Holding Back the Sea: The Struggle for America's Natural Legacy on the Gulf Coast

Book Description

Americans continue to coexist with nature only warily, in spite of our vaunted environmental stewardship. Nowhere is this complex relationship more visible than in the Mississippi River delta in South Louisiana, the country's largest unpreserved wetland. Here, more than three million acres of marshes and swamps nurture more seafood and produce more oil and gas than any other region of the country except Alaska. Yet this expanse of raw natural beauty, almost unknown outside the region, is in danger of collapse. New Orleans is in particular danger as sea levels rise and the city sinks, leaving tens of thousands of inhabitants to face the consequences if a horrific storm should strike.

Holding Back the Sea intimately and eloquently exposes the vulnerability of this stark land that spreads along the Gulf Coast, as it literally vanishes -- at rate of twenty-five square miles per year, an area the size of Manhattan -- so starved for lack of nutrients, so eroded away by ever more severe storms, and so dredged for canals that it is on the verge of being swallowed by the rising Gulf of Mexico. Holding Back the Sea bears witness to an environmental crisis of staggering proportions that not only threatens this coast but has plunged the people who depend on it into a moral quagmire.

Christopher Hallowell uses this crisis as a window through which to clearly and comprehensively examine a cultural characteristic, or flaw, that Americans have historically exhibited: the reluctance to recognize the finiteness of nature -- as much a part of this country's history as is its people's independence -- while at the same time proclaiming their devotion to it. In Louisiana, this emotional split of using while abusing threatens the entire region's economic foundations and has profound implications for the rest of the country. Louisiana is not alone; its predicament stands beside an array of environmental case studies: clear-cutting in Virginia and Tennessee, exhausting water resources in the Southwest, polluting Chesapeake Bay, filling in wetlands around San Francisco Bay and Long Island Sound, and fouling the Great Lakes.

Through the varied use of narrative voice and rich description, Hallowell, a journalist, writer, and educator, brings into focus South Louisiana's dilemma through the people involved -- from engineers to politicians to scientists to fishermen -- to show both the marsh's and the people's fragility and vitality. There is no more important topic than the way we use nature and our natural resources and our willingness to defer to nature. Holding Back the Sea is at the heart of that conversation.

Customer Reviews:

A great informative read...we should all be reading this........2006-06-28

Great book. I just finished it after reading Bayou Farewell (another superb read). If I could ever meet Mr. Hallowell, I would shake his hand for a wonderful job and then shake my head in amazement that all of "the groups" can't get together with one voice on the restoration and saving of the Gulf Coast area. I wonder, reading the book now, if congress would have given all of the money as requested a few years ago considering the costs of Katrina???

All You Need to Know about New Orleans' Dilemma.......2005-12-02

I searched for a book that would serve as an historical explanation of New Orleans' plight, as well as an updated view on the current problems in N.O. since hurricane Katrina. I found that the author has an engaging way of "teaching" in that the reader is led back and forth between historical and scientific background and facts, and personal stories of residents of the marshlands.
The facts come from research, as well as the plethora of gov't and NOG agencies involved (DNR, NMFS, CWPPRA. EDA etc.!!) and the narratives come from trappers, fisherman, oyster reef and shrimp gatherers, shippers, etc. Some of the stories come from people who lived back in the 19th century.
The media has made it clear that New Orleans is in trouble, but I now have a clearer understanding of all the people, groups, issues, politics, etc. involved in this disastrous situation.

Or keeping up the land.......2005-10-18

The book "Holding Back the Sea" is an ecological and economic history of the marshlands of Louisiana, from its first exploitation by French explorers in the 1600s to its uses as seafood farm, tourist trap, oil and gas source and port in the 1990s. The book describes the various uses for this area of America, how it all depends on and effects the ecology and geography of the marshlands, and how human influences have changed the area.

The book is divided into twelve chapters, each of them examines the human-marshland interplay from a different point of view. These views include that of alligator hunter, flood control expert, local elected official, lifelong shrimper, and conservationist. Thru reading each chapter, one gets to see the complexity of the human-human, nature-human, and nature-nature relationships, and how over the last century, the first two have worked together to destroy the latter. Specifically, alterations to the natural environment have made the land more susceptible to erosion, hurricanes, and flooding. The result is that dozens of square miles of marshland sink into the Gulf of Mexico each year. Efforts to stop this loss eventually require various parties to sacrifice, and this always dooms any effort.

The book describes in clear detail how the people of Louisiana now realize the importance of holding back the sea, or keeping the land elevated, depending on the point of view. The actions and inactions described in this book reveal a tragi - comedy of truly grand proportions, something truly worthy of the grandness of America. Though written before Hurrican Katrina of the 2005 summer, the facts and stories it contains are very important for all Americans to know. I highly recommend this book.

Holding Back the Sea.......2005-09-09

This book is interesting and informative, easily read and understood by the average person. I have recommended this book to others on our campus. The chapters dealing with how Louisiana was affected by other major hurricanes, the computer simulation of "the big one", and the effects (or lack thereof) of all the discussions and money spent or to be spent were particularly interesting, especially that Hurricane Katrina has hit.
This book should have been read by every government official and citizen of the U.S.

IThe book shows that not enough people cared enough.......2005-09-03

This book is an admirable discussion of the destruction of Louisiana's wetlands, the effects up to the year 2001, and the probable disastrous consequences for the future, including those that have now resulted from Hurricane Katrina.

In the aftermath of Katrina there will be many efforts to assign blame, both by the media and by politicians. This book serves as necessary background for understanding what really happened, and how it came to pass.

My own view, partly formed from this book, but also from various other knowledge of Southern Louisiana and changes over the years in that area, is that no one person or group should be blamed for the results of Katrina. Those were foreseeable and were foreseen, and remedial measures to reduce the impact of a major hurricane striking Louisiana's coastal areas and the city of New Orleans were well understood, as were their costs. So how did the catastrophe predicted in this book occur, despite widespread knowledge? Remedial measures could not have prevented very serious losses from such a hurricane, but the losses could have been greatly reduced; however, the remedial measures to achieve that would have been extremely expensive, and no group, whether of citizens, of advocates, of corporations, of legislators, of bureaucrats, or of federal or state officials, felt that expnditure of all that money, which would also have had some adverse effects, was important enough to take priority over numerous other major expenditures for the welfare of the poulation, the economy, and the environment. After the catastrophe, of course, comes the finger-pointing. But if my view is correct, the extent of this catastrophe is mostly due to the fact that hardly anyone anywhere was willing to fight for the extremely expensive remedial measures that would have limited it. This book is a somber reminder that although in most respects our private and public institutional structures in the USA work extremely well, in some cases such as this one they do not put priority on mitigating enormous risks.

Read this book and weep! (And ask yourself which other equally well-known risks of catastrophe we are taking no steps to mitigate.)

Holding Back the Sea : The Struggle for America's Natural Legacy on the Gulf Coast

Average customer rating:

Holding Back the Sea : The Struggle for America's Natural Legacy on the Gulf Coast
Christopher Hallowell
Manufacturer: HarperCollins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OEOHRY

Average customer rating:

A good resource.

A Flora of San Diego County California
R. Mitchel Beauchamp
Manufacturer: Sweetwater River Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0931950007

Customer Reviews:

A good resource........2002-05-21

"Several plant taxa reach their northern distribution limit on the coastal lowlands of San Diego County... several taxa ... occur in the San Diego County mountains as the southern limit of their ranges." Beauchamp makes this modest observation in his exhaustive catalog of the flora of San Diego County, California, one of the most biologically diverse areas in the United States, if not the world. The book is a wonderful resource for anyone fascinated with this diversity. Beauchamp's catalog has no photos or drawings of the plants, and minimal descriptions. Latin taxonomy is used; where common names are mentioned, it is in a most general way. For these reasons, whether you are a botanist or an interested novice (like myself) you will want supplemental resources. However the illustrated field guides, although easier to obtain, are less thorough. Beauchamp's Flora also lists areas in which the various species are found, and does so in a less general way than do the popular field guides. The location specificity can be very helpful, if, for instance, you find yourself questioning whether wild buckwheat occurs in the Bucksnort Mountains (but you will need to know the Latin name for what is called wild buckwheat). The book also lists the frequency of occurrence in cited locations. This volume may be hard to find, but it is an excellent resource for anyone interested in the region's botany.

Transactions of the San Diago Society of Natural History

Average customer rating:

Transactions of the San Diago Society of Natural History
Daniel I Axelrod
Manufacturer: s.n
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

â€œWittgenstein in Viennaâ€ documents Wittgensteinâ€™s life in the city: the places where he, his family and those with whom he was in contact lived, worked, entertained and were socialized. The book will be a source of enrichment to the cultural tourist in Vienna. Its authors are authorities on Wittgensteinâ€™s philosophy especially in relation to Viennese culture and popular culture, in particular to the world of the coffee house and cabaret.

Wittgenstein In Vienna: A Biographical Excursion Through The City And Its History

Average customer rating:

Wittgenstein In Vienna: A Biographical Excursion Through The City And Its History
Allan S Janik Ans Hans Veigl
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OIKF1C

Book Description

When Rufus Henry gets out of work camp for Grand Theft Auto, he has only one place to go— back to Durango Street. Almost right away, he gets on the wrong side of the Gassers, has to join the rival Moors— and starts running for his life. Years ahead of its time, Durango Street, like The Outsiders, shows that gang violence is, sadly, nothing new— and nothing glamorous. "A starkly realistic, convincing, well-written teen novel." — School Library Journal

Customer Reviews:

Durango Street.......2006-12-01

This book is really good. At first it seems really boring and kind of a gangster book, but later on its really interesting. You see the character's personality change. You also find out how life is very hard in the gangster world because you have no where that is safe. The main character Rufus Henry, is the source that changes the group called Moors. It is an exicting novel that shows the rivalry between the different rival groups. (Moors, Gassers, Bloods etc.) If you pick up the book and it seems boring in the beginning, i advise you to continue reading it. The book in the middle is totally awesome. Don't let this oppurtunity to read a good book slip by. Frank Bonham is an excellent author. READ THIS BOOK!

Jennifer Wong

Durango Street.......2006-11-30

This book is really good. At first it seems really boring and kind of a gangster book, but later on its really intereseting. You see the character's personality change. You also find out how life is very hard in the gangster world because you have no where that is safe. The main character Rufus Henry, is the source that changes the group called Moors. It is an exicting novel that shows the rivalry between the different rival groups. (Moors, Gassers, Bloods etc.) If you pick up the book and it seems boring in the beginning, i advise you to continue reading it. The book in the middle is totally awesome. Don't let this oppurtunity to read a good book slip by. Frank Bonham is an excellent author. READ THIS BOOK!

From the author of Tales of Ancient Xenar.......2006-04-14

Yes, I read this book in high school 20 years ago during my sophomore year. I didn't read it because I wanted to. It was an assignment given by my english class. Now dramas like this aren't the genres enjoy reading. But Durango Street left an indellible imprint in me that lives on to this day. It taught me a lot about people who live on the wrong side of the law. The main character, Rufus is a young man fresh out of prison for Grand Theft Auto. He fins a lot has changed in his old neighborhood. For instance, a drug dealing gang called the Gassers rules Durango Street. So Rufus is forced to join a rival gang called the Moors. Throughout the story, we see Rufus make many choices based on morality. Sometimes he makes the right choices and sometimes the wrong ones. Personally, my favorite part of this book was towards the end when Rufus helps organize the school dance.
Now this book was a small contributing factor in my decision to be a writer. If any of my children ever wanted to follow my footsteps, I'd give them a copy of this book to read. This story will be with me for the rest of my life.

Teen Gang Violence.......2006-01-11

Rufus Henry was warned that if he joined another street gang he would end up in a real prison. But he had to have protection: In his neighborhood if you didn't belong to one gang, you'd be beaten up by another. This is a story about the sad, rowdy, and violent world of teenage gangs. Scary.

Durango Street .......2005-10-29

The author of Durango Street is Frank Bonham. This is a fiction book.I liked this book because it was athrilling adventures book about a kid named Rufus Henry who is 15 years old.Who was in the Cobras gang.For potection thats why many kids got involed in gangs.And after he got out of Fostery camp, because he had stolen a car and and a .12 rifle; and shooting at the stores.And after he got out he bumped into the the Gassers leader Jones.So he joins into the Moors a fighting crew know for its reputation.
I liked the parts when he was fighting with the Gassers.A couple of times.What I did'nt like was that in the story he meets Ernie Brown who is supposebly his father a holafamer.But does'nt say at all if he was his real father.
My favorite character was Rufus Henry who always stands his head up high for his family and crew.And he never let them get to his mind and try to make him go balistic.
I enjoyed this book and you will too with many action scenes and lots of suprises. I reccomend it to people that like thrilling stories. This has to be the most intresting story I've ever read in History.And it touches your heart and mind.
I have a question for the author Frank Bonham why does it say he has been scared his most life.But if you saw him you would'nt say that.

Average customer rating:

Durango Street
Frank Bonham
Manufacturer: Scholastic Book Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0590315870

Product Description

Going home from the Pine Valley Detention Center Rufus thinks about his new home on Durango Street and his parole officer's warning. But Rufus knows there are no choices. "Any new neighborhood was like a cellar you entered with your hands tied behind you..." The only way you stay alive in the big city jungle is by joining a gang-before some other gang uses you for bayonet practice. Durango Street belongs to the Moors, a fighting gang. "You gets beat into this gang and you gets beat out of it!" says their leader Bantu. Rufus is ready to join...

Average customer rating:

Durango Street
Frank Bonham
Manufacturer: E. P. Dutton & Co., Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000O05UHE

Average customer rating:

Durango Street

Manufacturer: Dell Publishing Co., Inc.
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HU0X82

Average customer rating:

Durango Street
Frank Bonham
Manufacturer: Laurel Leaf Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000NPR65Y

Average customer rating:

Durango Street
Frank Bonham
Manufacturer: New York: E.P. Dutton, 1969
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Leather Bound
ASIN: B000IUCAGE

Average customer rating:

Durango Street

Manufacturer: Scholastic Book Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000HQRBZ4

Average customer rating:

Durango Street
Frank Bonham
Manufacturer: Dell
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000RT9MBM

Average customer rating:

Durango Street
Frank Bonham
Manufacturer: Scholastic Book Services
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
ASIN: B000HUDUKU

Average customer rating:

Durango Street
Frank Bonham
Manufacturer: Dutton
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Library Binding
ASIN: B000GWM58C

Book Description

The subjects of stress and animal welfare are currently attracting immense interest. The purpose of this book is to bring together a range of perspectives from biomedical research (including human health and animal models of human stress) on stress and welfare, and to assess new approaches to conceptualising and alleviating stress. Contributors include leading authorities from North America, Europe and Australia.

Average customer rating:

Fish Welfare

Manufacturer: Blackwell Publishing Limited
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 140514629X

Book Description

With the rise of the aquaculture industry during recent years and its likely continuing expansion for very many years, the subject of fish welfare has come to the fore, although the subject is in its infancy. This important new book represents a landmark in the subject area, bringing together a great wealth of relevant information together in the covers of one book for the first time. Fish Welfare is broadly divided into two sections. The first section deals with general aspects of fish welfare including chapters covering how fish suffer pain and fear, fishesrsquo; responses to stress and the measurement of such stress responses, and a summary of the current legislation relevant to fish welfare. The second section of the book covers welfare issues relating specifically to aquaculture and includes major topics such as stocking densities, water quality, physical trauma, diseases, feeding, pre-slaughter handling and slaughter, and fish transport. Carefully edited by well-known fish veterinarian Edward Branson, Fish Welfare brings together contributions from many of the most highly respected scientists currently working in the area. Fish Welfare is an essential purchase for fish farm managers, all fish veterinarians and those involved in the aquaculture industry and its regulation.

Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals

Average customer rating:

Recognition and Alleviation of Pain and Distress in Laboratory Animals

Manufacturer: Natl Academy Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

jp-unknown1 | Specialty Stores | Books
ASIN: 0309042755

Stress and Animal Welfare (Chapman and Hall Animal Behaviour)

Average customer rating:

Stress and Animal Welfare (Chapman and Hall Animal Behaviour)
D.M. Broom , and K.G. Johnson
Manufacturer: Springer
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Science | Subjects | Books

Animal Husbandry | Agricultural Sciences | Science | Subjects | Books

Physiology | Basic Science | Medicine | Subjects | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Medicine | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

Animal Welfare: Limping Towards Eden (Ufaw Animal Welfare)

ASIN: 0412395800

Book Description

The book explains basic biological principles for students of animal housing, husbandry, management, and experimentation. The text provides a framework and reference source for everyone involved in moral decisions about animal usage.

Capture of the vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) for sustainable use: Animal welfare implications [An article from: Biological Conservation]

Average customer rating:

Capture of the vicuna (Vicugna vicugna) for sustainable use: Animal welfare implications [An article from: Biological Conservation]
C. Bonacic , R.E. Feber , and D.W. Macdonald
Manufacturer: Elsevier
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Digital

Elsevier | By Publisher | e-Docs | Formats | Books
ASIN: B000RR8L8O

Book Description

This digital document is a journal article from Biological Conservation, published by Elsevier in 2006. The article is delivered in HTML format and is available in your Amazon.com Media Library immediately after purchase. You can view it with any web browser.

Description:
The current program of vicuna conservation includes their live-capture for wool harvest in the Andes Region in northern Chile. Here, we describe studies that assess the impacts on the species of different variables relating to the capture process. The immediate physical and physiological effects on vicuna of contrasting capture methods, chase distances and restraint were measured. Comparisons between two methods of capture showed that cortisol concentrations were higher in animals herded using vehicles alone compared to those herded using a combination of vehicles and local people on foot. Blood glucose levels, heart rate and respiratory rate showed an immediate but ephemeral response to herding into a corral. The range of distances over which animals were herded caused less noticeable changes in blood and physical parameters. The most marked changes were associated with restraint, during which there were significant increases in creatin kinase, packed cell volume and rectal temperature. The implications of changes in these parameters on vicuna welfare and conservation are discussed.

Average customer rating:

Animal Stress (Animal Welfare)

Manufacturer: An American Physiological Society Book
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Veterinary Medicine | Medicine | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Based on a recent symposium that brought together experts in behavior, nutrition, physiology, immunology, and human and animal medicine, this volume presents an up-to-date discussion of the problems and methods of studying animal stress today. Section one reviews the evolutionary and ontogenetic determinants of animal suffering and the assessment of well-being. The second section examines biological responses to stress and methods of monitoring stress in animals. Section three shows how stress can threaten animal health, disrupt normal reproduction, and influence growth and metabolism. The final section relates the importance of animal stress to developing guidelines on the use of animals in scientific research. This is an invaluable reference for exploring these complex responses.

EC report on the definitions of "pain" "stress", and "suffering", and the use of these concepts in legislation on animal experiments (Proefdier en Wetenschap)

Average customer rating:

EC report on the definitions of "pain" "stress", and "suffering", and the use of these concepts in legislation on animal experiments (Proefdier en Wetenschap)
B Voorzanger
Manufacturer: Rijksuniversiteit te Leiden
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007BYHOC

Economic implications of the effects of climatic stress on shelter alternatives for finishing cattle

Average customer rating:

Economic implications of the effects of climatic stress on shelter alternatives for finishing cattle
David Charles Petritz
Manufacturer: University Microfilms International
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Housing, stress, and welfare of sheep and goats : January 1981 - June 1992 (SuDoc A 17.18/4:92-59)

Average customer rating:

Housing, stress, and welfare of sheep and goats : January 1981 - June 1992 (SuDoc A 17.18/4:92-59)
Michael D. Kreger
Manufacturer: National Agricultural Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00010BP0S

Housing, stress, and welfare of sheep and goats: January 1981 - June 1992 (Quick bibliography series)

Average customer rating:

Housing, stress, and welfare of sheep and goats: January 1981 - June 1992 (Quick bibliography series)
Michael D Kreger
Manufacturer: National Agricultural Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Book Description

This volume presents a state-of-the-art account of the theory and applications of integral equations of convolution type, and of certain classes of integro-differential and non-linear integral equations. An extensive and well-motivated discussion of some open questions and of various important directions for further research is also presented. The book has been written so as to be self-contained, and includes a list of symbols with their definitions.
For users of convolution integral equations, the volume contains numerous, well-classified inversion tables which correspond to the various convolutions and intervals of integration. It also has an extensive, up-to-date bibliography. The convolution integral equations which are considered arise naturally from a large variety of physical situations and it is felt that the types of solutions discussed will be usefull in many diverse disciplines of applied mathematics and mathematical physical.
For researchers and graduate students in the mathematical and physical sciences whose work involves the solution of integral equations.

Toeplitz Matrices, Convolution Operators, and Integral Equations: The Bernd Silbermann Anniversary Volume (Operator Theory: Advances and Applications)

Average customer rating:

Toeplitz Matrices, Convolution Operators, and Integral Equations: The Bernd Silbermann Anniversary Volume (Operator Theory: Advances and Applications)

Manufacturer: Birkhäuser Basel
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

General | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Mathematical Analysis | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

Matrices | Mathematics | Science | Subjects | Books

General | Medicine | Subjects | Books

All Amazon Upgrade | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Medicine | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Professional & Technical | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

Science | Amazon Upgrade | Stores | Books

All Titles | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Medicine | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Professional | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books

Science | Qualifying Textbooks - Fall 2007 | Stores | Books
ASIN: 3764368772

Book Description

This volume, dedicated to Bernd Silbermann on his sixtieth birthday, collects research articles on Toeplitz matrices and singular integral equations written by leading area experts. The subjects of the contributions include Banach algebraic methods, Toeplitz determinants and random matrix theory, Fredholm theory and numerical analysis for singular integral equations, and efficient algorithms for linear systems with structured matrices, and reflect Bernd Silbermann's broad spectrum of research interests. The volume also contains a biographical essay and a list of publications. The book is addressed to a wide audience in the mathematical and engineering sciences. The articles are carefully written and are accessible to motivated readers with basic knowledge in functional analysis and operator theory.

Theory of distributions;: Differentiation, convolution; Fouvier [!] transforms; applications to integral and partial differential equations (Canadian Mathematical ... 2nd Summer Seminar. Lecture series)

Average customer rating:

Theory of distributions;: Differentiation, convolution; Fouvier [!] transforms; applications to integral and partial differential equations (Canadian Mathematical ... 2nd Summer Seminar. Lecture series)
Laurent Schwartz
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B0007JWV5Q

Customer Reviews:

Solid theory reference.......2006-11-30

This book examines, explores, and supplies representative samples of literary theory. It is not a book that catalogs and summarizes all the genres of literary theory in a way that an encyclopedia or anthology would. Instead, Richter explores literary theory as phenomena, its origins and its value. He does this through three essays he authors: 1) Why We Read, 2) What We Read, and 3) How We Read. Each section is not just Richter's thoughts, but also references to pertinent opinions of well know cultural critics and professors who have written on issue. He paraphrases their thoughts and opinions with each section, but also supplies the full (or a large portion) of the original essay that he references in an appendix to each section, providing the reader even further reading to explore if the reader finds a view interesting and worthy of exploration.

we need to think more about what we read and write.......2005-11-23

Representative or significant paragraph: Early in the Preface, Richter contends that the best way to teach our students to think well is "to be forthright about the irreconcilable differences within the profession over the interpretation and evaluation of texts and to highlight in our teaching precisely these differences" Studying the debates over the disciplinary object of literature and the multiple methods for its study helps students, in Gerald Graff's words, "learn to talk the otherwise mysterious intellectual discourse by which books and ideas are discussed in the academy and the world outside the academy. It helps students become active participants in a cultural conversation that has too often excluded them." If students do not find reason to examine the tacit assumption that they are now incontrovertibly citizens in a newly formed "state of theory" then they become all-too-willing captives of the ideology of that state.

(...)

What happens when creative writing students become teachers and still aren't aware of such debates?

Falling into Theory 2e and Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Conflicting Views on Reading Literature

Average customer rating:

Falling into Theory 2e and Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Conflicting Views on Reading Literature
David H. Richter , Paul H. Fry , and Samuel Taylor Coleridge
Manufacturer: Bedford/St. Martin's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

Falling into Theory : Conflicting Views on Reading Literature

Average customer rating:

Falling into Theory : Conflicting Views on Reading Literature
David H. Richter
Manufacturer: Bedford/St Martins
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000OSZCZG

Average customer rating:

Falling into Theory: Conflicting Views on Reading Literature.
David H. RICHTER
Manufacturer: Boston & NY: Bedford/St. Martin's
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000UG5EXM

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books