Books Noted A sampling of books new to the shelves of
The Center's library
Giants of Garbage
Harold Crooks
A discussion on the North American waste trade, and the politics
and policies that allowed multinationals like BFI, Laidlaw and
WMX Technologies to take control of landfills as well as the
rest of the disposal industry.
The Town that Died
Michael J. Bird
A straightforward account of the 1917 explosion that leveled
a quarter of Halifax, Nova Scotia, killing 2000 people. The
accidental detonation of the ammunition ship was the largest
and most deadly explosion in history until it was upstaged by
Hiroshima.
Fish Story
Allen Sekula
Sekula, the eminent artist-as-geographer, traveled the planet
to spin this tale about the global machine, a coastal waterworld
held together by standardized inter modal shipping containers.
Mr. Wilson's Cabinet
of Wonder
Lawrence Weschler
This New Yorker Magazine writer put together his impressions
of, and ruminations on, the Museum of Jurassic Technology, the
notable museum in Los Angeles. By dwelling on the curator of
the museum, "Mr. Wilson", as opposed to the contents
and their effects, the author's efforts are led astray, but
perhaps serve to illustrate the limitations of the journalistic
perspective.
Earthwards: Robert
Smithson and Art After Babel
Gary Shapiro
A recent essay on the "earth artist" Robert Smithson,
by a professor of Philosophy. A solid contribution to the continuing
exploration and interpretation of Smithson.
The Firecracker Boys
Rebecca Solnit
Solnit discusses environmental and social issues as they are
expressed in certain portions of the Southwestern landscape.
She exemplifies the extremes by focusing on Yosemite Park and
the Nevada Test Site, and addresses Native American land rights
issues, such as the Dann family's battle to reclaim Shoshone
land in Nevada.
Savage Dreams
Rebecca Solnit
Solnit discusses environmental and social issues as they are
expressed in certain portions of the Southwestern landscape.
She exemplifies the extremes by focusing on Yosemite Park and
the Nevada Test Site, and addresses Native American land rights
issues, such as the Dann family's battle to reclaim Shoshone
land in Nevada.
Los Angeles: The Architecture
of Four Ecologies
Reyner Banham
The English architectural critic Banham examines spaces in Los
Angeles, combining concise maps, clear architectural photographs,
and the fresh perspective of a knowledgeable visitor. Though
published in 1971, this book is still remarkable in its structure
and scope.
