Reviews
In this eloquent book about one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, Ben Raines writes with a compelling urgency that is both justifiable and heartfelt, reminding us that the quality of human life is inseparable from the ecological health of a place. -- Jack E. Davis , Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea, What a fine volume! This book on one of America's great overlooked natural treasures reminds us that we need to make sure it is preserved intact, for our world needs all the biodiversity it can find., It is nature's and humanity's great misfortune that God put the entire Mobile River basin and estuary--our nation's most diverse ecosystem--in Alabama, the state with America's weakest environmental laws. Ben Raines astutely calculates that Alabama cannot long continue as both national leader in aquatic diversity and the leader in the extinction of aquatic creatures. This beautifully written book is an inspiring summons to protect a besieged world-class ecological treasure. -- Robert Kennedy Jr., In this eloquent book about one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, Ben Raines writes with a compelling urgency that is both justifiable and heartfelt, reminding us that the quality of human life is inseparable from the ecological health of a place. -- Jack E. Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea, What a fine volume! This book on one of America's great overlooked natural treasures reminds us that we need to make sure it is preserved intact, for our world needs all the biodiversity it can find. -- Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, In this eloquent book about one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, Ben Raines writes with a compelling urgency that is both justifiable and heartfelt, reminding us that the quality of human life is inseparable from the health of an ecological place., In this eloquent book about one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, Ben Raines writes with a compelling urgency that is both justifiable and heartfelt, reminding us that the quality of human life is inseparable from the health of an ecological place. - Jack E. Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea, With a seasoned reporter's expert instincts, Ben Raines gives this hotspot of biological diversity the credit it's due... This book is a gift to Alabama and to the nation., Ben Raines is a gifted journalist whose work is informed by hard experience and deep passion. Saving America's Amazon is an eloquent cri de coeur for one of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders., Ben Raines is a gifted journalist whose work is informed by hard experience and deep passion. Saving America's Amazon is an eloquent cri de coeur for one of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders. - John Sledge, author of The Mobile River and The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History, Saving America's Amazon is a stunner. The photography, images of birds, fish, orchids, snails, mussels, swamps, and lotus blossoms, all by Raines, is beautiful and visually arresting, and the text, read with care, leads either to hope or despair. -- Don Noble , Tuscaloosa News, With a seasoned reporter's expert instincts, Ben Raines gives this hotspot of biological diversity the credit it's due... This book is a gift to Alabama and to the nation. -- Tim Palmer, author and photographer of America's Great River Journeys, Rivers of America, and other books, Ben Raines is a gifted journalist whose work is informed by hard experience and deep passion. Saving America's Amazon is an eloquent cri de coeur for one of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders. -- John Sledge , author of The Mobile River and The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History, A spirited call for preserving Alabama wilderness ... a fine work of environmental journalism. -- Kirkus Reviews, In this richly illustrated book, Ben Raines persuasively argues that time is running out for Alabama to save its magnificent natural heritage. -- Bird Watching, In Saving America's Amazon, Ben Raines masterfully recounts the environmental history of the Mobile Basin, describing its varied landscapes, myriad life forms, and its bounty in vivid detail. -- Hank Bart , director, Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute, Ben Raines is a gifted journalist whose work is informed by hard experience and deep passion. Saving America's Amazon is an eloquent cri de coeur for one of the world's most extraordinary natural wonders. -- John Sledge, author of The Mobile River and The Gulf of Mexico: A Maritime History, In Saving America's Amazon, Ben Raines masterfully recounts the environmental history of the Mobile Basin, describing its varied landscapes, myriad life forms, and its bounty in vivid detail. -- Hank Bart, director, Tulane University Biodiversity Research Institute, What a fine volume! This book on one of America's great overlooked natural treasures reminds us that we need to make sure it is preserved intact, for our world needs all the biodiversity it can find. -- Bill McKibben , author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, It is nature's and humanity's great misfortune that that God put the entire Mobile River basin and estuary -- our nation's most diverse ecosystem -- in Alabama, the state with America's weakest environmental laws. Ben Raines astutely calculates that Alabama cannot long continue as both national leader in aquatic diversity and the leader in the extinction of aquatic creatures. This beautifully written book is an inspiring summons to protect a besieged world class ecological treasure. -- Robert Kennedy Jr., Beautifully and profusely illustrated ... an extraordinary and remarkable environmental history... a clarion call to conservation, preservation, and restoration. Exceptional and ultimately inspiring. -- Midwest Book Review, What a fine volume! This book on one of America's great overlooked natural treasures reminds us that we need to make sure it is preserved intact, for our world needs all the biodiversity it can find. - Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out?, In this eloquent book about one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, Ben Raines writes with a compelling urgency that is both justifiable and heartfelt, reminding us that the quality of human life is inseparable from the health of an ecological place. -- Jack E. Davis, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Gulf: The Making of an American Sea, With a seasoned reporter's expert instincts, Ben Raines gives this hotspot of biological diversity the credit it's due... This book is a gift to Alabama and to the nation. -- Tim Palmer , author and photographer of America's Great River Journeys, Rivers of America, and other books, With a seasoned reporter's expert instincts, Ben Raines gives this hotspot of biological diversity the credit it's due... This book is a gift to Alabama and to the nation. - Tim Palmer, author and photographer of America's Great River Journeys, Rivers of America, and other books, Native Alabamian Ben Raines's love of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta and Mobile Bay jump out from every page of this portrait of one of the nation's richest estuaries. From deep in the swamps to the Gulf beaches, this book shines a spotlight on Alabama's rich natural world. For too long, those riches have been overlooked due to public perception of Alabama and her history. Saving America's Amazon shakes off that old way of thinking and invites America to meet the real Alabama. -- Winston Groom
