Choice 评论

Pepper's overview of environmentalism is a superbly crafted synthesis of a complex, still-evolving field of inquiry. Rather than providing a mere documentation of pedantic facts about environmental movements, Pepper attempts and succeeds at critically examining the interwoven texture of important philosophical, ecological, economic, social, and political ideologies that underpin various green movements, such as biocentrism and ecocentrism. He aptly elucidates the main theses and suppositions of various conceptual perspectives (e.g., anarchism, ecologism, holism, materialism, postmodernism, structuralism) that attempt to reconcile human existence with the natural world. The book is divided into six chapters ("Defining Environmentalism," "Issues in Radical Environmentalism," "Roots of Technocentrism," "Roots of Ecocentrism," "Postmodern Science and Ecocentrism," "Ways Ahead"), a useful glossary of relevant terms and concepts, and an extensive (more than 500 citations) and an up-to-date reference list. Pepper's commentary and analysis are evenhanded, as he assesses the strengths and internal contradictions of each green view. Although the book introduces past and present-day environmental thought and action championed in North America and Europe, it brings the reader deep below the surface of these critically important ideas. Highly recommended. All levels. P. R. Pinet Colgate University