Good Dirt: Confessions of a Conservationist

by David E. Morine

David E. Morine is a briefcase conservationist specializing in human nature. He has taken on one of the greatest threats to the environment today -- red tape -- and has become an expert at its disposal. During fifteen years in charge of land acquisition for The Nature Conservancy, Morine helped protect more than three million acres of wilderness, finding plenty to laugh about and learn from along the way. Now, here are the stories behind the deals and the people who made them -- an enlightening, entertaining, occasionally unsettling look at the dirty job of keeping America clean.
"Morine shares his most difficult, embarrassing, hilarious and unpredictable moments as a shirt-and-tie deal maker in the service of an untamed natural world." -- The New York Times Book Review

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

195 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

Reviews

[T.C. Weber · Rating 4 out of 5]

As someone who works in land conservation, I found these stories from the early days of the Nature Conservancy (1970's-80's) entertaining and inspirational. The prose is quick, and the book can easily be read in a few sittings (or one cross-country flight). Morine and his motley crew of colleagues manage (for the most part) to protect land for future generations despite funding challenges, a mean-spirited Secretary of the Interior (James Watt), and ill-tempered dogs.

[Brian · Rating 4 out of 5]

enjoyable short read about David's work with the Nature Conservancy, some great and funny stories in here.

[Adam Schweigert · Rating 3 out of 5]

pretty misogynistic but still worth a read re: the politics of land acquisition, etc

[Jessica Hepker · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being that each chapter is a different story, this is a good book to read a chapter at a time. I found most of his interactions with people to be hilarious.

[Katy · Rating 3 out of 5]

A must read if you work for TNC. Otherwise probably not.