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Studies in Environment and History
The Bulldozer in the Countryside: Suburban Sprawl and the Rise of American Environmentalism
The Bulldozer in the Countryside is the first scholarly history of efforts to reduce the environmental costs of suburban development in the United States. The book offers a new account of two of the most important historical events in the period since World War II--the mass migration to the suburbs and the rise of the environmental movement. This work offers a valuable historical perspective for scholars, professionals, and citizens interested in the issue of suburban sprawl.
332 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
May 5, 2015
By and large, I liked this book and think it does well to explain the connections between the housing industry and the overall culture of the US, notably the change from Progressive Era type conservationism to war-time conservationism, to the environmental movements. As well, the history of the housing market, air conditioning, ecology, and other factors are all good.
However, there were factors that were not discussed, such as the blight and gentrification of urban cities that helped push people to the suburbs. Other issues involve his inconsistency with use of chronological structure versus thematic. The organization of the book made his argument hard to follow at times. Other times, I wasn't sure if this was truly an environmental history or just a foray into economic and political history. Many of his themes are modeled after works such as Worster in /Dust Bowl/, White in /Organic Machine/, and Steinberg in /Nature's Incorporated/, but he does make the connection between housing and culture/economy his own -- it is similar to their arguments, but it unique, at the same time.
All in all, I find this a useful and good read. I think the information pulled from this book is beyond valuable. I don't want to focus on the mistakes. It is a good book. I just felt the organization and missing questions -- other things that could have been investigated, detracted from what could have been an amazing study.
Still, what *is* there is good stuff and worth your time to read.
Oh, also..he is a good writer. He tells a story that is fun to read. My hat's off to him on his writing style. NO problems there!
However, there were factors that were not discussed, such as the blight and gentrification of urban cities that helped push people to the suburbs. Other issues involve his inconsistency with use of chronological structure versus thematic. The organization of the book made his argument hard to follow at times. Other times, I wasn't sure if this was truly an environmental history or just a foray into economic and political history. Many of his themes are modeled after works such as Worster in /Dust Bowl/, White in /Organic Machine/, and Steinberg in /Nature's Incorporated/, but he does make the connection between housing and culture/economy his own -- it is similar to their arguments, but it unique, at the same time.
All in all, I find this a useful and good read. I think the information pulled from this book is beyond valuable. I don't want to focus on the mistakes. It is a good book. I just felt the organization and missing questions -- other things that could have been investigated, detracted from what could have been an amazing study.
Still, what *is* there is good stuff and worth your time to read.
Oh, also..he is a good writer. He tells a story that is fun to read. My hat's off to him on his writing style. NO problems there!
July 9, 2015
A very thorough study of the post-war rise of the suburbs. Each chapter covers different topics: building in wetlands, the attempt at solar power, septic tanks, the grassroots environmental movement, etc. To those who do not enjoy reading history books, note that this is exactly what it is. Each chapter provides a thesis argument, and then fills the pages with examples to drive that point home. You don't need to read the entire chapters or paragraphs to get the point, but you'd really be missing out on some interesting numbers and stories. While the ultimate takeaway from this book is hte suburb movement harmed the environment more than it could have ever helped (and also harmed many homeowners in the process), Adam Rome argues it with as little bias as possible without surrendering the entire book.
December 15, 2008
A dense, informative, extensively footnoted history of the relationship between post-WWII suburbanization and the American environmental movement. Beginning with the return of the GIs from the war, and the huge demand for housing they put on an already undersupplied market, the book details almost three decades' worth of conflict between an American population expanding faster than its ability to plan its growth and the physical environment their expansion inevitably brought them up against.
The first two chapters deal with the adaptation of mass-production techniques to homebuilding, as homes built one by one, by individual builders, could never possibly meet the demand posed by all the WWII veterans returning and wanting to buy homes at once. Apart from being more destructive to the land, as huge tracts would be bulldozed to build a subdivision on, the widespread adoption of "tract housing" led to dramatically increased household energy use, since homes were no longer designed with passive solar heating (or cooling, as the case may be). The third chapter moves on to the problems of septic tanks, which leaked waste (most famously, soap suds) into the groundwater, and the fourth and fifth chapters discuss efforts by conservationists and government to preserve open space in general (for aesthetic reasons) and wetlands, hillsides and floodplains in particular (for ecological and hydrological reasons). The fifth, sixth and seventh chapters also spell out the role government agencies (particularly, three: the US Geological Survey, the Soil Conservation Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service) played in studying, publicizing and regulating the environmental costs of development.
What Rome does here that's new is, besides tracing the evolution of the environmental movement in parallel with the development of tract housing (which both introduced new environmental problems and put lots of people in a position to witness them firsthand, thereby raising their environmental consciousness), positing a bigger role for the federal government than previous environmental historians have been willing to grant.
He also gives a detailed intellectual history of both the environmental movement and the backlash to it --- for the former, in the baby steps taken from the aesthetic, quality-of-life approach to conservation to a more complex (and also more radical) ecological understanding, and for the latter, beyond simple economic motivations to a populist critique of "no-growth" measures (which can be seen as veiled attempts to keep out undesirable immigrants to an area) and a libertarian concern for property rights.
The first two chapters deal with the adaptation of mass-production techniques to homebuilding, as homes built one by one, by individual builders, could never possibly meet the demand posed by all the WWII veterans returning and wanting to buy homes at once. Apart from being more destructive to the land, as huge tracts would be bulldozed to build a subdivision on, the widespread adoption of "tract housing" led to dramatically increased household energy use, since homes were no longer designed with passive solar heating (or cooling, as the case may be). The third chapter moves on to the problems of septic tanks, which leaked waste (most famously, soap suds) into the groundwater, and the fourth and fifth chapters discuss efforts by conservationists and government to preserve open space in general (for aesthetic reasons) and wetlands, hillsides and floodplains in particular (for ecological and hydrological reasons). The fifth, sixth and seventh chapters also spell out the role government agencies (particularly, three: the US Geological Survey, the Soil Conservation Service, and the Fish and Wildlife Service) played in studying, publicizing and regulating the environmental costs of development.
What Rome does here that's new is, besides tracing the evolution of the environmental movement in parallel with the development of tract housing (which both introduced new environmental problems and put lots of people in a position to witness them firsthand, thereby raising their environmental consciousness), positing a bigger role for the federal government than previous environmental historians have been willing to grant.
He also gives a detailed intellectual history of both the environmental movement and the backlash to it --- for the former, in the baby steps taken from the aesthetic, quality-of-life approach to conservation to a more complex (and also more radical) ecological understanding, and for the latter, beyond simple economic motivations to a populist critique of "no-growth" measures (which can be seen as veiled attempts to keep out undesirable immigrants to an area) and a libertarian concern for property rights.
October 5, 2025
Can't believe he wrote this near the home of the suburb but never mentioned KC
April 30, 2008
Adam Rome’s recent work The Bulldozer in the Countryside chronicles the rise of modern American Environmentalism in strict correlation with the advent of urban and suburban sprawl. In doing so, he does what many environmental theorists address only in the abstract or outright ignore: the strict connection between economics and environmentalism. The end result is an easy to read, well organized and compelling compendium of the late 20th century’s environmental movement that is grounded not in utopian or counter-cultural musings, but instead the tangible milieu that is middle class American history.
Rome begins his history with a social and economic analysis of the origins of modern American suburbia. Focusing on the innovations of Levittown, he shows that the goal of affordable housing was not just sought after by consumers, but by the government as well. His macroeconomic analysis of government attitudes and legislation towards the housing market shows a keen—as well as easy to understand—appreciation of the post-depression paradigm shift towards Keynesian economic policy. In other words, Rome contends that it was not simply demand-side pressures shaped American housing market (and thusly environmentalism), but the policies set forth by an economically involved government as well.
Later chapters describe the unforeseen consequences of new, efficient and modern approaches to housing and community. Chapter two focuses on the issues of heating and cooling, noting that while houses were inexpensive, the appliance and energy needed ot make them comfortable was not. Chapter three describes the red flag of Septic-tank pollution in suburbia. Noting the connection between new concentrations of population and the constant drive to reduce costs, Rome shows how pollution predicated by septic-tanks made environmentalism an issue of local communities, but one that also gained national attention. Rome finishes the book with a collection of chapters on newfound scarcities of open spaces as well as public responses to the aesthetics of homogonous, sterile landscapes.
An implicit argument within Rome’s book is the effectiveness of local and tangible issues of environmentalism vs. greater issues of global scale. He quotes Hal Rothman in his introduction as noting environmentalism being traditionally embraced by American’s only when it is “convenient.” This is an important aspect of his methodology, but in that theme, more in depth analysis of a cold war American weltanschauung, and the hesitancy of Pax Americana to act except when threats are immediate and observable would have been welcome. Also, readers would’ve gained much from a deeper inspection of nuclear family dynamics, one where the female homemaker utilizes leisure time to address environmental issues.
But these are minor critiques. Without a doubt, The Bulldozer in the Countryside should be required reading for students in American environmental, and cold war social and cultural—not to mention urban—history. Rome’s prose is lucid and inviting, and his analysis is refreshingly acute and convincing. This is a work that is sure to influence students and scholars for years to come.
Rome begins his history with a social and economic analysis of the origins of modern American suburbia. Focusing on the innovations of Levittown, he shows that the goal of affordable housing was not just sought after by consumers, but by the government as well. His macroeconomic analysis of government attitudes and legislation towards the housing market shows a keen—as well as easy to understand—appreciation of the post-depression paradigm shift towards Keynesian economic policy. In other words, Rome contends that it was not simply demand-side pressures shaped American housing market (and thusly environmentalism), but the policies set forth by an economically involved government as well.
Later chapters describe the unforeseen consequences of new, efficient and modern approaches to housing and community. Chapter two focuses on the issues of heating and cooling, noting that while houses were inexpensive, the appliance and energy needed ot make them comfortable was not. Chapter three describes the red flag of Septic-tank pollution in suburbia. Noting the connection between new concentrations of population and the constant drive to reduce costs, Rome shows how pollution predicated by septic-tanks made environmentalism an issue of local communities, but one that also gained national attention. Rome finishes the book with a collection of chapters on newfound scarcities of open spaces as well as public responses to the aesthetics of homogonous, sterile landscapes.
An implicit argument within Rome’s book is the effectiveness of local and tangible issues of environmentalism vs. greater issues of global scale. He quotes Hal Rothman in his introduction as noting environmentalism being traditionally embraced by American’s only when it is “convenient.” This is an important aspect of his methodology, but in that theme, more in depth analysis of a cold war American weltanschauung, and the hesitancy of Pax Americana to act except when threats are immediate and observable would have been welcome. Also, readers would’ve gained much from a deeper inspection of nuclear family dynamics, one where the female homemaker utilizes leisure time to address environmental issues.
But these are minor critiques. Without a doubt, The Bulldozer in the Countryside should be required reading for students in American environmental, and cold war social and cultural—not to mention urban—history. Rome’s prose is lucid and inviting, and his analysis is refreshingly acute and convincing. This is a work that is sure to influence students and scholars for years to come.
February 27, 2015
Adam Rome is a clever scholar. He noticed things that had been overlooked in a historical topic that had been nearly accepted as fairly straightforward: the intense build up of suburban neighborhoods in postwar America has created regrettable environmental problems. He investigates not the validity of this claim, but rather how the process came about and simultaneous to suburban growth created a dialogue informing and shaping the modern environmental movement. In other words, Rome was the first scholar to consider the successes and failures of the varied efforts to address the environmental consequences of suburban growth from 1945-1970.
It is too easy to flatten history and say that the postwar suburban build up went uncontested and only in the 1970s onward did Americans look back with some degree of remorse and regret. In reality, the migration to suburbs and the rise of the environmental movement came about together as critiques about the former shaped the latter.
Rome has some interesting subject matter in his chapters such as "Levitt’s Progress: the rise of the suburban-industrial complex" in a playful reference to the military-industrial complex intensified but later lamented by President Eisenhower in the 1950s. Suburban growth was notably a big part of America's industrial growth both in support of growing industries and in an economic goldmine of an industry on its own. ROme could have focused a bit more on literary appeal by adding more human anecdotes and historical narrative thereby, but otherwise, this is a smart book that is worth a closer look.
It is too easy to flatten history and say that the postwar suburban build up went uncontested and only in the 1970s onward did Americans look back with some degree of remorse and regret. In reality, the migration to suburbs and the rise of the environmental movement came about together as critiques about the former shaped the latter.
Rome has some interesting subject matter in his chapters such as "Levitt’s Progress: the rise of the suburban-industrial complex" in a playful reference to the military-industrial complex intensified but later lamented by President Eisenhower in the 1950s. Suburban growth was notably a big part of America's industrial growth both in support of growing industries and in an economic goldmine of an industry on its own. ROme could have focused a bit more on literary appeal by adding more human anecdotes and historical narrative thereby, but otherwise, this is a smart book that is worth a closer look.
April 10, 2011
The book paints capitalism as the problem and government as the solution. Tucked away on page 190 he briefly mentions that many of the problems created by sprawl were originally government solutions. Keynesian economics do not work! It only perpetuates the problem until the only way anyone can do anything is with government help (loans/grants/regulations).
Read
November 16, 2022Pages 1-44, "Introduction" and "Levitt's Progress"
How American environmentalists turned against suburban development and the generational shift in thinking about suburbia
The building boom, he argues, was an environmental catastrophe that rivaled the Dust Bowl in terms of the scale of its manmade destruction, but it was less visible
Rome describes how critiques of tract housing helped affect a change in environmentalist priorities over time, from the 1960s era of wilderness preservation to a 1970s emphasis on pollution to a late 20th century broader environmentalism (recycling, energy conservation, endangered species, etc.)
In the introduction, Rome articulates six points that characterize his “recasting” of the environmental movement:
60s concerns about the loss of wilderness were connected to the daily observed suburban reality of land degradation and sprawl. It explains in part why people were suddenly interested in preserving stuff like echo park – that impulse hadn’t always been popular
The connection between conservationism and environmentalism: Rome describes the “urbanization of conservation,” which had previously usually been applied mostly to forestry and agriculture. Sprawl drove urban conservationism which bolstered environmentalism
Growth in environmental movement as related to growing interest in ecology – ecology as basis for attacks on tract housing – looking at the environment “as professionals committed to an ideal of service”
Despite the “overdrawn” typical drama of environmentalists vs the federal government, Rome argues that federal agencies and federal land policies actually helped fuel the rise of the environmental movement
We focus on Western anti-environmentalism (think Malheur), but Rome says that we should think more about “private land rights”-based anti environmentalism in urban/suburban settings
“The relationship between consumerism and environmentalism is not at all clear”
Assigned chapter: Levittown
Astounding rate of housing construction postwar
William Levitt: developer whose business, Levitt and Sons, was quickly becoming the “General Motors of housing” – industrialization of the housing process – assembly line-style innovation where the process was divided into 26 parts
Context: crazy housing shortage after WWII – people living in makeshift homes
Hoover context: 20s fixation on housing development efficiency and increasing homeownership
New Deal and wartime production helped accelerate industrialization of construction industry
Home construction and homeownership as way to increase purchasing power of the people
Consumption of electrical appliances, for example
Suburban-industrial complex
Rise of auto industry
How American environmentalists turned against suburban development and the generational shift in thinking about suburbia
The building boom, he argues, was an environmental catastrophe that rivaled the Dust Bowl in terms of the scale of its manmade destruction, but it was less visible
Rome describes how critiques of tract housing helped affect a change in environmentalist priorities over time, from the 1960s era of wilderness preservation to a 1970s emphasis on pollution to a late 20th century broader environmentalism (recycling, energy conservation, endangered species, etc.)
In the introduction, Rome articulates six points that characterize his “recasting” of the environmental movement:
60s concerns about the loss of wilderness were connected to the daily observed suburban reality of land degradation and sprawl. It explains in part why people were suddenly interested in preserving stuff like echo park – that impulse hadn’t always been popular
The connection between conservationism and environmentalism: Rome describes the “urbanization of conservation,” which had previously usually been applied mostly to forestry and agriculture. Sprawl drove urban conservationism which bolstered environmentalism
Growth in environmental movement as related to growing interest in ecology – ecology as basis for attacks on tract housing – looking at the environment “as professionals committed to an ideal of service”
Despite the “overdrawn” typical drama of environmentalists vs the federal government, Rome argues that federal agencies and federal land policies actually helped fuel the rise of the environmental movement
We focus on Western anti-environmentalism (think Malheur), but Rome says that we should think more about “private land rights”-based anti environmentalism in urban/suburban settings
“The relationship between consumerism and environmentalism is not at all clear”
Assigned chapter: Levittown
Astounding rate of housing construction postwar
William Levitt: developer whose business, Levitt and Sons, was quickly becoming the “General Motors of housing” – industrialization of the housing process – assembly line-style innovation where the process was divided into 26 parts
Context: crazy housing shortage after WWII – people living in makeshift homes
Hoover context: 20s fixation on housing development efficiency and increasing homeownership
New Deal and wartime production helped accelerate industrialization of construction industry
Home construction and homeownership as way to increase purchasing power of the people
Consumption of electrical appliances, for example
Suburban-industrial complex
Rise of auto industry
February 15, 2020
I read this for class, but found that I enjoyed it quite a bit more than I do typical textbooks. It's written in an easily accessible style, isn't too difficult to get through (even when tired at 2 am), and succinctly presents an argument for how suburban sprawl was first the result of environmental apathy and later the cause for "the rise of American environmentalism." It also gets a little bit into specific issues, like floodplains, septic tanks, and solar power, without getting too technical. Would recommend this book to anyone interested in urban planning, American environmentalism, or history.
May 8, 2018
Asset
Anyone interested in environmental history will find this work an asset to his/her library. Well-researched and a steady read, it is understandable to students and historians.
Anyone interested in environmental history will find this work an asset to his/her library. Well-researched and a steady read, it is understandable to students and historians.
February 4, 2020
:) septic tanks...... thots?
March 27, 2024
pretty good but a little repetitive sometimes but mostly good
February 17, 2020
the attempt to house a growing population turns into a nightmare when the project is handed over to capitalists! damn!
non-fiction-to-read
February 22, 2015NTS: not at my library :(
March 6, 2009
An amazing and accessible look at the rise of environmentalism in the United States.
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews