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Tinkering with Eden: A Natural History of Exotics in America
A fascinating natural history of non-native species currently living and thriving in America focuses on the various experiments, most well-intentioned, that introduced many foriegn life forms to the continent.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2001
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220 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
December 3, 2017
This book had a lot of potential but I️ found it overall to be too poetic in its descriptions. The author tends to start by saying there are multiple theories as to how an organism was introduced, then proceeds to take her favorite or the most likely theory and illustrate it to the point of historical fiction.
Every chapter has an introductory passage, a meat-and-facts passage, and a conclusion passage and the transitions in between were too jarring for my taste. It read like a high school essay rather than the flowing narrative of natural essays I’m used to. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by gems like Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver.
Nonetheless, there were some passages really enjoyed. The chapter on pheasants and how they contrast with the native heath hen was probably the best. I️ hear her later books are better so I’ll give them a try.
Every chapter has an introductory passage, a meat-and-facts passage, and a conclusion passage and the transitions in between were too jarring for my taste. It read like a high school essay rather than the flowing narrative of natural essays I’m used to. Perhaps I’ve been spoiled by gems like Small Wonder by Barbara Kingsolver.
Nonetheless, there were some passages really enjoyed. The chapter on pheasants and how they contrast with the native heath hen was probably the best. I️ hear her later books are better so I’ll give them a try.
December 29, 2017
Each chapter focuses on a specific exotic many of which I did not know were non-native to America. Many were released during the acclimatization era as an attempt to improve what were regarded as unpopulated spaces or to serve a role better than their native counterpart. It's strange to think of mass introductions of species like kangaroo to fill prairies because buffalo are no longer available or trying to compel Inuit to herd imported reindeer, but these were well-intended efforts of our forefathers. Overall, a great read for any layperson with its medium length chapters, good histories, and great illustrations.
June 24, 2025
An interesting book. Todd does a good job of finding examples of foreign species that have been introduced to the US and detailing the effects. She does a very good job of explaining the rationale and showing how the situation evolved, and keeping it interesting. I found the book a joy to read. She could of skipped the chapter "A Near Miss," as it basically boiled down to "someone thought about bringing kangaroos in and then didn't," but that was a very short chapter, so it didn't really detract from the rest of the book. Well worth reading.
December 11, 2016
This book is a fascinating blend of American natural and human history, author Kim Todd showing that in a sense our history is almost as much one of animal immigrants as that of human immigrants. North America, already one of the richest continents in the world in terms of biodiversity, is home now to many thousands of introduced plant and animal species.
Some were brought in for a taste or touch of home, missed by European settlers in the strange wilds of North America. Some, such as the honey bee, also proved of later significant commercial importance, becoming so vital to agriculture and indeed everyday life - pollinating plants, providing wax and honey - that later there would be many who found it hard to believe that the honey bee was not native to North America. Others, such as the rock dove or pigeon, provided a mixed track record; as Todd puts it, noting how revered the dove is in Western literature and how hated the pigeon often is; that in essence, "the colonists brought doves to the New World and ended up surrounded by pigeons." As much as the rock doves proved useful for food, for delivering messages (labeled by some in this regard according to Todd as "gallant" birds, praised in poetry and song), and as prized pets, they proved a huge problem in cities. Others, such as the European starling, proved downright pests. Brought over in a misguided attempt to introduce to the continent all the birds mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, it has spread throughout North America and become a plague like no other, pushing out native species from prime habitat and forming such large flocks in some areas as to present health hazards.
Many introductions were accidental. When a canal was opened between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in the 19th century, allowing goods from the Great Lakes and the interior of Canada and the United States to reach the sea via the St. Lawrence River (in a chapter she appropriately calls "An Artificial Wedding"), more than just ships plied these waters. The sea lamprey, long resident in Lake Ontario, had not been able to bypass Niagara Falls and enter the rest of the Great Lakes previously. Once present, Todd chronicles how the predator preyed upon the formerly vast schools of fish in the Great Lakes, sending fishing stocks plummeting and completely reworking the entire ecology of the lakes. Another creature taking unfortunate advantage of mankind to enter a new habitat - in this case the Hawaiian Islands - was the mosquito. Once an island chain completely free from this pest, this insect entered the islands from the emptied dregs of ship's water barrels. Quickly becoming a pest not only to humans but also to birds, the mosquitoes nearly wiped out many of the archipelago's avian fauna by spreading bird pox and avian malaria. Todd also writes of a recent immigrant, the monk parakeet, which first started to appear in the wild in the late 1960s thanks largely to escaped pets. Becoming more widespread, the author shows the debate between the parakeet's champions and those that seek to eliminate the exotic, scared of it achieving pest status, who ask themselves is this species of bird going to be end up becoming the next starling?
Other introductions were done to "improve" nature, primarily in the latter part of the 19th century. The ring-necked pheasant from China was imported to improve the hunting, a bird thought worthy of the sport hunter and more of a challenge than native game birds. Similar motives were at work with the brown trout of Europe, a prized game fish that did much to foster the refinement and popularity of fly fishing in the United States (though their benefactor, Fred Mather, believed that they could provide a vital new source of food for the American people). With few concerns for the alien species' effects on native fishes the brown trout became by 1900 established in 38 states. Reindeer, introduced in Alaska with epic ideas to provide the native peoples with animals to herd and with new means of transportation and methods to make money, proved a failure as expected results failed to materialize for many reasons as the book shows.
Finally some introductions were simply done to make money. The story of the nutria, an imported marsh denizen of South America, is fascinating. Brought in to help meet demands for furs - in the days when fur farms were in their infancy and the wild fur-bearing animals becoming scarce - it degenerated from a promising project into get-rich-quick pyramid schemes (which even involved federal investigation) as the semi-valuable nutria pelts were hyped up to gullible buyers in a high-stakes game that penalized those who actually sought to take their pelts to market. Even native animals were moved about the country for such endeavors; the mountain goat, not native to the Olympic Mountains in Washington state, was brought in to try and improve tourism. The region was deemed good mountain goat country; indeed it was too good, with no predators and a variety of very rare and highly local alpine plants that were not able to withstand steady grazing by the agile animals, the mountain goat has proved an ecological disaster.
Todd discusses in an almost short-story format these and many other animals, including a variety of insect pests. The book is well worth purchasing; my only compliant was that even more species could have been detailed.
Some were brought in for a taste or touch of home, missed by European settlers in the strange wilds of North America. Some, such as the honey bee, also proved of later significant commercial importance, becoming so vital to agriculture and indeed everyday life - pollinating plants, providing wax and honey - that later there would be many who found it hard to believe that the honey bee was not native to North America. Others, such as the rock dove or pigeon, provided a mixed track record; as Todd puts it, noting how revered the dove is in Western literature and how hated the pigeon often is; that in essence, "the colonists brought doves to the New World and ended up surrounded by pigeons." As much as the rock doves proved useful for food, for delivering messages (labeled by some in this regard according to Todd as "gallant" birds, praised in poetry and song), and as prized pets, they proved a huge problem in cities. Others, such as the European starling, proved downright pests. Brought over in a misguided attempt to introduce to the continent all the birds mentioned in the works of Shakespeare, it has spread throughout North America and become a plague like no other, pushing out native species from prime habitat and forming such large flocks in some areas as to present health hazards.
Many introductions were accidental. When a canal was opened between Lake Erie and Lake Ontario in the 19th century, allowing goods from the Great Lakes and the interior of Canada and the United States to reach the sea via the St. Lawrence River (in a chapter she appropriately calls "An Artificial Wedding"), more than just ships plied these waters. The sea lamprey, long resident in Lake Ontario, had not been able to bypass Niagara Falls and enter the rest of the Great Lakes previously. Once present, Todd chronicles how the predator preyed upon the formerly vast schools of fish in the Great Lakes, sending fishing stocks plummeting and completely reworking the entire ecology of the lakes. Another creature taking unfortunate advantage of mankind to enter a new habitat - in this case the Hawaiian Islands - was the mosquito. Once an island chain completely free from this pest, this insect entered the islands from the emptied dregs of ship's water barrels. Quickly becoming a pest not only to humans but also to birds, the mosquitoes nearly wiped out many of the archipelago's avian fauna by spreading bird pox and avian malaria. Todd also writes of a recent immigrant, the monk parakeet, which first started to appear in the wild in the late 1960s thanks largely to escaped pets. Becoming more widespread, the author shows the debate between the parakeet's champions and those that seek to eliminate the exotic, scared of it achieving pest status, who ask themselves is this species of bird going to be end up becoming the next starling?
Other introductions were done to "improve" nature, primarily in the latter part of the 19th century. The ring-necked pheasant from China was imported to improve the hunting, a bird thought worthy of the sport hunter and more of a challenge than native game birds. Similar motives were at work with the brown trout of Europe, a prized game fish that did much to foster the refinement and popularity of fly fishing in the United States (though their benefactor, Fred Mather, believed that they could provide a vital new source of food for the American people). With few concerns for the alien species' effects on native fishes the brown trout became by 1900 established in 38 states. Reindeer, introduced in Alaska with epic ideas to provide the native peoples with animals to herd and with new means of transportation and methods to make money, proved a failure as expected results failed to materialize for many reasons as the book shows.
Finally some introductions were simply done to make money. The story of the nutria, an imported marsh denizen of South America, is fascinating. Brought in to help meet demands for furs - in the days when fur farms were in their infancy and the wild fur-bearing animals becoming scarce - it degenerated from a promising project into get-rich-quick pyramid schemes (which even involved federal investigation) as the semi-valuable nutria pelts were hyped up to gullible buyers in a high-stakes game that penalized those who actually sought to take their pelts to market. Even native animals were moved about the country for such endeavors; the mountain goat, not native to the Olympic Mountains in Washington state, was brought in to try and improve tourism. The region was deemed good mountain goat country; indeed it was too good, with no predators and a variety of very rare and highly local alpine plants that were not able to withstand steady grazing by the agile animals, the mountain goat has proved an ecological disaster.
Todd discusses in an almost short-story format these and many other animals, including a variety of insect pests. The book is well worth purchasing; my only compliant was that even more species could have been detailed.
July 24, 2020
From the first paragraph of the Introduction I was challenged to stop and look at the world around me from a different perspective.
I recently reread this great book that's been on my bookcase since it originally was published, 2001.
I still remember when the author came to town for a reading and signing. It was a good evening and good memories.
I now need to see what else she has out there.
I really enjoyed her writing style.
A entertaining read and I'd recommend it to anyone.
I recently reread this great book that's been on my bookcase since it originally was published, 2001.
I still remember when the author came to town for a reading and signing. It was a good evening and good memories.
I now need to see what else she has out there.
I really enjoyed her writing style.
A entertaining read and I'd recommend it to anyone.
July 9, 2020
This is a fun read but something was missing. Not the fault of the author, though it does move into some speculative literary flourishes more suited to fiction. It's just that after a lifetime of reading these sorts of "popular science" books, I am wanting something less "popular" with a whole lot more science.
December 25, 2020
written in a story narrative so easy to get involved in the educational history presented. Learned a lot of things I took for granted or thought had been here since time told.
Really would recommend it for those interested in the natural habitat history of the North American continent.
Really would recommend it for those interested in the natural habitat history of the North American continent.
December 12, 2011
After having been so enthralled with Todd's book about Maria Sibylla Merian, Chrysalis, I was a bit disappointed with this earlier book. I imagine that if I'd read the books in order of publishing date, I wouldn't have felt let down in the same way, since I would have simply noted that Todd is getting better at what she does, which is write very well about ecology, biology & history. Thinking about "exotic" & "non-native" species "introduced" to the Americas pursuant to European exploration & conquest inevitably leads to thinking about the ecological role of homo sapiens in general. As Wendell Berry famously said, "What Are Humans For?" Our big brains seem to cause a lot of trouble for us (as well as generating the beauties of science, art , music, literature etc.) & for many species that share the planet with us. We overrun our niche. Our companion species, among which are the domesticated ones & those that scavenge off our detritus or accommodate well to the disruption & construction we bring with us, do well. In fact, from a Michael Pollen point of view, it may well be they who use us as much as we use them. It's all about perpetuating the species, reproducing & replicating the DNA. Which is why so many introduced species (& they are legion!) wreck such havoc. They out-compete indigenous species with whom they share habitat. They may lack natural predators to control their numbers; they may more aggressively or successfully exploit feeding & breeding resources to the detriment of native species. Nothing is simple. For many a "solution" has unintended (and undesired) consequences. The problem itself may difficult to unravel, as Todd notes: "Often a species is considered native to an area if it was present before Europeans first started settling here. But is four hundred years the right number to choose? What if the [mountain] goats did live on the peninsula thousands of years ago but were exterminated before white explorers arrived? Why is a species "exotic" if it was introduced by people, rather than by clinging to the coat of a white-tailed deer or hitching a ride in the intestinal tract of a sparrow? Moreover, is returning portions of the United States to their condition prior to European settlement, while the Europeans' offspring themselves continue to crawl all over those same areas, an achievable or laudable goal?" Tinkering with Eden, indeed!
April 21, 2015
This was a glorious read!Not only is this a fascinating subject regarding both ecology and American history, it is also a work of art, both for the traditional sketches and the beautiful prose. Todd, an expert in the scientific field of environmental studies, also has an M.F.A. And it shows. She writes beautifully, painting detailed images and scenes that bring the subject matter, whether it be a bird or a weed, to vivid life. The discussion of the introduction of foreign species to local habitats could be dry and boring, but Todd makes it interesting. You do not need an advanced degree in environmental studies to understand. You feel for the people affected in the stories. Each essay draws you in, as if you are witnessing various stages of the American history no one really ever talks about.
"In this light, the desire rises to see the country before the first European bootprint in the mud, showing off the creatures it molded, the children of its brain and habitats. It would be frightening; it would be awe-inspiring; it would be a place we've never been."
Todd is thorough in her research and citation. She traveled and met with scientists. She explored. And she shared what she saw. This book is an adventure to read, and you will be surprised how interesting the tales can be. To think, creatures we take for granted as always being here, such as pigeons, were once exotic to this land. This information shakes our reality, and makes clear our place in the timeline of the planet, and how we are responsible for the changing landscape.
"In this light, the desire rises to see the country before the first European bootprint in the mud, showing off the creatures it molded, the children of its brain and habitats. It would be frightening; it would be awe-inspiring; it would be a place we've never been."
Todd is thorough in her research and citation. She traveled and met with scientists. She explored. And she shared what she saw. This book is an adventure to read, and you will be surprised how interesting the tales can be. To think, creatures we take for granted as always being here, such as pigeons, were once exotic to this land. This information shakes our reality, and makes clear our place in the timeline of the planet, and how we are responsible for the changing landscape.
June 13, 2018
4.5 stars, rounded down for some underdeveloped chapters.
I had to read a few chapters of Tinkering With Eden (and give a presentation on them) for a class in college. Years later, I found the book on Amazon.
Each chapter focuses on a different exotic species that has made its way to America. It goes into the "when" the "how" and the "why" for the species initial introduction, and then expands upon the repercussions or benefits of its existence in the U.S. ecosystem.
I knew a lot about exotic/invasive plants and animals going into this book, but there was enough new information for me that I was still entertained and informed. A great starter book for people who are interested in conservation, biodiversity, and ecology, but who weren't biology majors in college. Also good if you are trying to get friends, family members, and coworkers knowledgeable about this stuff.
The chapters on pigeons, honeybees, mosquitoes, reindeer, starlings, and monk parakeets were the best. Some chapters, such as those on the hessian fly and the gypsy moth were very underdeveloped by comparison.
I had to read a few chapters of Tinkering With Eden (and give a presentation on them) for a class in college. Years later, I found the book on Amazon.
Each chapter focuses on a different exotic species that has made its way to America. It goes into the "when" the "how" and the "why" for the species initial introduction, and then expands upon the repercussions or benefits of its existence in the U.S. ecosystem.
I knew a lot about exotic/invasive plants and animals going into this book, but there was enough new information for me that I was still entertained and informed. A great starter book for people who are interested in conservation, biodiversity, and ecology, but who weren't biology majors in college. Also good if you are trying to get friends, family members, and coworkers knowledgeable about this stuff.
The chapters on pigeons, honeybees, mosquitoes, reindeer, starlings, and monk parakeets were the best. Some chapters, such as those on the hessian fly and the gypsy moth were very underdeveloped by comparison.
March 3, 2008
This is a series of little essays about plants and animals that have been introduced in the US over time and the repercussions of these introductions. I knew about a lot of them already, but some of them were new for me, like the mosquitos in Hawaii and the reindeer in Alaska. The most interesting part is what the people were thinking when they brought these things here. The line between visionary and crazy is very fine here. Also, it is interesting to know about how unexpected the results were and how people's perspectives on these species changed over the course of time. The only think I didn't like about it was that the author was sometimes too intrusive, like at one point she refers to what she's wearing for no apparant reason. That kind of thing bugs me.
May 27, 2008
Did you know that there is a thriving population of parakeets in Hyde Park? And a troop of Rhesus monkeys in Florida? Did you also know that gypsy moths were introduced in the hopes of building a silkworm industry? Or that starlings started out as a few dozen birds in Central Park, introduced by an eccentric who wanted to pay tribute to Shakespeare?
Yeah, me neither.
This book tells you all about that, and a hundred other bits of trivia regarding nonnative species in America.
Yeah, me neither.
This book tells you all about that, and a hundred other bits of trivia regarding nonnative species in America.
August 10, 2011
Hopefully everyone has heard the story about what European colonists did to the people who were already living here, if not enough times or in enough detail. This is one attempt at telling the story of what those same colonists did to the ecosystems in America. They made a mess. Some of the consequences were less malign than you might imagine, but most of them were more so. By the way, pigeons (a.k.a. doves) are really cool.
January 30, 2011
I picked this up because it was mentioned in an Alice Walker book and sounded like a good read. It's a series of essays explaining how and why non-native species (mainly animals & insects) came to America. I thought it was interesting to learn how the pigeon came to America and what might happen if kangaroos roamed the land.
December 5, 2007
Nice book on natural history of non-native species in North America (think Starlings, pigeons, etc.). Each chapter is a separate account, making it a good book to pick up, set down, and be able to come back to.
January 27, 2016
Entertaining and rather chilling discussion of the many non-native species that have made themselves perfectly at home in the USA. Concerns itself with, among other wonderful species, the Walking Catfish, my very favorite invasive.
December 16, 2015
Excellent book.... was required reading for the 2005 freshman class at Luther College... we never think far enough down the road to the impact of our choices... interesting examples presented Thank you Kim Todd!
March 24, 2008
Did you know how pigeons came to North America? I didn't, until I read Chapter One of this book!
November 13, 2008
Great book. Everyone should read it. You learn about all the introduced animal, insect, plant species introduced to America; The Whys and What happens...
June 25, 2014
a little boring.
August 3, 2015
great book very informative, good stories, really interesting history. End of chapters are a bit pat, though, more wrapped up than I would expect something about weeds to be.
Read
October 9, 2016enjoyed it.
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews