Thrillcraft: The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation

By: George Wuerthner

Book Overview

Thrillcraft: The Environmental Consequences of Motorized Recreation exposes the lasting damage done to our land, water, and air from the growing plague of jet skis, quads, dirt bikes, dune buggies,... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933392665
• ISBN13: 9781933392660
• Release Date: January 2007
• Publisher: Chelsea Green Pub Co
• Length: 274 Pages
• Weight: 5.55 lbs.
• Dimensions: 13.5" x 1.5" x 12.3"

Customer Reviews

The Future of our Public Lands

Beautifully written essays and devastating photos, depicting the damage done by off-road vehicles on irreplacable forest lands and deserts. The essays by environmentalists cut to the point -- we have to use our lands responsibly or we lose them. As an avid hiker, I've seen the damage to public lands. I've talked to ranchers whose fences have been cut, and their private land disrepected. Thrillcraft also has inspiring photos of as yet unspoiled forests and canyonlands. Too bad all of our public lands don't look like those photos. If more people read this timely and well-edited book, perhaps we'll turn the tide on destruction of our natural resources.

Excellent account of motorized recreation

Thrillcraft finally says it all - the pictures and the articles - about the unfortunate but true destruction of off-road vehicles and motorized recreation. I am an off-roader myself, and am furious at how a lot of my associates have destroyed our sport by tearing up the land wherever they go. Everyone suffers from this irresponsible use - especially the off-roaders. If only there was respect and the knowledge that if we destroy it, we also won't have a place to ride. If we're going out in nature - let's keep it so we have something to go out to. This book is a real wake-up call to everyone!

Pictures Don't Lie

If I had stock in the ATV industry, made a nice living selling ATVs, or if my fun depended on free public land, outnumbered and outgunned law enforcement, and cheap gas made possible by the sacrifices of the U.S. military, I'd attack this book too. However, pictures don't lie. As a hiker, mountain bicyclist, and camper, I've seen the damage created by unregulated, unrepentant ATV users, and as a professional environmental planner, I can assure you it will last for generations. It's our land, not their land, and one or two user groups do not have the right to scar our natural birthright for a weekend of petroleum-powered partying. Don't take anyone's word for it--read this book. Educate yourself. Go see the damage. And then decide if enough is enough.

Damage to public lands

"Thrillcraft" will be a useful reference for everyone grappling with degradation of publicly owned lands by uncontrolled off-road vehicles. Anyone can see the damage - from the redrock canyons of southern Utah to the wild beaches of Cape Hatteras National Seashore. ORV groups will also learn from this book, as responsible ORV folks are organizing volunteer efforts to restore damaged areas.