Saving the Planet ─ The American Response to the Environment in the Twentieth Century

Examines the evolution of American cultural attitudes towards the environment as they have expressed themselves in changing lifestyles, political movements, and other aspects of social life. Rothman (history and public administration, U. of Nevada) explores the reactions of Americans to such incidents as Love Canal, various oil spills, and the building of the Echo Park Damn from the 1890s to the present and concludes that Americans, for the most part, are "pale green," or willing to accommodate environmentalist ideas as long as it doesn't affect them personally. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)