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Lawn People: How Grasses, Weeds, and Chemicals Make Us Who We Are
For some people, their lawn is a source of pride, and for others, caring for their lawn is a chore. Yet for an increasing number of people, turf care is a cause for ecological anxiety. This text is a comprehensive survey of the American lawn and how caring for it impacts people's lives.
208 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2007
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
January 17, 2013
And here you thought you were cutting the grass because you enjoyed the exercise!
Paul Robbins’ book, Lawn People, takes a political ecology approach to the relationship between lawns (specifically, turfgrass) and the people who, willingly or otherwise, cultivate and maintain them. He goes beyond ecological implications to unpack the motivations that lead individuals to pursue the lawn ideal, arguing that the lawn conjures its own agency, compelling homeowners to participate in activities that otherwise contradict with their beliefs. His focus, the (upper) middle-class, educated, homeowner, is, he argues, a mess of contradictions; simultaneously knowledgeable enough to recognize the damaging ecological effects and risks posed by chemical lawn care but willing to overlook them, despite that cognition. In short, the relationship between chemical use and the demographics of residents follows the opposite of expectations.
It is this mess of contradictions that Robbins interrogates, suggesting that apolitical ecological approaches to the relationship between grass and people fail to produce a comprehensive explanation for the incongruous behavior of participants in this façade. The actions of residents who provide chemical lawn care are not demonstrative of rational choices free from coercion but are, Robbins suggests, the result of both subtle and overt forms of influence exacted upon a confused consumer. Thus he describes the American Lawn as “a political and economic (and not solely cultural) object that by its design (and not by any form of ecological accident) demands inputs” (p. 71). This leads to behaviours (chemical consumption etc.) that are patterned by the “industrial logics of the lawn industry…the economic incentives that direct chemical marketing” (p. 71), and by simultaneous cultural demands that position the lawn aesthetic as a cornerstone of American values. It quickly becomes clear however that Robbins is not content to view the lawn solely as a static expression of culture (and indeed, whose culture is it, anyway?), but that he sees the lawn as a driver in the creation of cultural subjects, established, in part, on the basis of a long history of species interaction in the New World (see Chapter 2) and on the basis of capitalism's necessary expansion (Chapter 4).
Enjoyable book. Not your standard academic fare. Relatively easy to get through. You can dwell on the science of hazards and the life cycles of grasses if you wish (interesting in their own right), but the most interesting contribution is the way in which the lawn (and its inputs) makes willing (and not-so-willing) subjects out of us. Also of interest is the way he ties in O'Connor's ecological contradictions of capitalism, suggesting that "lawn people are the ultimate logical participants" in this system in crisis, where capital accumulation and sustainability are seemingly irreconcilable. That capitalism is ultimately over-burdened and must consistently (re)produce new markets for its own expansion means a system in which consumers must be produced and a desire to participate in a culture (one which, in this case, aspires to a particular lawn aesthetic) is cultivated.
Paul Robbins’ book, Lawn People, takes a political ecology approach to the relationship between lawns (specifically, turfgrass) and the people who, willingly or otherwise, cultivate and maintain them. He goes beyond ecological implications to unpack the motivations that lead individuals to pursue the lawn ideal, arguing that the lawn conjures its own agency, compelling homeowners to participate in activities that otherwise contradict with their beliefs. His focus, the (upper) middle-class, educated, homeowner, is, he argues, a mess of contradictions; simultaneously knowledgeable enough to recognize the damaging ecological effects and risks posed by chemical lawn care but willing to overlook them, despite that cognition. In short, the relationship between chemical use and the demographics of residents follows the opposite of expectations.
It is this mess of contradictions that Robbins interrogates, suggesting that apolitical ecological approaches to the relationship between grass and people fail to produce a comprehensive explanation for the incongruous behavior of participants in this façade. The actions of residents who provide chemical lawn care are not demonstrative of rational choices free from coercion but are, Robbins suggests, the result of both subtle and overt forms of influence exacted upon a confused consumer. Thus he describes the American Lawn as “a political and economic (and not solely cultural) object that by its design (and not by any form of ecological accident) demands inputs” (p. 71). This leads to behaviours (chemical consumption etc.) that are patterned by the “industrial logics of the lawn industry…the economic incentives that direct chemical marketing” (p. 71), and by simultaneous cultural demands that position the lawn aesthetic as a cornerstone of American values. It quickly becomes clear however that Robbins is not content to view the lawn solely as a static expression of culture (and indeed, whose culture is it, anyway?), but that he sees the lawn as a driver in the creation of cultural subjects, established, in part, on the basis of a long history of species interaction in the New World (see Chapter 2) and on the basis of capitalism's necessary expansion (Chapter 4).
Enjoyable book. Not your standard academic fare. Relatively easy to get through. You can dwell on the science of hazards and the life cycles of grasses if you wish (interesting in their own right), but the most interesting contribution is the way in which the lawn (and its inputs) makes willing (and not-so-willing) subjects out of us. Also of interest is the way he ties in O'Connor's ecological contradictions of capitalism, suggesting that "lawn people are the ultimate logical participants" in this system in crisis, where capital accumulation and sustainability are seemingly irreconcilable. That capitalism is ultimately over-burdened and must consistently (re)produce new markets for its own expansion means a system in which consumers must be produced and a desire to participate in a culture (one which, in this case, aspires to a particular lawn aesthetic) is cultivated.
September 24, 2018
Good intro to why lawns are bad, if you didn't already know. Touches on the varying pressures to be "lawn people," where they come from, how they work, and claims that the lawn in some ways holds its caretakers as subjects. I felt he supports his claim about 3/4 of the way. Had some qualms with the science and felt like I could've used more words dedicated to the actual politics and history (tied to demilitarization) of lawns. He says he goes into the lawn's ties with the military-industrial complex, but doesnt really.
August 22, 2018
Robbins once lived in a house in the suburbs that had a lawn, felt pressured to take care of it, ended up letting weeds ruin it, and felt guilty for years. Lawn People is an attempt to assuage his feelings of anxiety about that, and absolutely nothing more or less.
There were a few conclusions he wanted to reach: 1. that refusing to use herbicides was the morally correct position, 2. that he couldn't have saved his lawn without them, and 3. that the pressure he felt from his neighbours to take care of his lawn was real. Obviously 1 and 3 are true and 2 is false, but that's not the point—the point is to make himself feel better, and that requires pretending that all three are right, which he does. If that means repeatedly contradicting himself or flat-out quoting marketing copy from herbicide manufacturers as fact, he'll do that and not even think twice about it.
The result is a garbled mess of a booklet that incidentally serves as fodder for people who want to snort in derision at suburban lawn culture—a fine enough pursuit—but doesn't provide an honest examination of anything, except perhaps of what happens when academic hackery is wielded in the service of blinkered suburbanite neuroticism.
Fortunately, Robbins does provide a list of books on lawns that sound much more promising in his introduction—his ``sources'', presumably—and I'll give some of those a try instead.
There were a few conclusions he wanted to reach: 1. that refusing to use herbicides was the morally correct position, 2. that he couldn't have saved his lawn without them, and 3. that the pressure he felt from his neighbours to take care of his lawn was real. Obviously 1 and 3 are true and 2 is false, but that's not the point—the point is to make himself feel better, and that requires pretending that all three are right, which he does. If that means repeatedly contradicting himself or flat-out quoting marketing copy from herbicide manufacturers as fact, he'll do that and not even think twice about it.
The result is a garbled mess of a booklet that incidentally serves as fodder for people who want to snort in derision at suburban lawn culture—a fine enough pursuit—but doesn't provide an honest examination of anything, except perhaps of what happens when academic hackery is wielded in the service of blinkered suburbanite neuroticism.
Fortunately, Robbins does provide a list of books on lawns that sound much more promising in his introduction—his ``sources'', presumably—and I'll give some of those a try instead.
December 23, 2024
Blue Velvet
January 20, 2020
*AIR HORN* This book is amazing!
"Lawn people are anxious... In this case, anxiety is our guide to the "soft" plates in the armor of political economy; those things in our daily lives that when interrogated in detail give us glimpses into the nature of our political economies and the conditions of our subjection." p132
And oh, how Robbins interrogates it! Fabulous, wide, ranging, illuminating scholarship. Can't recommend enough. Undeniably dope.
"Lawn people are anxious... In this case, anxiety is our guide to the "soft" plates in the armor of political economy; those things in our daily lives that when interrogated in detail give us glimpses into the nature of our political economies and the conditions of our subjection." p132
And oh, how Robbins interrogates it! Fabulous, wide, ranging, illuminating scholarship. Can't recommend enough. Undeniably dope.
December 3, 2018
It sucked.
April 12, 2025
some books are just not meant for leisure and that's totally ok. thoroughly explores the history of lawn monoculture in America and its occasional absurdity
January 10, 2012
It's frightening the long reaching effects of what we call "the American Dream". Who knew that my front yard was a part of that! Lawn People is broken down into easy to read chapters that describe everything from the life cycle of grass, effects of pesticides and also asks the key question: "who is really the subject and who is the object in the scenario of lawn people?".
The book ends with ideas for alternatives to the 'putting green' lawn and how to appreciate turf grass.
I would encourage anyone who is interested in: alternatives to the merry-go-round of lawn care, finding ways to live with 'wildness' and 'nature' and looking for ways to create a truly safe/ healthy yard environment to read this book. It has definitely changed the way I view my backyard!
The book ends with ideas for alternatives to the 'putting green' lawn and how to appreciate turf grass.
I would encourage anyone who is interested in: alternatives to the merry-go-round of lawn care, finding ways to live with 'wildness' and 'nature' and looking for ways to create a truly safe/ healthy yard environment to read this book. It has definitely changed the way I view my backyard!
October 24, 2018
A pretty quick/short read focused primarily on the American lawn. Robbins covers the history and cultural significance of the lawn first before diving into the problems regarding them, such as reliance on toxic chemicals, obscene water use, and ecological damage. I initially read this as required reading in grad school shortly after becoming a homeowner for the first time. It was more profound then and definitely had an impact on my habits regarding my lawn. I'd recommend it to anyone who has a lawn, especially given how brief of a read it is.
July 29, 2011
very poor copy editing!!! while i found the insights and findings quite interesting, i couldn't help but be distracted by missing words, words crunched together with no space between, and words added that did not fit the syntax. not to mention the chart/graph showing use of lead arsenate vs. ddt had the chemicals switched around in the key so that if you didn't read carefully you would have incorrectly learned a vital piece of american history. in conclusion, fun book but it made me angry!!!
April 18, 2011
i really enjoyed reading this book because its well researched, thought provoking, thorough etc etc AND its a smooth read for planes! i think its the most comprehensive book about the social and environmental impacts of lawns.
March 29, 2013
I love Robbins and this is a great example of why. Smoothy integrating many big ideas in a manner accessible to the theory heads, the green thumbs and the theory-head/green-thumb hybrids.
Robbins begins the last chapter of the book with this thought:
Robbins begins the last chapter of the book with this thought:
May 28, 2025
Very important book, especially from a sociological perspective. why are the people most aware of the dangers of lawn chemicals most likely to use them? Read this book to understand why.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews