One for the Earth

Library Journal

The Sierra Club, which was started exactly 100 years ago by a small group of people uniting to protect California's Sierra Nevada Mountains, is now a complex international organization that actively pursues a wide array of environmental issues. As its president during the 1990-91 term, Merrow recounts what she describes as ``the most demanding, exasperating, exhilarating, and stimulating experience I ever expect to have.'' Much like a campaigning politician, Merrow spent her year in a frenzy of activity, giving speeches, raising money, attacking Bush, and attending endless meetings. Over and over she tries to impress the reader with her boundless dedication, her hectic schedule, and her willingness to neglect her family for the sake of the cause. Her journal is made uneven by her juxtaposing serious national concerns with too many trivial details. Do we really care about her bouts of airsickness, her frequent mood swings, or the menus of the dinners she attended? Though it highlights many important concerns of the Sierra Club, this book is only a marginal purchase for comprehensive environmental collections.-- Ilse Heidmann Ali, formerly with Motlow State Community Coll., Tullahoma, Tenn.