Reading old books of science experiments for children, it's easy to become nostalgic for the days when you could buy jugs of sulfur and mercury at...
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"Eden" is really two books in one. The first is Trimble's account of how self-made billionaire Earl Holding quietly used his influence to acquire over 1,000 acres of public land adjacent to his Snow Basin ski resort prior to the 2002 winter Olympics. Although this story is hardly breaking news, it is a fascinating, well-written tale of how one powerful man can overrule an agency--in this case the Forest Service--to achieve his personal ambition. While Trimble clearly doesn't like how this story played out, he is fair to fault to everyone involved on all sides of the issue.
The second book (within the book) is Trimble's personal tale of buying and developing a piece of land in Southern Utah's scenic redrock country for a second home, and all the thinking he did to make sure this was done the "right" way. This tale is really about all of us who live in the West and how we impact the land, because we all do impact the land. Did Trimble do something noble, or is he merely rationalizing doing the same thing Earl Holding did, albeit on a smaller scale. Trimble presents his case; the reader can decide that for him or herself.
What I really like about the whole book is it thoroughness and fairness. This is a discussion, not a rant, and that sets it apart from a great many other environmental tomes.
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Bargaining for Eden: The Fight for the Last Open Spaces in America by Stephen Trimble
snofrank, August 8, 2008
"Eden" is really two books in one. The first is Trimble's account of how self-made billionaire Earl Holding quietly used his influence to acquire over 1,000 acres of public land adjacent to his Snow Basin ski resort prior to the 2002 winter Olympics. Although this story is hardly breaking news, it is a fascinating, well-written tale of how one powerful man can overrule an agency--in this case the Forest Service--to achieve his personal ambition. While Trimble clearly doesn't like how this story played out, he is fair to fault to everyone involved on all sides of the issue.The second book (within the book) is Trimble's personal tale of buying and developing a piece of land in Southern Utah's scenic redrock country for a second home, and all the thinking he did to make sure this was done the "right" way. This tale is really about all of us who live in the West and how we impact the land, because we all do impact the land. Did Trimble do something noble, or is he merely rationalizing doing the same thing Earl Holding did, albeit on a smaller scale. Trimble presents his case; the reader can decide that for him or herself.
What I really like about the whole book is it thoroughness and fairness. This is a discussion, not a rant, and that sets it apart from a great many other environmental tomes.
(6 of 11 readers found this comment helpful)