Pulitzer Prize finalist, Dan Egan, has just released a new
work of non-fiction entitled The Death and Life of the Great Lakes.
The book was a winner of the J. Anthony Lukas Award – given annually to provide
funding necessary for the completion of a non-fiction work focusing on an
American topic that is of political and/or social concern.
Egan’s book starts by educating us on the engineering
marvels of the late 1800’s that broke down the barriers of the Great Lakes –
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior – for improved shipping and to
allow Chicago’s sewage to float out to the Mississippi . These man-made changes
exposed 20% of the earth’s fresh water to waterborne disease, sea lamprey, zebra
and quagga mussels, and more; destroying native species and changing the
ecosystem forever. Egan also talks about other threats including toxic algae,
climate change, and dredging of shipping channels; addressing the pressing
concern of a potential Asian Carp invasion. There are glimmers of hope, as Egan
uncovers relatively simple things we can do to ensure that the Great Lakes will
be healthy for generations to come.
As Egan covers the life within the Great Lakes, the threats
they face daily, and their revival, you can feel his concern for and love of one
of our most precious resources. This book is a must-read, as it provides a
concise history of the Great Lakes, information on man-made and environmental
concerns leading to where we are today, and a blueprint for protecting these
bodies of water for the future. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is
relevant and informative. It is a book that should not be ignored.
Reviewed by Jennifer Harden
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