What is the author's tone in The Machine in the Garden; Technology and the Pastoral Ideal in America by Leo Marx?

Upon completion of this work, the reader is left without much emotional reaction. While one can greatly respect the amount of research and analysis required to complete the book, there is often an overriding need for some subjective thought from the author. Aside from his own interpretations of literature, however, one receives little comment upon the worth of each point of view professed by any given author. Thus, the book must be assigned to that body of literature which is, in essence, purely academic, and this is a bit disappointing.