An intimate and revelatory dive into the world of the beaver—the wonderfully weird rodent that has surprisingly shaped American history and may save its ecological future.
From award-winning writer Leila Philip, BEAVERLAND is a masterful work of narrative science writing, a book that highlights, though history and contemporary storytelling, how this weird rodent plays an oversized role in American history and its future. She follows fur trappers who lead her through waist high water, fur traders and fur auctioneers, as well as wildlife managers, PETA activists, Native American environmental vigilantes, scientists, engineers, and the colorful group of activists known as beaver believers.
Beginning with the early trans-Atlantic trade in North America, Leila Philip traces the beaver’s profound influence on our nation’s early economy and feverish western expansion, its first corporations and multi-millionaires. In her pursuit of this weird and wonderful animal, she introduces us to people whose lives …
An intimate and revelatory dive into the world of the beaver—the wonderfully weird rodent that has surprisingly shaped American history and may save its ecological future.
From award-winning writer Leila Philip, BEAVERLAND is a masterful work of narrative science writing, a book that highlights, though history and contemporary storytelling, how this weird rodent plays an oversized role in American history and its future. She follows fur trappers who lead her through waist high water, fur traders and fur auctioneers, as well as wildlife managers, PETA activists, Native American environmental vigilantes, scientists, engineers, and the colorful group of activists known as beaver believers.
Beginning with the early trans-Atlantic trade in North America, Leila Philip traces the beaver’s profound influence on our nation’s early economy and feverish western expansion, its first corporations and multi-millionaires. In her pursuit of this weird and wonderful animal, she introduces us to people whose lives are devoted to the beaver, including a Harvard scientist from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, who uses drones to create 3-dimensional images of beaver dams; and an environmental restoration consultant in the Chesapeake whose nickname is the “beaver whisperer”.
What emerges is a poignant personal narrative, a startling portrait of the secretive world of the contemporary fur trade, and an engrossing ecological and historical investigation of these heroic animals who, once trapped to the point of extinction, have returned to the landscape as one of the greatest conservation stories of the 20th century. Beautifully written and impeccably researched, BEAVERLAND reveals the profound ways in which one odd creature and the trade surrounding it has shaped history, culture, and our environment.
I really liked this one. It has a lot of the author in the story. She pulls you into the events and the research she did for this book and makes it all very personal. She takes an even handed look at all of the issues surrounding these furry critters and does not beat you over the head with an environmental message. In fact, the sadest part of the book is learning that the fur trade is dying off. At the same time, she is able to explain in a very detailed way why we need to live with Beavers and alternatives to simply treating them like pests when they conflict with humans.
I just finished Beaverland and I really enjoyed it. It's a very well-written science book that includes fascinating discussions of the role beavers played in the history of North America, particularly the economic development by Europeans. It also does a great job explaining the effects beavers have on the natural landscape and why we probably need more beavers to protect our environment.
The author is a very good writer, but I had the unsettling feeling that the book could've used one more good edit. Periodically, the book would make a reference to something that I didn't understand (such as a pond leveler) and only a few pages or a few chapters later would the concept be explained. It seemed like the writer wrote this in separate chapters at separate times, but nobody checked the final assembly to make sure that all the pieces fit together perfectly. This is only …
I just finished Beaverland and I really enjoyed it. It's a very well-written science book that includes fascinating discussions of the role beavers played in the history of North America, particularly the economic development by Europeans. It also does a great job explaining the effects beavers have on the natural landscape and why we probably need more beavers to protect our environment.
The author is a very good writer, but I had the unsettling feeling that the book could've used one more good edit. Periodically, the book would make a reference to something that I didn't understand (such as a pond leveler) and only a few pages or a few chapters later would the concept be explained. It seemed like the writer wrote this in separate chapters at separate times, but nobody checked the final assembly to make sure that all the pieces fit together perfectly. This is only a minor quibble – I really enjoyed this book.
Beavers, ecology, and making the world a better place
4 stars
Beaverland is a narrative deep dive (impressively researched) into the the world of beavers and all the folks who champion (from trappers, to enthusiasts, to scientists, to everyday people) this most important keystone species. The focus is on North America, and Connecticut more specifically, but the author does a great job outlining the specie's ecological importance globally as well. Great book. It's at times light and full of adventure as the author tramps through swamps and other times very appropriately serious and academically detailed. Recommend.
Beaverland is a narrative deep dive (impressively researched) into the the world of beavers and all the folks who champion (from trappers, to enthusiasts, to scientists, to everyday people) this most important keystone species. The focus is on North America, and Connecticut more specifically, but the author does a great job outlining the specie's ecological importance globally as well. Great book. It's at times light and full of adventure as the author tramps through swamps and other times very appropriately serious and academically detailed. Recommend.
