A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Missy Lacy
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
“Tinkering with Eden” by Kim Todd
Book Review
What makes this book so enjoyable is how Todd tells
the story of species introductions without demonizing
the individuals involved. It is too easy to place
blame without context. Todd gives the reader a bigger
picture, a set of circumstances. That connection with
the “characters” of the book does not excuse their
actions. Todd ensures the consequences of even the
most innocent of events are illustrated. The reader is
certainly left with a feeling of regret, all the while
opening their eyes to the changing world of today.
Submitted on 8:52 PM on 6/15/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Paul Birkeland
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
“Tinkering with Eden” by Kim Todd is an ingenious collaboration of appropriate anecdotes and engaging information. Todd’s research effort shines through, as the anecdotes told in each chapter engage the reader and provide an earnest desire to learn more. Her writing style deviates sufficiently from the normal style found in text books, thus permitting very enjoyable absorption of the abundant information on invasive species. Todd also takes great care to present both sides of each issue, focusing the reader’s energy away from historical disgust, and more towards a future solution. My only criticism of the text is the overall structure. I would have liked to see a more delineated organization from section to section.
Submitted on 11:21 PM on 6/13/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Fred Fisher
Rating: 5 Stars (Excellent)
Tinkering With Eden in my humble opinion is a excellent read. The personal stories of the people who sometimes are eccentric makes this sometimes depressing subject fun to read. I especially enjoyed the one story where the man who had seen over a five year period all of the native birds driven away; his solution was simple a 12 gauge shotgun.
The first chapter sucks you into the book with all the pigeons and the history behind these rats with wings. Another good aspect of the book is that it shows you how scientists in their day whether they be entomologists or botanists really had no clue as to what they were doing. After all they purposefully introduced exotic species as quick fixes to very complicated problems.
It also illustrates how the government helped mess things up as well, especially concerning fisheries and of course the Kudzu Vine which actually was promoted as protection against soil erosion and farmers were paid to plant it int their fields at $8 an hour.
All in all I give this book five stars because it kept me interested with its stories and facts that I never knew. There were of course some dull parts like the Sea Lamprey but then again pretty much all books have a few chapters that aren't upto par.
Submitted on 6:19 PM on 6/10/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Kathe Winkler-Low
Rating: 5 Stars (Excellent)
"Tinkering with Eden" was a delightful book for this seminar covering the non-native species issues. It was fun and interesting to read plus covered many of the problems and difficulties surrounding this topic. Written in a "story" format, the chapters not only told the story of the specific exotic but helped the reader understand the human motivations and actions that created the situation. Facts and figures were written into the text so they didn't detract from the story. Rather, they enhanced the reader's understanding of these often complex issues. I would highly recommend this book as a recreational read to anyone interested in environmental issues.
Submitted on 4:55 PM on 6/10/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Mark Jenkins
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
The book Tinkering with Eden, by Kim Todd, gives you an inside look at why we have the different exotics plants and animals in the United States. Todd’s book covers history on why many things are here from different parts of the world and why people needed these exotics to either remind them of home or because they want to be a part of something that fascinates them. If you are ever wondering why many thing are here in America this book will give a great direction to understand where to begin. Overall I found this book to be very educational and if you ever want to know the difference between a pigeon and a dove I suggest reading this book.
Submitted on 4:21 PM on 6/10/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Martin Chaney
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
In this book, Kim Todd documents an amazing history of exotic introductions throughout the history of Europeans in the United States. Its narrative style makes for easy reading and impresses the reader with the major and unpredictable effect these introductions have had on the ecosystem. She also helps us understand the range of motivations for these introductions. I found it difficult to tell the extent to which her dramatizations of the people involved in the introductions were reconstructions, but they certainly added interest to the stories. The book definitely conveys a sense that exotic introductions are a major and continuing problem and provides readers with a strong motivation to learn more about the subject.
Submitted on 12:23 PM on 6/10/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Rebecca Chaney
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
Todd’s informative and sometimes fanciful book chronicles introductions of exotic species that range from systematic to capricious to possibly malevolent. It focuses on introductions to the United States, thereby observing political and cultural boundaries rather than ecological or geographical ones. This focus may limit recognition of the global and historical complexities of exotic species introduction. Many of the least abstract affects of exotic species introduction can be seen by those who look, whether or not they are professional scientists. Claire Emery’s drawings add a visual perspective to the book, and I find myself wondering why and when most books stopped including illustrations. I think the combination of stories and pictures in Tinkering with Eden encourage readers to question the past, present and future of what we see and hear.
Submitted on 10:32 AM on 6/10/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by Andy Gault
Rating: 5 Stars (Excellent)
In the book "Tinkering With Eden", the author Kim Todd takes a very unique approach to how she addresses the contentious issue of invasive species. The book is written in a narrative and occasionally poetic style, which is a departure from the format in which most books and articles are presented that deal with scientific topics like this. I enjoyed reading this book, and found that the way she wrote it was refreshing and entertaining, not to mention educational. I give this book five stars.
Submitted on 12:37 PM on 6/7/05
A Review of Tinkering With Eden by gina hicks
Rating: 4 Stars (Good)
"Tinkering with Eden: A natural history of exotics in America." Yet at a basic level there is nothing natural about it. Kim Todd recreates the rebirth of many species at the hands of Americans. Prideful, vain, foolish, we take on nature as we do everything: short sighted and selfish. While our individual stories might be lessons to tell our own children, Todd is able to breathe life and reason into each tale making it interesting for everyone. She manages to inject reason and compassion into the motives of the characters which populate her tale. Of course it makes sense to release starlings into central park or trout into waterways she demonstrates through the characters. Whether careless or thoughtless or self serving we hear their stories, our stories, and what may become the stories of our children. Perhaps through her evenhanded method, we will learn enough to create a different future.
Submitted on 12:32 PM on 6/7/05
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