A Celebration of the World's Barrier Islands

Abstract

Orrin H. Pilkey, 2003, Columbia University Press, New York, 400 p. (Hardcover, US $44.95) ISBN: 0-231-11970-4 It's true that many of the world's barrier islands are disappearing, and in many cases human activities are largely to blame. In his new book, A Celebration of the World's Barrier Islands, Orrin Pilkey, who is well known for both his work on barrier islands and his experience in reaching out to the lay public, teams up with a highly effective new partner—artist Mary Edna Fraser. With text by Pilkey and original batiks by Fraser, the duo presents an accessible compilation of what is known about barrier islands throughout the world, while at the same time communicating their vision for barrier island preservation. As the book chronicles, geologists have come to understand that barrier islands are mobile features, responding dynamically to storms and sea level rise in order to survive. But, even casual observations of most inhabited barrier islands reveal that the majority of people today are either unaware of this fact or disinterested in behaving in a manner consistent with it. The preface of A Celebration of the World's Barrier Islands indicates Pilkey and Fraser's shared hope that educating people about barrier islands will lead them to support stronger laws to allow the survival of barrier islands for the enjoyment of future generations. After stating this goal, the authors tell their story of barrier island evolution and science—aptly and objectively demonstrating both the dynamic nature of barrier islands and the realities of human interactions, while, for much of the book, leaving the reader to form his or her own opinions regarding the appropriateness of human activities. A well-crafted prologue provides the reader with an accurate and engaging preview of the book. Here, Pilkey's text provides a glimpse of the different ways people around …