Anintimateandrevelatorydiveintotheworldofthebeaver--thewonderfullyweirdrodentthathassurprisinglyshapedAmericanhistoryandmaysaveitsecologicalfuture.Fromaward-winningwriterLeilaPhilip,Beaverlandisamasterfulworkofnarrativesciencewriting,abookthathighlights,thoughhistoryandcontemporarystorytelling,howthisweirdrodentplaysanoversizedroleinAmericanhistoryanditsfuture.Shefollowsfurtrapperswholeadherthroughwaisthighwater,furtradersandfurauctioneers,aswellaswildlifemanagers,PETAactivists,NativeAmericanenvironmentalvigilantes,scientists,engineers,andthecolorfulgroupofactivistsknownasbeaverbelievers.Beginningwiththeearlytrans-AtlantictradeinNorthAmerica,LeilaPhiliptracesthebeaver’sprofoundinfluenceonournation’searlyeconomyandfeverishwesternexpansion,itsfirstcorporationsandmulti-millionaires.Inherpursuitofthisweirdandwonderfulanimal,sheintroducesustopeoplewhoselivesaredevotedtothebeaver,includingaHarvardscientistfromtheBlackfeetReservationinMontana,whousesdronestocreate3-dimensionalimagesofbeaverdams;andanenvironmentalrestorationconsultantintheChesapeakewhosenicknameisthe“beaverwhisperer“.Whatemergesisapoignantpersonalnarrative,astartlingportraitofthesecretiveworldofthecontemporaryfurtrade,andanengrossingecologicalandhistoricalinvestigationoftheseheroicanimalswho,oncetrappedtothepointofextinction,havereturnedtothelandscapeasoneofthegreatestconservationstoriesofthe20thcentury.Beautifullywrittenandimpeccablyresearched,Beaverlandrevealstheprofoundwaysinwhichoneoddcreatureandthetradesurroundingithasshapedhistory,culture,andourenvironment.TheNewYorkTimesEditors’ChoiceNPRScienceFridayBookClubSelection
