Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 976
Format: Bargain Price
Label: Simon & Schuster
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 480
Printing Date: March 27, 2007
Publishing house: Simon & Schuster
Sale Popularity Level: 22233
Studio: Simon & Schuster
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The Everglades was once reviled as a liquid wasteland, and Americans dreamed of draining it. Now it is revered as a national treasure, and Americans have launched the largest environmental project in history to try to save it. The Swamp is the stunning story of the destruction and possible resurrection of the Everglades, the saga of man's abuse of nature in southern Florida and his unprecedented efforts to make amends. Michael Grunwald, a prize-winning national reporter for The Washington Post, takes readers on a riveting journey from the Ice Ages to the present, illuminating the natural, social and political history of one of America's most beguiling but least understood patches of land.
The Everglades was America's last frontier, a wild country long after the West was won. Grunwald chronicles how a series of visionaries tried to drain and 'reclaim' it, and how Mother Nature refused to bend to their will; in the most harrowing tale, a 1928 hurricane drowned 2,500 people in the Everglades. But the Army Corps of Engineers finally tamed the beast with levees and canals, converting half the Everglades into sprawling suburbs and sugar plantations. And though the southern Everglades was preserved as a national park, it soon deteriorated into an ecological mess. The River of Grass stopped flowing, and 90 percent of its wading birds vanished.
Now America wants its swamp back. Grunwald shows how a new breed of visionaries transformed Everglades politics, producing the $8 billion rescue plan. That plan is already the blueprint for a new worldwide era of ecosystem restoration. And this book is a cautionary tale for that era. Through gripping narrative and dogged reporting, Grunwald shows how the Everglades is still threatened by the same hubris, greed and well-intentioned folly that led to its decline.
Michael Grunwald is a reporter at The Washington Post. He has won the George Polk Award for national reporting, the Worth Bingham Prize for investigative reporting, and many other awards. He lives in Miami with his wife, Cristina Dominguez.
Visit his website at www.michaelgrunwald.com.
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Rated by buyers 
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From a historical perspective, this is an excellent read on the history of south Florida and the Everglades. It has a bit of a leftist slant in my opinion(written by a rather liberal journalist) although this non-liberal enjoyed the read for its historical value nonetheless. If you want to know the history of south Florida with a page-turner style of writing, I highly recommend this book no matter what your political slant is.
Rated by buyers 
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The fact that this author had to make a transparent, and extremely weak, connection between the environment and the 2000 election...and the reason Al Gore lost the election, is absurd and laughable. It renders the more salient points in the book moot. Liberals have attempted to take ownership of the environment question like they are the only ones who care, which is ridiculous, and this book is a manifestation of that. A skewed opinion piece by a skewed "author". Save your money and pick up either Randy Wayne White's non-fiction or fiction......a Floridian who doesn't have an agenda on this issue and tells it like it is.......the very first casualty of poverty and lack of progress is the environment.
In sum, this book was disappointing.
Rated by buyers 
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The Swamp is fascinating, relevant, timely, and compelling. It's not just a scientific study of the Everglades but a history of Florida. It's a must read for any Florida resident or anyone with an interest in the Everglades but anyone with an interest in ecology or American history should also enjoy it.
Rated by buyers -
Unlike the broad and shallow Everglades, "The Swamp", by Michael Grunwald, is broad but deep. In a manner that is horrifying, entertaining, and informative, the story is broad, comprehensively covering almost the geologic origins of the southern end of the Florida peninsular through to the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, aka the Compromised Everglades Replacement Plot, aka CERP. At the same time there is a tremendous depth, from the lowest, basest greed of man, up to the loftiest and most selfless of man's ideals. Some goals for draining the swamp, such as creating arable land for food, shelter and the pursuit of the American dream, appear to be good, even if the plans and programs to achieve the goals are ill conceived, poorly planned and inadequately implemented. Most sides of the issues are treated with sensitivity, understanding and in a equitable manner. While a sad tale of man's relationship to the environment, some hope is presented. For the hope to blossom into actuality you need to read this book and act to avoid the mistakes of the past and make progress to the achievement of a sustainable planet for all of us now, and for our future generations. The Swamp is one really big canary-in-cage-in-a coal-mine.
Rated by buyers -
The information contained the book will allow any reader to develop a comprehensive understanding of the historic and current circumstances affecting the everglades national park ecosystem health. It is also entertaining, a fun read.
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