The Republic of Nature: An Environmental History of the United States

By: Mark Fiege

Narrated by: William Bahl

Length: 19 hrs and 31 mins

Publisher's Summary

In the dramatic narratives that comprise The Republic of Nature, Mark Fiege reframes the canonical account of American history based on the simple but radical premise that nothing in the nation's past can be considered apart from the natural circumstances in which it occurred. Revisiting historical icons so familiar that schoolchildren learn to take them for granted, he makes surprising connections that enable readers to see old stories in a new light.

Among the historical moments revisited here, a revolutionary nation arises from its environment and struggles to reconcile the diversity of its people with the claim that nature is the source of liberty. Abraham Lincoln, an unlettered citizen from the countryside, steers the Union through a moment of extreme peril, guided by his clear-eyed vision of nature's capacity for improvement. In Topeka, Kansas, transformations of land and life prompt a lawsuit that culminates in the momentous civil rights case of Brown v. Board of Education.

By focusing on materials and processes intrinsic to all things and by highlighting the nature of the United States, Fiege recovers the forgotten and overlooked ground on which so much history has unfolded.

The book is published by University of Washington Press.

©2012 University of Washington Press (P)2018 Redwood Audiobooks

Critic Reviews

"Extraordinary: beautifully written, ambitious in its arguments, and impressive in scope and scholarship. . . a compelling and ambitious study of American history." (Journal of American History)

"Will undoubtedly leave an imprint on the field of environmental history and beyond." (Northwest Quarterly)

"Is an incredibly ambitious and completely unprecedented book… The intended audience is wide, and this book invites the broadest consideration and debate." (Isis)

Justice done through a good quality narration <3

I dont know why some are saying the problem they have found about the narration quality !!! I strongly believe that the quality and the voice justify the audiobook thoughts live. Now come to the book materials which is about Environmental History of the United States. In scanning American history, Fiege encourages us to find the intermingling of people and nature wherever we look. As he notes in his introduction, where he takes readers on a tour of the Lincoln Memorial, “What you see is the product of a long process in which the republic extracted resources from its landscape and rearranged them in a record of change over time. Everything before you contains an element of the natural, whether marble, trees, or grass, humid air or damp bodies, or the Smoky Bear hats and green uniforms of National Park Service rangers”

So much history has unfolded

In this audiobook we have found that the author Fiege recovers the forgotten and overlooked ground on which so much history has unfolded. This is an amazing audible to get much more depth knowledge about the historical moments. So many thanks for sharing.

History of the America

This book explores the cultural background of American land use and the history from Native American control through our own. Don't expect all shrubs; the insight into native cultures that inspired their use of the land is very deep and far-reaching.

Completely unprecedented book

Amazing book if you need tht extra motivation to become an entrepreneur. Is bigger than i thought but also looks amazing. The audio quality is superb and the design inside is amazing.

Highlights human–environment

Each of these revised appraisals highlights human–environment interconnections. As the book's title suggests, the key to Fiege's interpretation is to recognize the role of nature in shaping the stories we tell about the past.

An inspiration

As close as you'll get to integrity and honesty in a business book. An inspiration. Listen it. Change your business thoughts.

Range of possibilities

The ultimate limit on that range of possibilities, and thus the final determinant of human history, is nature

Welcome antidote to historical narratives

Fiege is simply incorporating many elements of geography's grand human–land tradition and in the process he produces a welcome antidote to historical narratives bereft of connections with the natural world.

The rise of environmental history

The logic of social history had an equally important formative influence on the rise of environmental history

To recognize the role of nature

Revisiting environmental history's two core tasks reveals the strengths and the limitations of the hybrid turn.

Well written

Not only well written but in-depth background and understanding of the environmental history of United States. I am amazed at the information herein, the beautiful history of America, and the diversity of its people with the claim that nature is the source of liberty. I highly recommend this book.

Good book to have

The logic of social history had an equally important formative influence on the rise of environmental history. A good book to have.