About The Book
In a world constantly confronted by global environmental problems, establishing effective ecological policies is more important than ever. Our natural ecological systems are constantly fluctuating and our plans, policies, and laws governing the environment must change to reflect our new understanding.
Poised to be a core text of the twenty-first century environmental movement, The Moon in the Nautilus Shell challenges us to think critically about our role in nature. It expands upon the ideas put forth in Daniel Botkin’s Discordant Harmonies (1990), the book considered by many to be the classic text of the environmental movement. Botkin was among the first to challenge the then dominant view that nature ideally exists in a state of perfect balance, remaining constant over time unless disturbed by human influence. He argues that nature has no ideal state of balance, but is instead constantly evolving and fluctuating. It is critical to the success of our future initiatives that we acknowledge that fact. The Moon in the Nautilus Shell brings Botkin’s ideas into the twenty-first century. Readers will learn that the belief in a balanced nature is alive and well, though those who hold it are constantly confronted by scientific evidence that stands in opposition. This book will challenge us to rethink our current conservation policies and to more fully appreciate the complexities of the world in which we live.
About The Author
DANIEL BOTKIN is a scientist who studies life from a planetary perspective, a biologist who has helped solve major environmental issues, and a writer about nature. Well-known for his scientific contributions in ecology and environment, he has also worked as a professional journalist and has degrees in physics, biology, and literature. A Professor Emeritus at the University of California, Santa Barbara, Daniel’s books and lectures show how our cultural legacy often dominates what we believe to be scientific solutions.
In addition to his career as an ecologist, Dr. Botkin has maintained a lifelong interest in folklore and folkmusic, serving on the board of directors of the Folklife Center of the Library of Congress from 2004 to 2010. “There is a connection,” Botkin explains of the seemingly disparate worlds. “For starters, a lot of what is said about nature is folklore, not science.”