Review of The Gulf
Looking for the book?
We have the summary! Get the key insights in just 10 minutes.

Qualities
- Scientific
- Eye Opening
- Engaging
Review
Fishing initially made the Gulf of Mexico a survivable place to settle, home to widespread early indigenous civilizations and, later, a desirable tourism destination. As the 20th century dawned, the Gulf sustained immense populations of fish and other sea life. Today, it is a dump for industrial and agricultural waste, and its diminished estuaries support far fewer fish. Commercial shipping and offshore drilling pollute the Gulf, marginalizing fish, birds and other creatures. Shoreline development threatens its ecological integrity. The Gulf also suffered the worst oil spill in history, a result of the explosion of the offshore drilling rig Deepwater Horizon.
Gulf native, historian and sustainability professor Jack E. Davis pays eloquent homage to the Gulf’s natural resources and efforts to conserve them as he details its drastic losses and continuing perils. getAbstract recommends his compelling, Pulitzer Prize-winning history to readers who seek environmental information, to those involved in Gulf industries and to anyone interested in a deeper understanding of the “American Sea” and the threats it faces.
About the Author
Jack E. Davis is professor of history and sustainability studies at the University of Florida. His award-winning books include Paradise Lost?: The Environmental History of Florida and Making Waves: Female Activists in Twentieth-Century Florida.