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A State of Change: Forgotten Landscapes of California
Vernal pools, protected lagoons, grassy hills rich in bunchgrasses and,where the San Francisco Bay is today, ancient bison and mammoths roaming a vast grassland. Through the use of historical ecology, Laura Cunningham walks through these forgotten landscapes to uncover secrets about the past, explore what our future will hold, and experience the ever-changing landscape of California. Combining the skill of an accomplished artist with a passion for landscapes and training as a naturalist, Cunningham has spent over two decades pouring over historical accounts, paleontology findings, and archaeological data. Traveling with paintbox in hand, she tracked the remaining vestiges of semi-pristine landscape like a detective, seeking clues that revealed the California of past centuries. She traveled to other regions as well, to sketch grizzly bears, wolves, and other magnificent creatures that are gone from California landscapes. In her studio, Cunningham created paintings of vast landscapes and wildlife from the raw data she had collected, observations in the wild, and knowledge of ecological laws and processes.
Through A State of Change, readers are given the pure pleasure of wandering through these wondrous and seemingly exotic scenes of Old California and understanding the possibilities for both change and conservation in our present-day landscape. A State of Change is as vital as it is visionary.
350 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2010
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285 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 6, 2016
Truly an outstanding book that every Californian, certainly everyone in the Bay Area, should read. Cunningham's rich drawings and paintings evoke pre-contact California in a way that I've never seen before, largely because I've never seen anyone try! Most historical ecology is strictly prose (a form Cunningham also handles with elegance and precision), but to *see* our familiar landscapes denuded of houses and replete with bears is another thing entirely. There may not be another person alive who combines Cunningham's scientific and scholarly sensibilities with genuine artistry and a deep understanding of California natural history borne of direct experience.
Some random reflections:
Did you know there were 30+ ft long sea cows in our kelp forests 30,000 years ago? That's the length of a city bus. Imagine finishing a dive with a safety stop next to a bus-sized sea cow.
Cunningham disputes the claim that contact-era animal abundances encountered by Europeans were the result of advanced waves of diseases that had killed off the top predators in those ecosystems, i.e. indigenous people. I first encountered this idea reading Charles Mann, and I admit I'd sort of assumed it was the accepted explanation. There are definitely underlying philosophical agendas at play, since if you prefer to believe that Europeans are horrible and screwed everything up you probably prefer the view that America was a bountiful utopia of plants and animals before Europeans ruined it all, whether that abundance was cultivated by indigenous peoples or not, and if you prefer to believe that all humans exert similar ecological influences you'd probably prefer it if Indians were keeping down animal populations through hunting. Merits some further reading, I imagine. Cunningham claims a lot of the evidence used to support the predator release theory is pretty scant.
I had this wonderful "a-ha!" moment after reading the section on fire. Cunningham writes that Californian Indians would burn grasslands and oak woodlands to (among other things) promote the growth of wild food crops, which I kind of knew in theory. Days after I read that this spring I went for a hike in a part of Lake County that burned last fall, and the insane density of wildflowers really brought home how effective fire would have been in promoting a crop you could really harvest and eat a lot of. The Ithuriel's spear was particularly dense, and the USDA claims that several tribes ate the bulbs: http://www.plants.usda.gov/plantguide....
One of the things I appreciate most about this book is its frank approach to our ignorance. Cunningham does not shy away from pointing out what we don't know about the past, in many cases what we can't know, and while she does theorize and extrapolate, it's always clear when she's doing so.
Some random reflections:
Did you know there were 30+ ft long sea cows in our kelp forests 30,000 years ago? That's the length of a city bus. Imagine finishing a dive with a safety stop next to a bus-sized sea cow.
Cunningham disputes the claim that contact-era animal abundances encountered by Europeans were the result of advanced waves of diseases that had killed off the top predators in those ecosystems, i.e. indigenous people. I first encountered this idea reading Charles Mann, and I admit I'd sort of assumed it was the accepted explanation. There are definitely underlying philosophical agendas at play, since if you prefer to believe that Europeans are horrible and screwed everything up you probably prefer the view that America was a bountiful utopia of plants and animals before Europeans ruined it all, whether that abundance was cultivated by indigenous peoples or not, and if you prefer to believe that all humans exert similar ecological influences you'd probably prefer it if Indians were keeping down animal populations through hunting. Merits some further reading, I imagine. Cunningham claims a lot of the evidence used to support the predator release theory is pretty scant.
I had this wonderful "a-ha!" moment after reading the section on fire. Cunningham writes that Californian Indians would burn grasslands and oak woodlands to (among other things) promote the growth of wild food crops, which I kind of knew in theory. Days after I read that this spring I went for a hike in a part of Lake County that burned last fall, and the insane density of wildflowers really brought home how effective fire would have been in promoting a crop you could really harvest and eat a lot of. The Ithuriel's spear was particularly dense, and the USDA claims that several tribes ate the bulbs: http://www.plants.usda.gov/plantguide....
One of the things I appreciate most about this book is its frank approach to our ignorance. Cunningham does not shy away from pointing out what we don't know about the past, in many cases what we can't know, and while she does theorize and extrapolate, it's always clear when she's doing so.
February 15, 2011
I was so excited when this book came to my attention, but I’d thought it was primarily an art book with some text but it’s really the other way around.
This book is an art book, about nature, natural history, human history, and is also autobiographical. I live in California and so recognized so many of the places.
As I turned so very many of the pages there was a wonderful feast for my eyes. Just lovely. I love little pictures of plants & animals and the pictures/charts with multiple examples and time lines were so pleasing.
All the accounts are interesting, some particularly fascinating.
The climate history portions were fascinating as was all the historical ecology information. My favorite section was on the wolves: they’re one of my favorite animals. I love the quote on page 242: “I am always delighted at the subtle ways in which everything in the natural world is connected, and often reminded that we too are wrapped in this web.” My favorite bit of trivia that I learned was that the sea penetrated the Golden Gate only 10,000 years ago, which isn’t really very long in geologic time. I remember when condors were near extinct/brought back to California so I really liked that section too.
This is an incredibly impressive book. It’s beautiful and fun and informative. I love all the paintings and sketches and art charts of animals & plants & landscapes, black & white and in full color, the field notes, the essays and scientific knowledge and acumen about the natural world of the author-illustrator. In her scenes of past times, I appreciated she informed the reader what was conjecture.
I’m a city person but I noticed that almost always I appreciated the earlier natural terrain than today’s landscapes when comparisons are made.
The author-illustrator has really created a masterpiece with this book. It’s a really valuable contribution, in my opinion. She’s an artist, a naturalist, has studied paleontology and biology, she’s worked as a field biologist. She’s managed to consolidate all of these accomplishments and talents into this book. I’m not anywhere near as outdoorsy as she is, yet as I read, I did feel some yearning to experience much of what she has.
Unfortunately, I learned I can still speed read; I had to read this book very quickly (which was disappointing) because there is a long hold list at my public library and I wanted to return it by its due date. If I was in book buying mode, I’d be tempted to purchase it, but I think I’ll wait until there is no longer a wait and I’ll borrow it again for the library then. I’d like to reread at least certain portions and take time to savor reading them.
I did not read any of the notes. I was tempted to illegally make a copy of the extensive bibliography, but instead I skimmed it. I’d like to peruse it more carefully, but even though some of the books look interesting, most don’t interest me nearly as much as this book does.
Contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Broad Valleys, Rolling Hills
One: Golden Bear
Two: Mysteries of Time and Climate
Three: Shoreline Stories
Four: The Inland Marshes: Living Locally
Five: River World
Six: California Grasslands
Seven: The Oak: A Lifetime That Spans Centuries
Eight: Fire: Red-hot Cycles of Renewal
Nine: Where Deer and Antelope Played: Cycles You Can See
Ten: Great Herds: Elk and Bison
Eleven: Top Predators and Interactions
Twelve: Giants in the Sky: Condors
Thirteen: First Fish: Salmon
Conclusion: Relocalization
Appendix: Scintific Names of Species in This Book
Notes
Bibliography
Index
This book is an art book, about nature, natural history, human history, and is also autobiographical. I live in California and so recognized so many of the places.
As I turned so very many of the pages there was a wonderful feast for my eyes. Just lovely. I love little pictures of plants & animals and the pictures/charts with multiple examples and time lines were so pleasing.
All the accounts are interesting, some particularly fascinating.
The climate history portions were fascinating as was all the historical ecology information. My favorite section was on the wolves: they’re one of my favorite animals. I love the quote on page 242: “I am always delighted at the subtle ways in which everything in the natural world is connected, and often reminded that we too are wrapped in this web.” My favorite bit of trivia that I learned was that the sea penetrated the Golden Gate only 10,000 years ago, which isn’t really very long in geologic time. I remember when condors were near extinct/brought back to California so I really liked that section too.
This is an incredibly impressive book. It’s beautiful and fun and informative. I love all the paintings and sketches and art charts of animals & plants & landscapes, black & white and in full color, the field notes, the essays and scientific knowledge and acumen about the natural world of the author-illustrator. In her scenes of past times, I appreciated she informed the reader what was conjecture.
I’m a city person but I noticed that almost always I appreciated the earlier natural terrain than today’s landscapes when comparisons are made.
The author-illustrator has really created a masterpiece with this book. It’s a really valuable contribution, in my opinion. She’s an artist, a naturalist, has studied paleontology and biology, she’s worked as a field biologist. She’s managed to consolidate all of these accomplishments and talents into this book. I’m not anywhere near as outdoorsy as she is, yet as I read, I did feel some yearning to experience much of what she has.
Unfortunately, I learned I can still speed read; I had to read this book very quickly (which was disappointing) because there is a long hold list at my public library and I wanted to return it by its due date. If I was in book buying mode, I’d be tempted to purchase it, but I think I’ll wait until there is no longer a wait and I’ll borrow it again for the library then. I’d like to reread at least certain portions and take time to savor reading them.
I did not read any of the notes. I was tempted to illegally make a copy of the extensive bibliography, but instead I skimmed it. I’d like to peruse it more carefully, but even though some of the books look interesting, most don’t interest me nearly as much as this book does.
Contents:
Acknowledgments
Introduction: Broad Valleys, Rolling Hills
One: Golden Bear
Two: Mysteries of Time and Climate
Three: Shoreline Stories
Four: The Inland Marshes: Living Locally
Five: River World
Six: California Grasslands
Seven: The Oak: A Lifetime That Spans Centuries
Eight: Fire: Red-hot Cycles of Renewal
Nine: Where Deer and Antelope Played: Cycles You Can See
Ten: Great Herds: Elk and Bison
Eleven: Top Predators and Interactions
Twelve: Giants in the Sky: Condors
Thirteen: First Fish: Salmon
Conclusion: Relocalization
Appendix: Scintific Names of Species in This Book
Notes
Bibliography
Index
November 14, 2024
4.5 - the illustrations were stunning (truly would love to have some of these as prints) and the over all exercise of looking closely at the landscape and looking for signs of the past ecologies of this state was fascinating. Particularly, for me, the grasslands sections given just how dominated grasslands in California are by invasive species and how different the landscape would be with native bunch grass predominating.
Some odd formatting choices (like putting full web addresses in the middle of paragraphs?)
Some odd formatting choices (like putting full web addresses in the middle of paragraphs?)
May 6, 2022
This is a beautiful book.
March 15, 2018
Very insightful read concerning California as it was before Spanish-European influences. Cunningham's passion and interest in natural history is so obvious while reading. Makes me want to pay closer attention and observe the environments around me more. If I have learned anything, it is that California as it was back the day would have been incredible.
July 4, 2017
Brilliant engagement of creative, labile artist's mind with history and natural history.
Cunningham reconstructs portions of California from deep prehistory to the early nineteenth century; there are detailed, but mostly fluid essays (sometimes, to be fair, rounded out with Bartlett's-style quotations). The order here is more episodic, or fugue-like, veering from an introduction to a chapter on bears, and various chapters on particular landscapes interspersed with others. It works, though.
What really sells the book, however, are Cunningham's paintings of the landscapes, the flora and the fauna that inhabited them. They are gorgeous, detailed, well composed, and washed out in a way that gives them depth.
It's a coffee table book, no doubt, but when your done leafing through and looking at the beautiful illustrations, do take the time to read it.
Cunningham reconstructs portions of California from deep prehistory to the early nineteenth century; there are detailed, but mostly fluid essays (sometimes, to be fair, rounded out with Bartlett's-style quotations). The order here is more episodic, or fugue-like, veering from an introduction to a chapter on bears, and various chapters on particular landscapes interspersed with others. It works, though.
What really sells the book, however, are Cunningham's paintings of the landscapes, the flora and the fauna that inhabited them. They are gorgeous, detailed, well composed, and washed out in a way that gives them depth.
It's a coffee table book, no doubt, but when your done leafing through and looking at the beautiful illustrations, do take the time to read it.
May 30, 2025
A very enjoyable, feel good, big beautiful book with beautiful drawings and sketches.
Learning about Historical Ecology adds to understanding my sense of place, just as learning about the historical cultural history & geological history of this area I grew up in .
I’ve been to many places mentioned in the book, and the others I haven’t been to the exact places she mentioned, but I’ve been to the same geographical areas , so I can relate.
I read the 1sr edition, published 25 yrs ago. I learned from Twitter, she’s coming out with a 3rd edition , which will most likely (I hope, I’m guessing)update the chapters on Fire , the Klamath River dams being torn down , the hellacious winter storms , Hurricane Hilary 2023 effects etc
Learning about Historical Ecology adds to understanding my sense of place, just as learning about the historical cultural history & geological history of this area I grew up in .
I’ve been to many places mentioned in the book, and the others I haven’t been to the exact places she mentioned, but I’ve been to the same geographical areas , so I can relate.
I read the 1sr edition, published 25 yrs ago. I learned from Twitter, she’s coming out with a 3rd edition , which will most likely (I hope, I’m guessing)update the chapters on Fire , the Klamath River dams being torn down , the hellacious winter storms , Hurricane Hilary 2023 effects etc
September 11, 2024
Wonderful book which had been on my to read list for a long time. Sadly its out of print (I got it from the library). Even used copies on Amazon are very expensive.
I love the drawings by the author and her research into how indigenous peoples have used the native plants in their bioregions for many many years.
I love the drawings by the author and her research into how indigenous peoples have used the native plants in their bioregions for many many years.
June 27, 2011
A unique and compelling book about the land and history of CA. In the tradition of the great 19th century naturalists, the author is both an able scientist and a fine artist. Her paintings and field notes make this a very accessible book for the non-scientist, but at the same time it is a serious and important work of historical ecology. I'll admit that I skimmed over some of the details, like the exhaustive chapter on native grasses, but I plan to go back when it's time to redo my front yard.
April 16, 2014
Recommended as a reference book for anyone who wants to gain a better understanding of California and its landscapes, wildlife, rivers, marshes, grasslands, mighty oaks, and cycles of life. The sketches and artwork are exquisite, but this is more than a coffee table book with great art. First-person narrative adds a liveliness to the text, as the reader accompanies author and artist Laura Cunningham on her quest for clues to California's past.
April 4, 2011
Really interesting and in depth look at the ecology of California prior to colonization. Grizzlies swarmed the Napa valley, the San Joaquin valley was occupied by the largest fresh water lake west of the Mississippi. Native grasses burned. Riparian woodlands stretched out miles from the Sacramento and American Rivers. San Bernardino was covered in vernal pools instead of abandoned houses.
April 25, 2011
This book was written by the sister of a friend, Margo Cunningham ... I don't know how long it took her sister Laura to write it but I figure it will take me about 30 years to read it ... it covers flora, fauna, history, geology, paleo-landscapes, biology, botany, painting &c. &c. It is, well, kind of amazing ...
October 10, 2011
"The first book I stopped at was, amazingly, A State of Change: Forgotten Landscapes of California (Heyday) with original art and text by Laura Cunningham, an exhilarating fusion of science, soul, and an artist’s imagination."
Read the read of my review of this great book at my website:
http://tbdeluxe.blogspot.com/2011/10/...
Thanks,
Thomas
Read the read of my review of this great book at my website:
http://tbdeluxe.blogspot.com/2011/10/...
Thanks,
Thomas
July 1, 2011
This is a great book. A natural history of California informed by several decades of astute observation as well as acadmic training and illustrated with the author's paintings of historical landscapes based on those observations. A life's work.
January 9, 2016
A beautifully and lavishly illustrated imagining of California before tract homes and urban sprawl. Cunningham's book is a pure delight and the next best thing to a time machine. Highly recommended for anyone with a passion for California's history, pre-history, or natural history.
February 11, 2012
Incredible original art, theme is views and descriptions with details of species before and after civilization (ours)
June 15, 2013
Beautiful and heartbreaking.
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September 19, 2016508.794 C9735 2010
July 5, 2018
Breathtaking, nature-journalesque drawings and paintings alongside descriptive, loving prose. I learned so much about my home state’s “forgotten” landscapes and am inspired to learn more. I’ll probably require my kids to read this book or use it as a text for science in high school!
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews