They had a private reverence for mossy quiet woods, were always thrilled to see wild hawks streaming north on their spring migrations.
-- Narrator (Discursive Thoughts on Wetlands)

Importance: The author explores the paradoxical nature of earlier generation's relationships to the natural world, particularly her parents' generation. This exploration is conducted in hopes of uncovering answers as to how human civilization came to the point of threatening the future of their own species. On one hand, literature and personal anecdote reveals that they were deeply connected to nature, but on the other hand they maintained a willingness to despoil the environment for monetary gain. These thoughts open the first chapter, and lead to a discussion about the underlying world views that enable environmental exploitation. The author does not separate this violence from violence towards other human beings. Historical examples in the following chapters demonstrate how different people of the same eras held opposing environmental views and illuminate...