audiobook Engineering Eden: The True Story of a Violent Death; a Trial; and the Fight over Controlling Nature by Jordan Fisher Smith in History

Review

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Great historical accounting of defining moments and often tragic events subsequent to man's intervention in nature!By DionisiaI found this book by Jordan Fisher Smith to be an intriguing historical accounting of the various interactions and interventions of humans in nature; specifically the National Parks and the consequences; both intended and unintended that are left behind. This true tale of park and wildlife management and the tragic incidents that occur as a result of the winding road of decision making demonstrates the difficulty that developed when attempting to adhere to the polar philosophies of those making the decisions. The question--to intervene or not to intervene? The author weaves in specific events such as the death of Harry Walker by a grizzly in Yellowstone in 1972 that perpetuate the question of good decisions and bad decisions made by both the stewards of the National Parks and the individuals who utilize them.The book explores the difficulty of creating a peaceful coexistence of humans and wild animals in the ecosystems in which they now live and roam.. Historical accountings of places and events allow for a review of what has been done and often it is in evaluating this history where learning occurs. The author has done extensive research and outlines the differing philosophies and actions that have been applied to the management of the National Parks. He speaks of real people and is able to characterize them in such a way that the reader can easily feel connected to them in one way or another. This makes you feel that you are in the middle of the drama created in the tale and puts you in the position to ask yourself; "What would I do?" Aside from the miscreant behavior of some; I could easily agree with opposing philosophies that are presented and I could have and probably did camp in areas not designated for camping at an earlier time in my life. After reading this book; I have a renewed appreciation for following the rules and using logical thinking in making a decision. Good decisions can have bad outcomes but more often; bad decisions will have bad outcomes. The best you can do is try to make the best decision with all of the information which is given to you.I appreciate all of the information given in this book and believe it is a great book for all to read; not just those interested in Wildlife Biology or other specific fields as some reviewers have mentioned.. We all live in nature and are exposed to animals of some sort living in our environment and most of us have traveled to national parks at some time in our life. Education begins with awareness and this book opens your eyes to becoming more cautious about actions that could have serious impact on yourself; others; animals or the environment. It also leaves you with hope that we can get it right with collective input that can help to move closer to the Edenic balance present before the destruction caused by human intervention!4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Detailed Insightful PerspectivesBy Scott CI was working at Old Faithful when this happened and know many of the details. Grizzlies were in our NPS housing area every night. Special precautions were in place when you left a residence after dark. One night there was a 900-pound grizzly on the front porch of the transit hut as we peered out the window thinking how easily this beast could tear down the flimsy door. Hiking back from Shoshone Lake we encountered a grizzly on the trail in the meadow as we came out of the wooded area. We retreated to climb a tree at the same time the grizzly decided to go the other way. The dump in West Yellowstone was like a drive-in to see the grizzlies with many tourists there nightly. The attached photo shows a grizzly at the West Yellowstone dump site.Jordan Fisher Smith has completed detailed research and revealed many facts and circumstances that were not know at the time of the events. He brings out many behind the scene events and personalities. The facts surrounding the death of Harry Walker are very accurate as described. He masterfully shows how the management of natural resources by the National Park Service has evolved over the years and what brought about the changes. At the 100 year anniversary of the NPS; this book provides valuable insight and perspectives about the creation of the National Park System and the challenges that are ahead in the coming decades.Enjoyable read providing many details of how this affected the persons involved and the resulting changes in park management.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. A splendid and insightful book.By David Van CleveJordan Fisher Smith has written a magnificent book. Obviously; the hook here is the encounter between a grizzly and a human; with an unfortunate but predictable outcome. Mr. Smith; however; takes the reader behind the curtain into the inner workings of the National Park Service to discover the back-stories that created the conditions for this tragedy and many others. These include the wrangling over grizzly bear management policies between scientists and the Park Service; and between respected scientists themselves. The coverage of the history of the Park Movement; the evolution of scientific thought; and the application of science to real-life management decisions all add value to this book. Most intriguing and thought-provoking is the analysis of the biggest argument in park resource management – whether to let “nature” take its course; or whether park professionals should intervene to help create and sustain desired conditions in parks. Mr. Smith spent innumerable hours with victims; their families; scientists; and park managers to create this meticulously-researched and splendid work.