August 20th 2008 • HOME •

Good reads

Rutherford H. Platt, Disasters and Democracy: The Politics of Extreme Natural Events. Chapter 6, "Fire Island: The Politics of Coastal Erosion," is especially salient. (From conclusion: "Politics has prevailed over policy, and rules established by legislative bodies and regulatory agencies are just so many grains of sand.") Details: Amazon.com

Cornelia Dean, Against the Tide: The Battle for America's Beaches. See New York Times daily or Sunday reviews, other reviews at Amazon, or read Chapter 1 of the book.

Updated 19 March 2001.