Environmental Anthropology: A Historical Reader

“Environmental Anthropology is a rich addition to Blackwell’s successful series of Anthologies in social and cultural anthropology. It intends to give historical and theoretical depth to the largely crisis-driven work in this burgeoning sub-field of anthropology. The eight-five page introduction and bibliography map out a cyclical development of a branch of anthropology which seems ever more relevant, given contemporary concerns about environmental degradation, climate change, peak oil, and resource-related conflict.  The editors, Michael R. Dove and Carol Carpenter, are well positioned to present these extremely wide-ranging selections of works defined by their timeless relevance. Dove and Carpenter have done a formidable job in providing what is likely to become a key textbook in specialized courses on environmental anthropology and a rich reference for anybody interested in the multifarious ways in which humans have lived and shaped their worlds.” (Journal of the Royal Anthropological Institute, December 2009)

“This reader provides an excellent sampling of classic anthropological writings on human ecology and environments. A truly comprehensive survey of the field and a range of genuine classics … articles that deserve their wide reputation. In comparison with other readers on this general topic, the present one focuses on truly influential, widely cited works and is more balanced and comprehensive. Very highly recommended for courses in environmental or ecological anthropology, conservation biology, and human ecology. Summing Up: Essential. All levels/libraries.” (Choice, November 2008)

"Anthropology has a long and rich history of efforts to make sense of human societies in relation to their natural environments, and this edited collection, by Michael Dove and Carol Carpenter of Yale University, is an important contribution to that history. I strongly recommend the book to environmental scientists and conservation practitioners as a source of ideas about the human dimension of the things they care about." (Environment Conservation, 2008)

“Distinguished environmental anthropologists Michael Dove and Carol Carpenter provide a great service for both professional colleagues and students in this specialization through a wonderful benchmark sampling of articles from its history with an emphasis on its formative and mature development during the decades of the 1950s through the 1990s. The progression of different phases and approaches in the history of environmental anthropology is exceedingly well illustrated through the five thematic parts of this anthology. The chapters are placed in context through an extensive, informative, and insightful introduction. This anthology goes a long way toward filling one of the previously empty niches among the textbooks available for this specialization and nicely complements rather than competes with them. It is also indispensable as a reference work.”
–Leslie E. Sponsel, Director, Ecological Anthropology Program, University of Hawaii

“This volume is the foundational volume on environmental anthropology I wish I had put under my belt a decade ago. Selected with scrupulous care and introduced with illuminating commentary, this collection is Indispensable both for its intellectual depth and breadth.”
–James C. Scott, Yale University

“This reader is exactly what professors like me have long dreamed of, but never had, in teaching environmental anthropology. Dove and Carpenter, two of the field’s most distinguished scholars, have assembled and integrated the perfect collection of classic and recent essays on humans and the environment. They successfully develop the key historic themes of the field which are then fleshed out through a careful selection of theoretical debates and ethnographic cases written by some of the best anthropological minds of the past and present.”
–Robert E. Rhoades, University of Georgia