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J Agric Environ Ethics (2012) 25:435436 DOI 10.1007/s10806-011-9341-3
BOOK REVIEW
Jake Kosek. Understories: The Political Life of Forests in Northern New Mexico
ISBN-10: 0822338475, ISBN-13: 978-0822338475, Publication Date: 17, November, 2006
Caroline Felix Oliveira
Accepted: 23 August 2011 / Published online: 7 September 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011
Through a dense ethnographic investigation of New Mexico, Jake Kosek reveals an innovative perspective on forest politics that is both engaging and compelling. The book sets off with the sound of a bullet that accidently misses Kosek as he is welcomed to Truchas, where he conducts most of his eld work. The reader is introduced to the gures that will play critical roles in the development of his research, portraying the struggles between the Chicano community and the Forest Service. The book is structured among 6 chapters supported by extensive archival research that propose an original interpretation of the classic dichotomy of nature and society. From heroin addicts to Smokey the bear, Kosek accomplishes this ground breaking analysis by exploring seemingly unrelated themes, and linking them to the roots of their understories.
The author fearlessly immerses himself into the Hispanic community that denes the culture of Northern New Mexico. He dedicates the rst part of the book to understand the communities connection to the land. Their uncensored...