Reviews
Mark Finlay writes with fluency and great narrative verve and he successfully weaves together the biological, technological, economic, political, and military strands of a complex story. - Philip J. Pauly, author of Fruits and Plains; The Horticultural Transformation of America, Finlay's excellent book indicates just how central rubber has been to American history since the start of the twentiety century., Mr. Finlay has produced an outstandingly well-documented and thoroughly researched narrative of the history of the modest rubber plant., "Mark Finlay's research has been extensive and is unlikely to be duplicated any time in the near future. He writes with fluency and great narrative verve and he successfully weaves together the biological, technological, economic, political, and military strands of a complex story." Philip J. Pauly, author of Fruits and Plains: The Horticultural Transformation of America, By moving beyond the well-known stories of Edison''s and Ford''s efforts to find domestic sources of rubber, Mark Finlay provides readers with a fresh and important analysis of the connections between military and economic national security and access to a vital strategic natural resource that has implications for the present day., This is a good story, well-told. The range and variety of resources that Finlay has explored is first-rate. As we now debate the sustainability of natural resources, the themes of this book could not be more relevant., Mark Finlay''s research has been extensive and is unlikely to be duplicated any time in the near future. He writes with fluency and great narrative verve and he successfully weaves together the biological, technological, economic, political, and military strands of a complex story., Finlay has written an engaging, poignant work that demonstrates the strategic connection between agriculture, industry, and national defense and shows the importance of rubber to American industrial and military might. Finlay consulted a variety of archival sources to produce this thoroughly researched, well-documented work. He tells an important story that has broader implications for diplomatic historians and scholars who study the importance of agriculture and industry. Recommended., "At last, the humble rubber plant takes center stage, vividly demonstrating the interdependence of agriculture and industry in twentieth-century America. A remarkable and timely book!" Deborah Fitzgerald, author ofEvery Farm a Factory: The Industrial Ideal in American Agriculture, At last, the humble rubber plant takes center stage, vividly demonstrating the interdependence of agriculture and industry in twentieth-century America. A remarkable and timely book!, Growing American Rubber is a significant contribution to many fields, not the least of which is the history of technology and science. Finlay deftly weaves stories of diplomacy, scientific research, interest-group politics, entrepreneurs, farmers, laborers, and the environment to tell the story of rubber-crop research in the first half of the twentieth century., "Mark Finlay's research has been extensive and is unlikely to be duplicated any time in the near future. He writes with fluency and great narrative verve and he successfully weaves together the biological, technological, economic, political, and military strands of a complex story." Philip J. Pauly, author ofFruits and Plains: The Horticultural Transformation of America, "Mark Finlay’s research has been extensive and is unlikely to be duplicated any time in the near future. He writes with fluency and great narrative verve and he successfully weaves together the biological, technological, economic, political, and military strands of a complex story." Philip J. Pauly, author ofFruits and Plains: The Horticultural Transformation of America, "By moving beyond the well-known stories of Edison's and Ford's efforts to find domestic sources of rubber, Mark Finlay provides readers with a fresh and important analysis of the connections between military and economic national security and access to a vital strategic natural resource that has implications for the present day." Paul Israel, director and editor, Thomas A. Edison Papers, Rutgers University, Finlay's narrative is at its best when he details this interface of economy, ecology, and politics, supported by extensive archival research into seemingly every prospect for growing rubber., "This is a good story, well-told. The range and variety of resources that Finlay has explored is first-rate. As we now debate the sustainability of natural resources, the themes of this book could not be more relevant." David E. Wright, professor in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at Michigan State University, Finlay''s narrative is at its best when he details this interface of economy, ecology, and politics, supported by extensive archival research into seemingly every prospect for growing rubber., By moving beyond the well-known stories of Edison's and Ford's efforts to find domestic sources of rubber, Mark Finlay provides readers with a fresh and important analysis of the connections between military and economic national security and access to a vital strategic natural resource that has implications for the present day., "Finlay's book is a telling reminder of an earlier chapter in American history when rubber, not oil, was king, and when agricultural innovation seemed to hold the greatest promise of a solution to America's resource needs." Gregg Mitman, author ofBreathing Space: How Allergies Shape Our Lives and Landscapes, Mark Finlay's research has been extensive and is unlikely to be duplicated any time in the near future. He writes with fluency and great narrative verve and he successfully weaves together the biological, technological, economic, political, and military strands of a complex story., Finlay''s excellent book indicates just how central rubber has been to American history since the start of the twentiety century., "At last, the humble rubber plant takes center stage, vividly demonstrating the interdependence of agriculture and industry in twentieth-century America. A remarkable and timely book!" Deborah Fitzgerald, author of Every Farm a Factory: The Industrial Ideal in American Agriculture, Finlay's well-researched work makes clear the importance of rubber in American history. The United States shifted from domestic organic to inorganic and foreign solutions to the modern consumer driven economy. Unfortunately the United States still relies on a risky combination of imported natural rubber and synthetic rubber derived from petroleum, making this study timely and relevant., Finlay''s well-researched work makes clear the importance of rubber in American history. The United States shifted from domestic organic to inorganic and foreign solutions to the modern consumer driven economy. Unfortunately the United States still relies on a risky combination of imported natural rubber and synthetic rubber derived from petroleum, making this study timely and relevant., "Finlay's book is a telling reminder of an earlier chapter in American history when rubber, not oil, was king, and when agricultural innovation seemed to hold the greatest promise of a solution to America's resource needs." Gregg Mitman, author of Breathing Space: How Allergies Shape Our Lives and Landscapes
