The Nature of New York: An Environmental History of the Empire State

In this book, described as “An Environmental History of the Empire State”, I had hoped to find details on the myriad plant and animal species in New York state, and how the habitats of New York changed over time and altered the species populations. Although there is brief mention of a few of the more well-known species, most of the historic information in this book is related to the economic activities of the early settlers and how the various indigenous species contributed to the state’s economic growth. The term “environmental” in the title encompasses a much broader range of historic activities than I expected, most of them initiated by human beings. Very well-written and well-documented, but not at all what I had hoped it would be.

This is an excellent history of New York. It tells the story of how New Yorkers have used nature and how the environment has affected society from the colonial period to the present. Even those readers familiar with the state's history will enjoy it. David Stadling adopts a unique approach to New York's past focusing less on politics and individuals and more on environmental matters such as the development of farming, the impact of industrialization, the creation of protected areas in the Catskills and the Adirondacks, and the growth of the environmental movement. He is an expert on the environmental history of cities, especially how politicians and ordinary citizens grappled with air pollution. Because of this, his sections on New York's urban landscape are particularly strong. A book like this could easily have focused entirely on conventional 'environmental' topics such as farming, logging, and water development. He covers those with great skill while also incorporating cities into his discussionThough Stradling is a history professor, this is not a dry academic tome. He has a lively writing style and his pasion for the state is evident on every page. The author and the press did a wonderful job with the production. They included a glossy insert of paintings showing the state's environmental past through the centuries, including classics by famous Hudson River School painters.I moved to central New York from the western U.S. seven years ago, and since then, I've wised for a well-written history of the state that explains the development of its various landscapes. Finally, here it is! If you are interested in the state's history, you'll want this book. If you have a friend or someone in the family with this interest, the book will make a great gift.

This book is great for an overview of New York's environmental past--from an expert. If you want to understand the environmental issues of the future for New York, you need to know its past. The future, of which this book does not spend much time on (as that isn't the author's intent), does not say much about Climate Change--though it does acknowledge that it is a problem "for which no solution appears imminent."New York State has undergone a lot of environmental change in the past 500 years as the author details very well. It is the foundation for the future looming crisis of Climate Change.

this is decent for the time period it covers, but Stradling doesn't go before the 19th century. disappointed

I purchased this book as a requirement for a class on Empire State History. I was only required to read the first four chapters, but ended up finishing the book. Stradling takes a new approach to NY State history. He looks at it from every perspective, the people, the culture, the landscape... I really liked this book and intend to hang on to it.

everyone especially in NY state should read this book; I already had read it and ordered this one as a gift..

...informative and useful...thank you!!