Drought and fires, floods and rising tides: These and other climate-driven forces are compelling us to examine our role as inhabitants of our imperiled planet. In over forty vitally important essays and vignettes, Natural Consequences is Char Miller's literary tour de force that illuminates the historical background of how we got here, what we need to do now, and how we can thrive into the future.

Professor of Environmental Analysis and History, and author of books, articles, and essays, Char Miller's narratives are not only expansive in scope, but also intimate and personal. Living in Southern California, he walks us through the environmental touchstones of his backyard, through his neighborhood, into the widely varied ecospheres of California, and then the world beyond.

The essays encourage readers to look for themselves at the meaning behind environmental disasters and injustices, but also examine the tiniest details that can be encountered simply by taking a walk. As Char Miller wanders, we see the world anew through his eyes and words. And we are better for it.

About the Author
Char Miller is the W.M. Keck Professor of Environmental Analysis and History at Pomona College. He is author of more than fifteen books including Westside Rising: How San Antonio's 1921 Flood Devastated a City and Sparked a Latino Environmental Justice Movement and Not So Golden State: Sustainability vs. the California Dream. He lives in Claremont, California.

Reviews

Equal parts charming and unsettling, these are illuminating accounts of the world we inhabit now. And the essays come with lots of good advice, above all: go for a walk. But maybe stick this volume in your back pocket.
-Bill McKibben, author of The Flag, the Cross, and the Station Wagon

In this insightful collection of personal essays, Char Miller transits wonder, outrage, and revelation as he explores the complex issues facing California's landscapes-from mountain wildlands to seashores to home neighborhoods. I cannot imagine a more amiable, informed, and incisive guide. Read this book for enjoyment and to understand both the history and modern context of southern California's dynamic natural and urban environments.
-Ann Vilesis, author of Abalone: The Remarkable History and Uncertain Future of California's Iconic Shellfish

Char Miller confronts existential questions facing humanity today - climate change and longtime misuse of the land and its resources. Almost unfortunately, he brings to the task a scholar's wealth of knowledge about how bad things really are. But he also sounds a note of solace: we can find healthy ways to connect to the planet's creatures, plants and phenomena like wildland fire, but it comes through coexistence, not domination.
-John N. Maclean, author of Home Waters

Book Information
ISBN 9781634050371
Author Char Miller
Format Paperback
Page Count 218
Imprint Chin Music Press
Publisher Chin Music Press
Dimensions(mm) 205mm * 147mm * 10mm