayers is committed to developing whole and complete human beings, not automatons.

My only issue is with his emphasis on social justice as the focus of education. While I agree that a concern for social justice will emerge in people who think for themselves, it seems as if his recommendations force this concern on kids a little too heavyhandedly. If we are to be independent, complete people, then naturally what concerns us will not always be the same. Nevertheless, his emphasis is better than many who want us to just teach kids to read words and add and subtract, but don't really care if they can think for themselves.

On a side note, while I am disgusted by Mr. Ayers' past and his continued lack of repentence, I don't believe that it invalidates his philosophy of education.

Hatt-Echeverria's assignment.......2004-07-04

Ayers approach to teaching is holistic and densely worded. He is a true veteran of the academic trenches having taught for almost 40 years at every level from K to college. He shows the utmost respect and concern for his students. Inextricable from his profession and unshakable in his conviction about what is greatness in teaching.

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To Teach: the Journey of a Teacher
William Ayers
Manufacturer: Teachers College Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000N6B27Q

Book Description

It is 1966, the war is escalating, and a young Air Force Academy graduate's assignment is to patrol unfriendly territory with six-man hunter-killer teams. As a Forward Air Controller, flying single engine spotter planes, Flanagan is the link between fighter-bomber pilots and ground forces. This autobiographical account recreates the period when Flanagan, assigned to Project Delta, was plunged into major operations in key combat areas. Spectacular airstrikes, team rescues, lost men, thwarted attempts to save comrades--all are recounted here with raw honesty. A factual combat history from one man's perspective, this is also a thoughtful look at the warrior values of bravery, honesty, and integrity. Flanagan examines the influences that help build these values--educational institutions, the military training system (including the service academies), and religion--and reflects on the high cost of abandoning them. In Vietnam Above the Treetops, Flanagan traces his life from adolescence through the training period, combat missions of all kinds, and re-entry into the everyday world. His war tales take us to key regions: from the Demilitarized Zone, south through the Central highlands, and into War Zone C near Cambodia. Flanagan tells the absolute truth of his experience in Vietnam-- call signs, bomb loads, and target coordinates are all historically accurate. He offers observations on the Vietnamese and Korean forces he worked with, comparing Eastern and Western cultures, and he vents his frustrations with the U.S. command structure. Determined to reconstruct the past, Flanagan re-read old letters from Vietnam, examined maps, deciphered pocket diaries, interviewed former comrades, and let his own long-buried memories surface. Flanagan did not find this book easy to write, but he wanted to pay tribute to his fellow warriors, especially those still missing in action; he wanted to exorcise his war nightmares and further understand his experience. Even more important, he needed to communicate the values he and his comrades lived by, in distant jungles where they faced some of the toughest circumstances known to human beings.

Customer Reviews:

As personal account of Vietnam you will find...........2001-06-17

General Flanagan's memoir of his time in Vietnam is one of the most personal and sorrowful accounts of that American tragedy yet.

The Kirkus review tells us, "you will not find the meaning" of the Vietnam War in this book. And that's true. John F. Flanagan didn't go to Vietnam to do that. He went as a Warrior and the nature of that war weighed heavily upon him. It does to this day.

In a way I would classify this personal history with E.B. Sledge's masterpiece WITH THE OLD BREED. The times and perspective are different, but seeing the elephant remains the same. When all the grandstanding and speeches are over, all the flag waving and parades, ultimately men risk their lives for their friends. These men are usually too preoccupied with the task at hand to "figure it all out".

Sledge saw war and was horrified by it's spector, it's indifferent carnage and filth. He had the rectitude though of having returned a 'winner'. All those boys were killed, but their death had some purpose. John Flanagan couldn't feel that. He just knew that the friends he lost and saw die, died vainly. No matter how good these men were, how much moral certitude they had, their deaths were without purpose. John Flanagan is a man of purpose.

General Flanagan reflects great dignity upon those men and to their families. He's a man of quiet dignity himself and can take pride in knowing that he did all he could when he could. As a Soldier that's what's known as trust.

My best wishes go out to General Flanagan, his family and friends.

Wonderful.......2000-11-12

This book is the most realistic book I have read about the Vietnam war to date. Genreal Flanagan certainly keeps you attention throughout the entire book. He leaves nothing to the imagination, exactly how it should be. There was too much controversey about the wat, this book gives, in detail, an insite on just how horrid it was for our soldiers.

An added comment, this book was written by a "real person". I work for General Flanagan every day. The book put some detail and realism into the "stories" that we talk about

A look at Project Delta.......1999-03-26

It brought back all the fear, sadness and frustration of that december day in 1966. I was a 19 year old doorgunner on one of those gunships that day with the 281st ahc in Khe Sanh. I am 51 now and to this day it still haunts me.I was fortunate to be on several mission with Flanagan and the guy always came through.

Typical view of a FAC-cockiness ringed with truth.......1998-05-27

The author's view of the role of a FAC is very similiar to those held by the FACs of today (ALOs and ETACs). It is a very insightful look into the beginnings of the Close Air Support role-from the ground observers point of view. Few books even mention the CAS role in Vietnam.

Vietnam Above the Treetops: A Forward Air Controller Reports.

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Vietnam Above the Treetops: A Forward Air Controller Reports.
John F. Flannagan
Manufacturer: Praeger.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Vietnam | Asia | Travel | Subjects | Books
ASIN: B000MNB9D2

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Vietnam Above the Treetops: A Forward Air Controller Reports
John F. Flanagan
Manufacturer: Praeger Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OR7D18

Customer Reviews:

Great Book.......2006-04-13

CL had the guts to discuss the taboo's of the Lefts great failures, anybody that cannot see the wisdom in this great thinkers work are probably hate fillled liberals that really hate themselves.

2 thumbs up on ALL OF HIS WORK !

Good but Stretched too far.......2004-01-03

If this book had concerned itself with the idea of progress, the history and future of progress, that would have been quite sufficient. But no, he must historize everything, including the whole last thid of the book (really weak) where we review and empathize with just about every social cause and group on the planet.

Progress is interesting; those who criticize it use the very thing they decry to make their point. In one sense, progress does mean human enrichment. Now, to many folks this means more things. To Lasch, it should mean a better life, better citizens, more responsibility. I guess one could say it was the classic argument: Quantity vs Quality.

It goes without saying that progress brings material wealth - it always has and always will. Most of us take it for granted and even those who protested the "excesses of capitalism" at the WTO in Rome arrived by jet! Lasch laments the loss of authority in our society and this is directly related to loss of civic participation. Only one generation previous, men and women considered such things as Masons, Rotary, Optimist, and Knights of Columbus important features in society. But the silence from civic groups is deafening.

Lasch is particularly concerned about a new type of rampant individualism that has swept the nation (and the West). It is of the kind that does what it wants to do regardless of how others are affected, it does not partake in communal discussion nor social gatherings, it is a god unto itself. Societal goals are sublimated to the pursuit of pure pleasure. This condition is fatal for a society that prides itself on civic involvement and a long-standing ecumencalism in religion and politics. In the end he asks the question. "What is it all for?" That is something each of us must answer.

Progress Feels the Lasch.......2000-04-22

It is difficult to find fault with the main thesis of True and Only Heaven: that "progress" is nothing more or less than an illusion and that in the end, as the poet wrote,"the paths of glory lead but to the grave". Mr.Lasch arrives at this conclusion via a ciruitous route of some five hundred pages of spectacular erudition while at the same time never lapsing into scholarly jargon that might cause the general reader to become hopelessly befuddled. Although the title suggests an author who was either conservative or neo-conservative,in truth it's difficult to say what ideology he embraced--if any--since he is critical of both the Left AND the Right. Clearly, Lasch, who died several years ago, had become thoroughly disenchanted with a society that had fallen into a pit of mindless consumerism and materialism. As critical as he is of Reagan's America, one can only guess what he would have thought of the America of Bill Clinton.

This book is a must read for anyone who believes that our country is slowly becoming unhinged.

Pretty clueless, pretty out of date.......1999-07-20

It is simply amazing that anyone still bothers with Christopher Lasch. He is apparently one of those neo-conservative writers who desperately wish to be considered 'faithful' to the old Left. Well, he's not fooling me. I picked this thing up at the library and was hooked- not for his ideas, which are predictable and even conservative, but for the way he thinks he has something conclusive to say about everything. He is afraid of contemporary feminist challenges to his own assumptions, is afraid of African Americans making a world for themselves, afraid of everything. As a feminist and a white Woman who empathizes with African Americans and other exploited peoples, I know I can find better discussions of the politics of race and gender in the United States. Don't bother with this one, please.

Closest Thing to Lasch-at-a-Glance.......1998-12-26

I frequently argue that the breadth of Lasch's moral vision requires a thorough reading of his ouevre, not just an individual title. That said, TRUE AND ONLY HEAVEN comes the closest to encapsulating what Lasch, as one of the last best public intellectuals, had to say. Part of HEAVEN's success in this regard is its simple length, which allows for a more comprehensive statement. More important, though, is that here finally Lasch is explicitly taking as subject what was his central obsession all along: the locomotive degradation of allegiance to the Jeffersonian ideal in a heedless process called "progress." Those accustomed to the spirited polemic of his more famous work may find themselves slowed by the more overtly scholarly nature of this one, but the payoff is big in terms of a foundation in the animating ideas of the lifework of the best cultural critic of his era. Lasch is never simple. He is always subtle, and always stoic: he makes Hawthorne and Nietszche look like playground amatuers. More importantly, his perspective is radical enough (meaning, truly alternative--almost anarchic)and his arguments innovative enough that one may finish his book and only think one has read it. A close, careful read, however, will yield a take on the malaise critical to any sort of "progress" in the discourse about the future of democracy in America.

The True and Only Heaven: Progress and Its Critics-

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The True and Only Heaven: Progress and Its Critics-
Christopher Lasch-
Manufacturer: W.W. Norton Publishers-
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000OMN9QQ

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True and Only Heaven: Progress and Its Critics.
CHRISTOPHER LASCH
Manufacturer: See notes
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000RQH6CW

Amazon.com

The World Wildlife Fund has an ambitious goal. With its Living Planet campaign, WWF intends to preserve a bit of every major ecosystem type in the world. From Borneo to Ethiopia, Angola to Oregon, these conservation areas are a serious effort to prevent the complete destruction of rare and unique wildlife habitat. The project's goals are stated in the introduction to Living Planet:

By conserving the broadest variety of the world's habitats, we can conserve the broadest variety of the world's species and most endangered wildlife.... Regardless of where they are located, Global 200 ecoregions are all unique expressions of biological diversity, each with its own highly distinctive species, ecological processes, and evolutionary phenomena.

To chronicle this "conservationist's vision of Noah's ark," WWF sent three extraordinarily talented nature photographers around the world. Frans Lanting specializes in intimate animal portraits, Galen Rowell in capturing mountainous landscapes, and David Doubilet in the underwater world. Each photographer contributes unforgettable portraits of the beauty and wonder of Earth's most fragile places. Living Planet is a truly stunning testament to the difficulties and successes of the Global 200 project. Breathtaking photos introduce readers to the diversity of plant and animal life in the ecoregions. Here's a small sample: a pair of tortoises basking on an island in the Indian Ocean. An enclosed wall poster shows the ecoregions around the globe. And to complete the package, a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Living Planet goes to the World Wildlife Fund to help them continue their conservation work. --Therese Littleton

Book Description

Our planet is a precious jewel, a unique oasis of life in a seemingly barren cosmos. Looking at Earth from outer space, one astronaut described it as "piercingly beautiful." But a rapidly growing human population has put a strain on Earth's resources and has wrought alarming and permanent changes in the environment. Untold species of plants and animals have been wiped out forever, and others are in imminent danger of becoming extinct. Ecologist Gordan Orians has suggested that we may be entering a new geologic age -- the Homigicene -- with humankind as the great leveler. "We are carrying so many organisms around the world and depositing them in so many places where they did not formerly live that we are blurring the distinctness of the different regions. At the time, we are destroying habitats where diversity might be maintained."

Long at the forefront of nature conservation, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has launched its revolutionary Living Planet Campaign in response to this dire situation. Instead of focusing on individual species and fragments of land and water, WWF scientists have identified 237 ecoregions -- known for simplicity's sake as the Global 200 -- that best exemplify the terrestrial, freshwater, and marine ecoregions on Earth. (For your convenience, a removable, full-color map of Global 200 is included in the back of this book.) The organization is working with governments, industry, and local people around the world to protect these regions from further damage -- the equivalent of creating a fleet of arks safeguarding an irreplaceable cargo for a voyage into the future.

Living Planet: Preserving Edens of the earth highlights the precious web of life that WWF's campaign seeks to help save. Lavishly illustrated throughout with stunning four-color photographs, the book features the work of three acclaimed nature photographers: Frans Lanting, Galen Rowell, and David Doubilet. All pioneers in outdoor photography, they have captured on film the fragility and wonder of life on Earth, from the forests of the Andes to the coral reefs of Australia. By bringing the beauty of the Global 200 into living rooms around the world, WWF hopes that readers will be inspired to share in its determination to leave our children a living planet.

Customer Reviews:

SuJoMa.......2006-08-03

This book is truly a gem among books. It contains stunning photography and i love the way that it is mostly pictures. Most books go on and on about the animals, which leaves less room for photographs. This is an astonishing book, and i highly reccomend it!

Magnificent Overview of the "WildWorld Project".......2004-03-05

This magnificent book is designed to be the window dressing for a joint initiative by the World Wildlife Fund and the National Geographic Society to classify the entire planet by ecoregions -"geographically distinct areas that are characterized by distinctive climate, ecological features, and plant and animal communities." For more information on this fascinating and important initiative (and to purchase the colorful ecoregions map upon which "Living Edens" is based) check out the website at www.nationalgeographic.com/wildworld

Alright, back to the book. While there are many hundreds of ecoregions, the WWF has selected 200 that are highly threatened. They then sent Galen Rowell(dec.), Frans Lanting and David Doubilet - three of the finest nature photographers in the world - around the globe to make a photo-documentation of several of the "Global 200" sites. The result is this astounding book.

The purpose of the book is really to show off a selection of ecoregions in a series of stunning photographs. There is not a great deal of accompanying text. The book is meant to be used in conjunction with the WildWorld website and the WildWorld map that I mentioned earlier.

Buy this book, go the WildWorld website, and begin the most in-depth exploration of our living planet I could have ever dreamt possible. It is a decision you will never regret.

pictures good not great. not a well put together book.......2003-09-14

I'm glad I borrowed this book thru interlibrary loan first rather than buying it outright. The photos are quite nice but not organized in a way that's very informative or give me a good idea about any of the "edens". There's pretty minimal text which might offer the contributor's views on what they photographed and give interesting backstories.

I suppose its a personal preference and if you want an random assortment of pretty good animal pictures, its not bad at all, but I find it unappealing.

One of the most beautifull books I`ve ever seen!.......2001-04-12

This book is truly incredible!Sometimes,I can`t believe my eyes. The original purpose of this book is to make people care about the ecosystems and why we should not destroy them.But I don`t know if this is a suitable purpose for a book like this one. The splendid photographs makes you forget that and just look at the true beauty of our planet. Over 200 locations and 250 illustrations makes a perfect view of world wildlife. Among my favourites are the mexican deserts,the Pantanal Rainforest and all of the underwater photographs. I am a lover of all kinds of animals,especially fishes. So that`s why the book is perfect for me. I recognize Frans Lanting and David Doubilet since earlier,and I got books by them both. Galen Rowell is new to me,but he seems to be very good too. And when these three photographs together,the results easily become the most beautifull nature photography book ever made!It is pretty expensive,but believe me,it`s worth the money. I highly recommend this to every lover of nature photographs or strong colours. It is truly inspiring.

This Book Is A Celebration!.......2000-12-29

It would be difficult indeed to over-estimate the sheer beauty of the photographs printed on the pages of Living Planet. Of course the three photographers were off to a great start as the subject matter they are presenting is riveting. There are so many truly exotic (and still unspoiled) locales explored here. And so many diverse, truly impressive plant and animal forms documented.

But these three gifted photographers are superbly inspired practioners and so they are able to elevate the naturally exalted to an entirely new level of organisation. This is accomplished specifically, at least in part, by the use of super-saturated color in combination with consistently fresh and geometrically complex composition. The results, printed with great care by Crown Publishers, are extraordinary!

The photography is so visually stunning that it is easy to forget the purpose of this book which was published by the World Wildlide Fund. Thus the text, which is teeming with information, emphasises not the beauty of what has been captured on film. Rather it focuses on the steadily progressing ecological nightmare as humans-induced species extinction of animal and plant life proceeds around the globe in an unchecked and relentless manner. To quote briefly from the introduction by Walter Cronkite, "Earth is losing one-hundred species of animals, plants, insects and fungi every day. Experts estimate that the world has lost one-third of its biological wealth over the last thirty years." Astonishing facts the sobriety of which contrasts mightily with the visual celebration of life as depicted in this wonderfully elegant volume.

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