BOOK REVIEW EDITOR'S NOTE
ED RUSSELL BEGAN a series of notes on the book review process when he became the book review editor. Over the past four years, Ed has worked to demystify the process and develop a system for managing reviews. Even though I had served as H-Environment's book review editor for several years, I had to learn a new system—and Ed made the transition much smoother by writing a manual on the process. I cannot praise his labors nor thank him enough. There are others behind the lines who deserve accolades as well. Eve Munson, our managing editor, established and efficiently maintains a database of books, reviewers, and deadlines, while Carol Marochak at the Forest History Society helps with sending out guidelines and other chores.
As Ed pointed out four years ago, the editorship appears simple, but the phenomenal growth of the field and accompanying literature makes the job much more challenging. In terms of logistics, I am currently expanding our book review guidelines to include a style sheet, which will make it easier for reviewers to standardize their reviews.
As we move toward the World Environmental History Conference in 2009, I believe that it is increasingly important to expand the geographical diversity of reviews, and we are working on including more reviews from around the world. In addition, I would like to expand this section to include reviews of film and other media, such as environmental history websites. These changes simply reflect the growth and vibrancy of the environmental history field in North America and worldwide.
MELISSA WIEDENFELD
| Jimmy Carter and the Energy Crisis of the 1970s. The "Crisis of Confidence" Speech of July 15, 1979: A Brief History with Documents. By Daniel Horowitz. Boston: Bedford/ St. Martin's, 2005. xix+ 203 pp. Notes, selected bibliography, index. $13.95 paper.
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| At the last few environmental history meetings, many ASEH members chatted about how to fit energy issues and concerns into our teaching. Obviously, between rising gas prices, rationale for war in the Middle East, and the nascent consideration of alternative fuels, students today already have dimensions of our energy situation on their collective mind. With a little historical context and background, our students will lead our nation toward informed energy decisions in the future. Daniel Horowitz's unique book, Jimmy Carter and the Energy Crisis of the 1970s, offers an excellent classroom tool to provide undergraduates with the recent historical context that informs the politics and technology of our current energy conundrum. |
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