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sjgrodsky's review against another edition
4.0
I took a long time to read this book, interspersing a few others while still in mid-read. And I’m writing this review on March 1, more than a week after completing the book. So this isn’t the fresh, complete review the author deserves, although I will do my best.
The author is full of physical courage. I would not camp overnight alone on a deserted island in the south Orkneys, much as I’d like to see the re-wilded cattle of Swona. Still less would I wriggle underneath fencing designed to keep humans away from the still-dangerous grounds where World War I poison gas still devastates the land. And I wouldn’t spend as much time as she did with the marginal, but armed, characters of Slab City, California. Cal was willing to take risks I would never take in pursuit of her story.
Cal is also a beautiful prose stylist. She is the equal of Rachel Carson, whose luminous descriptions date from the 1960s.
She’s a good thinker too. Gazing at the Swona cattle, she asks if they are truly wild. This leads her to think about what “domesticated” is, and to discuss the continuum from domesticated to feral to wild. My only disappointment is that she doesn’t reach a clear conclusion about the Swona cattle. I would say that they are re-wilded: domestic once, but no more.
Good as Cal is, I was disappointed at the lack of visual aids. Not a single photo or drawing or map. It’s also significant that the stories I remember best concern the Swona cattle (because I found videos on YouTube) and the Salton Sea (because I’ve visited).
Last: I wish Cal had delved more into why so many humans (she, I, her readers) are fascinated with places that are dead or nearly dead. This isn’t a new human trait. Shelley’s “Ozymandias” works off the same semi-pornographic interest. But WHY do we gaze? What are we getting out if it?
The author is full of physical courage. I would not camp overnight alone on a deserted island in the south Orkneys, much as I’d like to see the re-wilded cattle of Swona. Still less would I wriggle underneath fencing designed to keep humans away from the still-dangerous grounds where World War I poison gas still devastates the land. And I wouldn’t spend as much time as she did with the marginal, but armed, characters of Slab City, California. Cal was willing to take risks I would never take in pursuit of her story.
Cal is also a beautiful prose stylist. She is the equal of Rachel Carson, whose luminous descriptions date from the 1960s.
She’s a good thinker too. Gazing at the Swona cattle, she asks if they are truly wild. This leads her to think about what “domesticated” is, and to discuss the continuum from domesticated to feral to wild. My only disappointment is that she doesn’t reach a clear conclusion about the Swona cattle. I would say that they are re-wilded: domestic once, but no more.
Good as Cal is, I was disappointed at the lack of visual aids. Not a single photo or drawing or map. It’s also significant that the stories I remember best concern the Swona cattle (because I found videos on YouTube) and the Salton Sea (because I’ve visited).
Last: I wish Cal had delved more into why so many humans (she, I, her readers) are fascinated with places that are dead or nearly dead. This isn’t a new human trait. Shelley’s “Ozymandias” works off the same semi-pornographic interest. But WHY do we gaze? What are we getting out if it?
emilyyyrich's review against another edition
5.0
A wonderful book about the impact of humans on the world and the rewilding that happens when we leave a place - in equal parts fascinating, terrifying and uplifting. ⭐️ 4.5/5
piedwarbler's review against another edition
4.0
It’s a hopeful book full of optimism. It’s a terrifying read about the dangers the future holds. How can this book be both?
Most of the chapters are about nature’s ability to recover from human interference and destruction.
The last two are about climate change and supervolcanoes. If climate change continues, we could boil to death, and if a supervolcano goes off, we could freeze.
However, if you just consider the first chapters, you get a delightful idea of how nature can recover from almost anything we try and do to ruin the beautiful planet we call home. You might want to stop reading when you get to the chapter “Revelation “ though.
A brilliant book. Taught me lots of things about places I wasn’t familiar with.
Most of the chapters are about nature’s ability to recover from human interference and destruction.
The last two are about climate change and supervolcanoes. If climate change continues, we could boil to death, and if a supervolcano goes off, we could freeze.
However, if you just consider the first chapters, you get a delightful idea of how nature can recover from almost anything we try and do to ruin the beautiful planet we call home. You might want to stop reading when you get to the chapter “Revelation “ though.
A brilliant book. Taught me lots of things about places I wasn’t familiar with.
novel_nomad's review against another edition
challenging
hopeful
informative
reflective
tense
medium-paced
4.5
ellikiress's review against another edition
It was difficult for me to follow what the author was saying in this audio format. I’d rather read it physically. Nevertheless it is a very interesting book and open up thought provoking discussions. I never thought of wastelands as something hopefully before so this is an eye opening read for me so far. However I will put it down for now until I get my hands on a physical copy (:
julesinthenorth's review against another edition
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
Incredibly descriptive and well researched. Cal Flyn doesn’t shy away from the truth, and gives us the facts wrapped in beautiful prose.
dear_old_world's review against another edition
I think I'm not patient enough for nature writing. Reckon I'd rather just go into nature myself tbh