Greenspeak: Fifty Years of Environmental Muckraking & Advocacy. . - Reviews - book review

American Forests, Wntr, 2003

Greenspeak: Fifty Years of Environmental Muckraking & Advocacy, by Michael Frame.

$21.95, University of Tennessee Press, 2002

The title of this book says it all. Mike Frome has assembled more than 30 speeches he gave over the last 40 years in which he addresses just about every major conservation issue of the 20th century. Here is the astounding record of a freelance journalist who challenged the status quo and the complacency of leaders in industry, public agencies, and environmental-conservation organizations.

Frame knew just about every conservation leader of the past 50 years, as evidenced by those who invited him to speak. Few agreed with him on every issue, but none could deny his commitment to environmental conservation as the major national issue of his time. A brief preface to each speech sets the historical context leading up to the event and provides a glimpse into Frome's life. He avoids autobiography, but readers will discover the newspaperman, author, columnist, and educator as a tireless crusader who has touched the lives of many.

Long-time American Forests readers will remember his controversial column. Few commentators on conservation have stirred up as much debate among conservation leaders and the public that bad an interest in forestry. Frome elevated "muckraker" to an honorable, essential vocation.