This classic work in the growing environmental field traces the evolution of American thought on the concept of wilderness. Leading off with a detailed look at the definition of wilderness, Nash progresses into a comprehensive examination of how the idea of wilderness has shifted with the political, economic, social and intellectual changes in American history. Originally written in 1967, this most recent version is updated with late 20th century case studies and a stronger ecocentric slant. The newly written (2001) introduction and epilogue highlight key concerns for the sustainability of the 2% of our nation we have deemed wilderness.
Wilderness is defined by Nash along a progressive scale from established civilization to no-human contact, wherein the later is the most “true” wilderness. Working with this somewhat ambiguous definition, Nash builds a thorough history of American thoughts and practices that have created our view of “the wild”. Nash begins with the early subjugation of the land through biblical rationalization (“subdue” and “dominion” of Genesis), and continues on to talk about the paradigm shift to “appreciation” of the beauty of the wild. Romanticism, deism, aesthetics and the enlightenment all played a role in broadening our appreciation of nature. In addition, as America looked for its niche in the world (or more particularly from Europe), the amount of wilderness became an obvious unique quality. Nationalism built from this realization. Nash turns then to a look at Thoreau, where transcendentalist thought and our attitudes towards man, nature and God finds a small audience in a dominantly westward progressing population. Thoreau believed the best life was one straddled between the animal in us (wilderness) and the pursuit of progress (civilization). A case study of John Muir brings to light the past (and present) national debate between progress and preservation. The schism between Muir, a proponent of preservation in order to keep an inspiring and refreshing retreat from “progress”, and Pinchot, who favored forestry conservation and “wise-use” principles, becomes a model for the antipodal views of the time. This case study is so wonderful because of its pertinence to contemporary environmental issues. Nash continues with a detailed look at Aldo Leopold, who stressed the scientific necessity of preservation in order to study intact ecosystems and cycles. His ideas were based on eastern philosophy (i.e. Jainism) and a progressive scientific understanding of ecology.
A great deal of the second half of the book highlights the formation of wilderness areas and the many political battles over national parks and forest land, with a focus on the Grand Canyon, Hetch Hetchy Dam, and the Alaskan northern frontier. Nash follows with commentary on the “paradox of preservation”, where the necessary means defeat the desired ends. Unfortunately the effort to draw support to a cause led to too much interest and therefore wilderness degradation. The book also provides an interesting look at wilderness through an international lens, with the concept of nature “importing” and “exporting” taking center stage in today's global wilderness debate. As a whole, Nash persuasively sets up the argument that successive paradigm shifts in our view of wilderness have dominated the past three centuries.
Nash concludes with a provocative epilogue proposing three options for society in the future: A) the wasteland scenario (consume our resources and the whole earth), B) the green scenario (control all to a point of artificial perfection), and his suggestion, C) the island civilization scenario (fence in civilization, not wilderness - and have the best of both worlds).
As an environmental science teacher, I found Nash's study comprehensive, detailed, and enlightening. He truly tells “a story” of the concept of wilderness that is readable and engaging. At the most basic level, teachers and students could read this as a background text of the wilderness theme in American history. For higher level thinking in the class (using the authors well-divided sections), individual chapters become the launching point for discussions on historical, environmental, literary, religious or cultural themes.
review ©2003 by Brian Michaels and RSiSS
Palmer Trinity School
Miami, Florida