[.ca] The Pine Barrens (ISBN 0374233608)

From Amazon.com:
Contrary to popular opinion, the whole of New Jersey is not a continuous Superfund site enlivened solely by poorly labeled Turnpike exits and skanky diners. In fact, the largest essentially untouched wilderness east of the Mississippi comprises nearly half the state: the New Jersey Pine Barrens. This more than 1,000-square-mile region has only a few thousand inhabitants--the Pineys, whose way of life has remained essentially unchanged since the 17th century. McPhee--one of the finest American essayists of the 20th century--has written an extraordinarily compelling, informative, and insightful book about the botanical, cultural, hydrological, and historical peculiarities of this region. He also details the efforts to save it from the creeping urbanization of nearby Philadelphia and New York City. Very Highly Recommended.

before you judge New Jersey...:
In the Introduction to the Second John McPhee Reader, David Remnick (now McPhee's editor at The New Yorker) notes that many people find McPhee's subjects too obscure & are put off by his decision to remain "distant from politics, preferring to make something of very little." I don't doubt that this is true, but I feel sorry for people who miss out on reading his terrific work because they feel that way. Over nearly 40 years of writing non-fiction essays for The New Yorker, McPhee has crafted a body of great literature by immersing himself in a variety of American subcultures and explicating them for the general public. In Pine Barrens, by discussing everything from growing cranberries to the natural history of fires to the legend of the Jersey Devil and introducing us to a cast of fascinating characters along the way, McPhee accomplishes what only the best writers can, he brings alive an entire world that might otherwise have remained unknown to us. Those of you who think that New Jersey consists of only highways and chemical plants, should find the book especially interesting. GRADE: A

The Biggest Secret Between NYC and Philly:
When I was growing up in New Jersey, people occasionally spoke of "The Pines", a mysterious forest to the south that was home to an asylum where escapees roamed and murdered unsuspecting travelers. McPhee not only explains the origins of this half-myth, he also divulges numerous other secrets about the the New Jersey pine barrens and their fascinating inhabitants, affectionately known as "Pineys." This remarkable and enormous wilderness area lies directly between New York and Philadelphia and, incredibly, remains undeveloped, but it's full of history and a wealth of extraordinary flora and fauna. I really enjoyed this book and highly recommend it to New Jersey-ites and anyone else interested in unique natural places.

Fascinating topic; elegant, yet sparse prose.:
Ecological, both natural and social, books abound these days, but that wasn't the case back in 1967 when this book was first published. Hopefully in the intervening years, McPhee's elegant but spare prose has helped remove or at least, temper the damage done early in the Twentieth Century to the reputation of the Pine Barrens and its denizens by well-meaning, if arrogant, social scientists. The Barrens is truly a glorious piece of nature and those who dwell there have their own unique charm and grace. McPhee, a consummate raconteur, reveals both with intelligence and a warm empathy. It's still hard to believe that the Barrens exist, mere miles from the rambunctious urbanity of Philadelphia and New York City, but McPhee's book, still vital and relevant after all these years, truly makes you want to visit and maybe even stay.

Best book on the subject to date! A Folksie delight:
just recently re-read this book after owning it for years and was motivated to come online and order a few copies of the latest edition for friends. I live in Hollywood now, but remember fondly childhood hikes into the Barrens where we all heard spooky stories about The Jersey Devil and looked with awe upon the dozens of subspecies of orchids that exist only in this vast expanse of wilderness right under the noses of City dwellers. One can never hope to explain the Pine Barrens to a stranger but McPhee has managed to do just that and to do it by recounting the truths about the Barrens in the voices of local "Pineys". He singlehandedly captures your imagination and dispells the myths that still prevail about the alleged prevelance of "degeneracy" amongst the "pineys". One reads this book and comes away with an overpowering urge to buy a really good map, pack up some camping supplies and head off into the Pines. However, as one who has done that, I highly advise against it since it is ridiculosly easy to get severely lost on the sand roads. Pick up this book instead! Read it, cherish it, give it to friends. Then.. educate yourself a little before going on your first adventure in the Pines, but do GO eventually. Local Boy Scout troops are your best resource since they frequently use the Pines for Survival Skills training. After that.. Check out McPhee's other books which are equally engrossing and just as respectful of their subject matter as this book. Rereading McPhee's book made me long to be back amongst the forgotton orchids,abandoned iron towns, and hidden cranberry bogs. The Barrens are a unique place in America and this book a unique description of their charms. You won't regret buying this book and no doubt will return to it many times in your life if you are a lover of the Jersey wilds as am I.

A snapshot of nature, now passing:
While John McPhee's best known bit of nature writing is his tribute to Alaska, "Coming into the Country", before it he wrote "The Pine Barrens". The Pine Barrens were a chunk of New Jersey (!) that was mostly unspoiled sandy woodlands in 1968. Filled with colorful folks, and even more colorful tradition, the Barrens were a retreat for those who knew to escape to them from the cities that surrounded it. Now, alas, development has slunk deep into the Barrens, were there was once dirt roads and craftsmen still making bark canoes, now there are commuter suburbs with cutesy names like "Piney Haven". Please don't think that the book isn't worth your time, just because most of what it describes has passed. The genius of McPhee is that his prose is so wonderfull and timeless, that the people and places of the Pine Barrens still live in the book. Read it, and resolve to maintain the little slice of nature near you that is still there. Don't know where it might be? This book will inspire you to find it, around the corner and back behind something. When you find it, you'll know it, and you'll want to help it survive.