“This book is a great introduction to conservation and an important reminder that there are many reasons for protecting and restoring nature. Tillman recognizes the importance of our emotional connection to the places that we love as well as the services that natural systems provide like clean water, air, and food.”
Mark R. Tercek, President and CEO, The Nature Conservancy and author of Nature’s
Fortune: How Business and Nature Thrive by Investing in Nature.
“This is a must read for anyone interested in land preservation. It is full of engaging stories that both inform and inspire. This book is a great introduction to the history of the conservation movement starting with Muir, Powell, and Pinchot. Ned inspires the reader to take action and become a part of restoring and preserving the places they love. The book will be a great resource and tool for land trusts across the country to use to inspire their members and attract new supporters.”
Rand Wentworth, President, Land Trust Alliance.
Tillman urges Americans to take some personal responsibility for their environment. In each chapter, the author recalls his own experiences of a particular American location, beginning with the farm where he grew up, and explains various threats to such settings. He suggests common-sense actions that readers might take, individually and collectively, to help. Chapters deal with mountains, lakes, meadows, beaches, islands, forests, rivers, backyards, farmlands, cities, Alaska (as America’s last frontier) and oceans. Tillman’s pragmatic advice should appeal to readers who recognize that environmental degradation is affecting their lives, but who don’t care for apocalyptic predictions.
David Conn, Library Journal
“This is a must read book for people who want to know how they can contribute to saving the environment they know and love. You can feel the passion he has for the environment and learn from his many suggestions. If you care about preserving for future generations the natural places you have come to love, you should read this book.”
Van Reiner, CEO of the Maryland Science Center.
“This book addresses the ecological big picture but it also highlights the little things ordinary people can do to keep the places we work and play livable. At the heart of Tillman’s work lies his personal love of wild places and his desire to awaken that feeling in others. He’s peppered his book with anecdotes about his own experiences in the natural world, as well as those of others.”
Doug Miller, The Columbia Flyer.
“A BOOK THAT WILL LIFT YOUR SPIRIT AND LIGHT A FIRE”
“This is a book that will lift your spirits and light a fire! After reading Saving the Places We Love, I felt like I had been on a walk in the woods with author Ned Tillman. From the opening chapter where Tillman dealt with the loss of a place he loved as a child, to captivating stories about some of the most special places on this planet, this book was both a joy to read and a call to action. It lays out “the environmental issue” in layman’s terms, and invites the reader to look no further than their own backyard to take simple, practical actions to turn the tide towards restoration and balance. Sidebar short stories are sprinkled throughout the book, which were added gems that made this a truly enjoyable read.”
Richard Deutschmann, Energy Expert at Ameresco.
“The great authors of our movement – Sigurd Olson, Aldo Leopold, Rachel Carson – all used stories to call us to action. This book manages to fully embrace this vision and spirit. Each story is compelling in its own right and motivates us to want to act.”
Josh Feldmark, Sustainability Director for Howard County, MD.
“One great thing about Ned Tillman’s book is that he not only details the problems with various habitats that we love, but also the positive changes that have happened, so we can be encouraged to try to make a difference ourselves.”
Elaine Pardoe, Director of CLEER