The Earth first! reader

Publishers Weekly - Publisher's Weekly

Earth First! was this past decade's most controversial environmental group, dedicated to direct action, including sabotage of whaling ships and logging equipment. The writings in this anthology, drawn from the Earth First! Journal by managing editor Davis, reflect the passionate depth of the group's members to the environmental cause. Unfortunately, the commitment doesn't always make for compelling reading. Often, in their analysis of the depredations of government and corporations, the contributors seem to find the enemy everywhere--the Forest Service and other federal bureaucracies, the lumber, mining, paper and fishing industries, even other environmental groups that lack EF's zeal--and the tone waxes shrill. The pieces on specific actions are somewhat dated. ``Ecosystems and Their Members'' is by far the most useful chapter, illuminating the nuts-and-bolts workings of various embattled environments, with a particular concern for forest lands in the western and southeastern U.S. The book closes with a farewell from wilderness activist Nancy Morton and founder Dave Foreman (co-editor of Eco defense: A Field Guide to Monkey wrench ing ), detailing the cause of the political split that sundered Earth First! in 1990. (Sept.)

Library Journal

With a foreword by EarthFirst! cofounder Dave Foreman ( Confessions of an Eco-Warrior , LJ 3/1/91 ), this compilation of 40 articles published in the now-defunct EarthFirst! Journal provides a perspective on a radical portion of the environmental movement. EarthFirst! used tactics that were confrontational and sometimes even illegal (monkeywrenching). Beyond EarthFirst!, these articles by such writers as Gary Snyder and Ed Abbey present an important history of environmental thought in the United States from 1982 to 1990 with essays chosen for ``timeliness, informativeness . . . and lasting value to the conservation movement.'' A listing of the authors feature brief biographical comments. Recommended for environmental collections.-- Nancy Moeckel, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, Ohio

Booknews

A selection of some 40 articles from 10 years of the journal published by the radical and confrontational environmental group founded in 1980. No index. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)