Book Review - Green Infrastructure

Green Infrastructure: Linking Landscapes and Communities
Mark A. Benedict and Edward T. McMahon
HD 1391 .B46 2006

Benedict and McMahon assert that green space preservation needs to be linked to community growth and development planning. They recognize that preservation efforts over the last 50 years have been very successful at protecting open space, especially those prized for their natural beauty or recreation potential. However, these efforts are predominantly local and are often isolated from one another. When conservation efforts are considered as a part of long-term land development planning, patterns of development such as urban sprawl which are expensive and infrastructure intensive can be avoided. At the same time, open spaces can be set aside to capitalize on recreation potential, habitat preservation and pollution mitigation. This book defines "green infrastructure" as a new way to think about land use and a reconceptualization of the process of development planning. This book should be considered by politicians, urban planners, and developers as well as those interested in environmental conservation.

Book Review - Egonomics

Egonomics: What Makes Ego our Greatest Asset (or Most Expensive Liability)
David Marcum & Steven Smith
HF 5386 .M30873 2007

Marcum and Smith examine the tension between ego and humility in achieving personal and professional success. Based on years of research, the authors identify early warning signs when ego begins to get in the way of success. These include being competitive, being defensive, showing off, and seeking acceptance. At the same time, they point to humility as a key ingredient to finding balance between conceit and self-doubt. They point to welcoming conflicting opinions, having curiosity, and understanding reality as the characteristics of humility that keep ego in check. This is an interesting and rarely articulated component in the discussion of personal development and professional success.

Book Review - Ecological Restoration

Ecological Restoration: Principles, Values and Structure of an Emerging Profession
Andre F. Clewell and James Aronson
QH 541.15 .R45 C54 2007

This book defines many of the terms and concepts in the growing field of ecological restoration. In doing so, it simultaneously takes ecological and cultural perspectives. These authors believe that ecosystems and humans are inseparable, and that it is not possible to restore an ecosystem completely or permanently without also addressing the relationship that people have with nature. They also assert that people take on ecological restoration projects because they satisfy human needs and values, whether these are focused around the environment or are dependent on social or economic importance that can be derived from nature. The book is organized into twelve chapters that read more as stand-alone essays. Between chapters, readers are taken on "virtual field trips" or photo-essays of restoration projects that illustrate various points made in the chapters. This book is intended both for general audiences and for scientists and project managers who have been working in the environmental field.