Reader beware: This is an academic tome. However, I enjoyed it. As a young woman, I remember being in awe of Julia Butterfly Hill and this book takes a look at organizations and specific activists who put their money where their mouths are and take disruptive actions for the greater good. What I liked the most about this book is that it doesn't look at these ecocentric heroes through rose-colored glasses. What I mean is, that it addresses some of the missteps these entities have been criticized for.

It took me quite a while to get through this book as it was much more scholarly than I imagined when I began. I became interested in the environmental movement back in the early 90s and much more so in the early 2000s when the move towards organic became more popular. This was an interesting book full of insights into the early beginnings of the eco movement with facets I didn't realize, such as the zero population growth movement.

Thank you with gratitude to the publisher, author and Net Galley for the review copy. My opinion is my own.
As a long time environmentalist I was thrilled to receive this book for review. This is a book that one should take their time with as there is so much to learn here that you must absorb the reading. As you read this book you will want to conduct your own research with the author's recommendations on each area of interest. This book should be required reading in classrooms as its outstanding in depth and research.

As one who has worked with environment issues for decades, I found this to be the "Definitive" book on learning the history of environmentalism, the current climate and how to navigate advocacy for the various issues.

The author has exemplary research.

The Sierra Club is included with its history, the history and purpose of the Nature Conservancy Group, and of Greenpeace critical work for the oceans. The author documents how overpopulation, dam construction effects , water rights , clear cutting and oil drilling is affecting our planet. .

I was particularly interested in the portion devote to Redwood conservation and the fight to preserve these rare trees as corporate American fights to clear cut our forest. The tree canopy and the support of multiple species in the forest are covered here in detail.

The author includes advocates and their struggles and devotion to saving our environment. He documents how corporate America and politicians are approving destruction of our environment for sheer gain of profit and we are losing our water, waterways, deserts and ocean health and open spaces. it is most enlightening and should be read by everyone that has a interest in saving our planet .

A "Definitive" book on environmental activism and history. I recommend this quite highly. Thank you to the author for this exemplary body of work.

Interesting book as it is more and more actual in today's world and urgency of ecology. This book is intented for university use as it is about the history of radical environmentalism but yet, it is a good read to be able to understand where environmental battles are coming from.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36906218-the-ecocentrists

I can't quite give this history of environmental groups in America five stars because it is intended for university use and not the average interested reader, though some portions are easier. I also found some surprising omissions, though I would not like to have done all the hard work involved of piecing together these accounts.
See the rest of my review.

Sadly, I know some of these folks... I admit to having skipped around in this book as I was reading it. I think it could have been edited better for length, or maybe I just didn't find the subject so interesting after all, It just gets old and who's side to stand for gets difficult because nothing is really black and white. too may grey areas. First you have folks chaining themselves to trees to keep them from being chopped down. Ok, I get that, kinda... Then there's the ranchers and public land...we want beef, cattle have to eat. UGH! Big mess! read it if you want to lean what's going on. Join it if you feel you need to. But I think I'm going to need a whole lot more info before I take sides....Not a bad read, it seems well researched and all, just maybe not for me.

It wasn't what I expected so I did not finish the whole book. I did not enjoy the way it was written.