Bookverdict.com

title

Add to My List

The National Parks

America's Best Idea

By Duncan, Dayton & Burns, Ken

Publishers Summary:
The companion volume to the twelve-hour PBS series from the acclaimed filmmaker behind The Civil War, Baseball, and The WarAmerica’s national parks spring from an idea as radical as the Declaration of Independence: that the nation’s most magnificent and sacred places should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. In this evocative and lavishly illustrated narrative, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea, from the first sighting by white men in 1851 of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world’s first national park at Yellowstone in 1872, through the most recent additions to a system that now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.The authors recount the adventures, mythmaking, and intense political battles behind the evolution of the park system, and the enduring ideals that fostered its growth. They capture the importance and splendors of the individual parks: from Haleakala in Hawaii to Acadia in Maine, from Denali in Alaska to the Everglades in Florida, from Glacier in Montana to Big Bend in Texas. And they introduce us to a diverse cast of compelling characters—both unsung heroes and famous figures such as John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ansel Adams—who have been transformed by these special places and committed themselves to saving them from destruction so that the rest of us could be transformed as well.The National Parks is a glorious celebration of an essential expression of American democracy.

 Not Rated. Be the first to rate this product!

ISBN
978-0-30726-896-9
Publisher
Knopf


REVIEWS

Library Journal

Reviewed on October 13, 2009

This lavishly illustrated companion to the authors' five-part, 12-hour PBS documentary (which premiered Sept. 27) outlines the dramatic history of the national park system; the personalities of preservationists Theodore Roosevelt, Stephen Mather, and Horace Albright; and the scores of citizens who discovered the magic of the parks. This history features interviews with a superintendent at Mount Rushmore, park ranger Shelton Johnson, and writers Nevada Barr, Paul Schullery, Juanita Greene, and Terry Tempest Williams. Printed on 40-percent recovered fiber paper, the book also includes historic photos, many taken by park visitors with Brownie cameras. Verdict The essays and photos eloquently argue that the national parks are America's best idea and that they bring out our best selves. Outstanding! [See Prepub Alert, LJ 5/1/09.]-Patricia Ann Owens, Wabash Valley Coll., Mt. Carmel, Il Copyright 2009 Media Source Inc. Copyright 2009 Media Source Inc. ...Log In or Sign Up to Read More

Become a Pro


This feature is only available to Pro subscribers. Please log in, or upgrade your subscription.
Close

Add To My List

cover
by

This feature is only available to Pro subscribers. Please log in, or upgrade your subscription.
Close

Export


This feature is only available to Pro subscribers. Please log in, or upgrade your subscription.
Close

Save List Search Query


This feature is only available to Pro subscribers. Please log in, or upgrade your subscription.
Close

Follow Lists


This feature is only available to Pro subscribers. Please log in, or upgrade your subscription.
Close