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At first, I didn't really like this book. Its format is a little different from most nonfiction books I read. It leans more heavily into the narratives and it's organized about 30 pages per chapter. On the longer side for each story.

As I pushed myself to read it though, I started to enjoy it more. I have not read many books specifically in the conservation biology genre. It seems that most books in the genre focus on one species to highlight, explain its evolutionary history, and the challenges to the species. This book is basically the history of the conservation movement. I liked it because it's not an oft written about topic.

Also, as I went on I began to understand why the author sectioned off her book as she did. Each book chapter serves to highlight important steps in the conservation movements from establishing the EPA, WWF, and Environmental Working Group (among others) to looking at different ideas in the movement like focusing on involving local communities in conservation. In other words, at first you think the book is a bit meandering and as you read through it you become more reflective on how it is organized.

I think you do have to be in the mood to read longer narratives and chapters, but I think it is well worth your time. My favorite chapters were "The Eagle and the Whooping Crane" which focuses on Rachel Carson's contributions and 'The Professor and the Elixir of Life" which focuses on the Huxley family. I knew the Huxley family through TH Huxley aka "Darwin's bulldog", but had no idea what an impressive family he came from. There are a few poetic and interesting anecdotes splashed in there as well. The book also challenges you with some fascinating thought experiments and moral arguments that she leaves open-ended in the later chapters.

Yes, there are a few duller chapters, but overall you really do get into the history of conservation as you go on. It's also neat to learn how thinking has evolved in conservation even among its pioneers and even now. If you are interested in the conservation movement, Nijhuis weaves an interesting yarn and you're probably bound to learn something.