The Quiet World

Saving Alaska's Wilderness Kingdom, 1910-1960

By: Douglas Brinkley

Narrated by: Andrew Garman

In this fascinating follow-up to his New York Times bestseller Wilderness Warrior, acclaimed historian Douglas Brinkley offers a riveting, expansive look at the past and present battle to preserve Alaska’s wilderness. Brinkley explores the colorful diversity of Alaska’s wildlife, arrays the forces that have wreaked havoc on its primeval arctic refuge—from Klondike Gold Rush prospectors to environmental disasters like the Exxon-Valdez oil spill—and documents environmental heroes from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower and beyond. Not merely a record of Alaska’s past, Quiet World is a compelling call-to-arms for sustainability, conservationism, and conscientious environmental stewardship—a warning that the land once called Seward’s Folly may go down in history as America’s Greatest Mistake.

Inspiring!

Would you consider the audio edition of The Quiet World to be better than the print version?

I thought this book might be tedious to get through: it's not at all. The author weaves a good tale which is inspiring. Let's persist in preserving ANWR!

Great until the last third

Great until the last third, when the author starts to go on and on about the beat generation and cults (which have little to do with Alaska or conservation). I think he really admires that whole generation of poets and forgot what the book was about. First two thirds was great though!

A us history of alaskas wildlife

If you could sum up The Quiet World in three words, what would they be?

Alaska wildlife protection history

Who was your favorite character and why?

teddy roosevelt for starting the nature preservation movement

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

even though it has a lot of history in this book it involves a lot of wildlife nature making is a really nice audio book

Where are Native Alaskans?

Any additional comments?

The history coverage was exceptional, I appreciated the context and depth.

It might better have been sub-titled, A Federal/National Perspective. Alaskans, save Mardy Murie, Celia Hunter and Ginny Woods were largely left out. Native Alaskans were ignored. How could a writer, who otherwise seems a great chronicler, mention Project Chariot and completely ignore the Native Alaskan voice?

I marked down the otherwise excellent narration because he murdered Alaskans names both people, e.g. Brina Kessel and places, e.g. Nunamiut, which grates on the reader.

Great Historical Read

the author did a great job weaving so many different storylines together. The only reason I gave this 4 stars is because I wish the final chapter or epilogue touched on the current state of Alaskan conservation. I understand the time frame was through 1960, but some kind of conclusion or current state would have tied things up nicely. Look at Collapse by Jared Diamond for example. But, nonetheless, great book and sparks the desire to travel!