Winner of the PEN/Jerard Award, Kim Todd holds a B.A. from Yale University and an M.F.A. from the University of Montana. She lives in San Francisco, California.
Tinkering with Eden: A Natural History of Exotic Species in America
Paperback
(Reprint)
$21.95
- ISBN-13: 9780393323245
- Publisher: Norton, W. W. & Company, Inc.
- Publication date: 06/17/2002
- Edition description: Reprint
- Pages: 328
- Sales rank: 140,436
- Product dimensions: 5.50(w) x 8.20(h) x 0.80(d)
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A bewitching look at nonnative species in American ecosystems, by the heir apparent to McKibben and Quammen.
Mosquitoes in Hawaii, sea lampreys in the Great Lakes, mountain goats in the Olympic Mountains of Washington State—not one of these species is native to the environment in which it now flourishes. Kim Todd's Tinkering with Eden is a lyrical, brilliantly written history of the introduction of exotic species into the United Sates, and how the well-meaning endeavors of scientists, explorers, and biologists have resulted in ecological catastrophe. Todd's assured voice will haunt her readers, and the stories she tells—such as the druggist who brought starlings to America because he wanted the landscape to feature every bird mentioned by Shakespeare—will forever change how we see our increasingly afflicted landscape and its unanticipated inhabitants.
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BookPage
A fascinating narrative enhanced by Todd's far-reaching research and rich story-telling abilities.
Caroline Fraser
[B]eautifully written natural history.
Discover
Todd re-creates the all-too-often neglected human dramas...that attended the arrival of nearly a score of exotics.
New York Times Book Review
You really can't fool Mother Nature, as Kim Todd vividly shows in her fascinating, cautionary first book.
Bookpage
A fascinating narrative enhanced by Todd's far-reaching research and story-telling abilities.
Library Journal
Many people are aware that starlings and gypsy moths are exotic species, but readers may be surprised to learn that such common critters as honeybees, ladybug beetles, brown trout, ring-necked pheasants, and many others were intentional introductions. Each chapter of this carefully researched work by a former journalist recounts the situation or problem that prompted a human to try to improve on nature, by releasing a nonnative species. Todd does a good job of explaining motivations and helping provide understanding of why people did what they did. Each chapter concludes with a description of the consequences of the introduction. With genetically modified organisms and their release being debated, there may be renewed interest in the impact of exotics. The final chapter urges readers to develop a sense of biological history. Recommended for all ecology collections and larger public libraries. Nancy Moeckel, Miami Univ. Libs., Oxford, OH Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information.
Booknews
Todd, the recipient of the PEN/Jerard Award for this book while it was a work-in-progress, recounts how some of the approximately 4,500 exotic insects, mammals, and plants have been introduced to North America, occasionally for the better (such as with the Vedalia ladybug)<-->but more often wreaking destruction on native species. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)