The Quiet World

In this fascinating follow-up to his New York Times best-seller Wilderness Warrior, acclaimed historian Douglas Brinkley documents the century-long struggle to save wild Alaska. The Quiet World explores the colorful diversity of Alaska’s wildlife and the forces that have threatened it over the years, from Klondike Gold Rush prospectors to industrial disasters like the Exxon-Valdez oil spill. Brinkley pays tribute to those who have fought to preserve this pristine wilderness, from Theodore Roosevelt to Dwight Eisenhower to the Walt Disney Corporation, and examines the threats that continue to imperil our 49th state. The Quiet World is a compelling call-to-arms for sustainability, conservationism, and conscientious environmental stewardship — a warning that the land once called “Seward’s Folly” may go down in history as America’s greatest mistake. Douglas Brinkley is a professor of history at Rice University and a contributing editor at Vanity Fair. Seven of his books, including The Wilderness Warrior, have been selected as New York Times Notable Books of the Year. The Great Deluge, his account of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath, won the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award. He lives in Texas with his wife and three children. “The Quiet World is a fascinating and important read.” — Jon Krakauer