The Ghost Forest
Book description
The definitive story of the California redwoods, their discovery and their exploitation, as told by an activist who fought to protect their existence against those determined to cut them down.
Every year millions of tourists from around the world visit California's famous redwoods. Yet few who strain their necks to…
Why read it?
1 author picked The Ghost Forest as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I originally intended to write a chapter in my book about how the birth of San Francisco (and other imperial cities) sent out a shock wave of deforestation, but I only touched lightly upon it in my chapter on mining.
Greg King has filled that need in his magisterial book about how ruthlessly and quickly the city’s magnates converted one of the Earth’s most magnificent forests and remarkable ecosystems into stumps as well as cash, credit, and dynastic fortunes on the city’s markets so that today only four percent of California’s old-growth redwoods remain.
Depressing as his narrative might otherwise…
From Gray's list on the hidden costs of city-building.
Want books like The Ghost Forest?
Our community of 11,000+ authors has personally recommended 100 books like The Ghost Forest.
Browse books like The Ghost Forest
5 book lists we think you will like!
Interested in environmentalism, California, and presidential biography?
11,000+ authors have recommended their favorite books and what they love about them. Browse their picks for the best books about environmentalism, California, and presidential biography.