A Word for Nature

The book delves into the influential careers and philosophies of four key figures in American conservation: George Perkins Marsh, Henry David Thoreau, John Muir, and John Wesley Powell. It presents vivid portraits of these early environmentalists, highlighting their firsthand experiences with the detrimental effects of economic growth and industrialization on vulnerable landscapes, from New England's forests to the Western mountains. Through their stories, the author illustrates the foundational ideas that shaped the conservation movement in America.