The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan

Pulitzer Prize finalist, Dan Egan, has just released a new work of non-fiction entitled The Death and Life of the Great Lakes. The book was a winner of the J. Anthony Lukas Award – given annually to provide funding necessary for the completion of a non-fiction work focusing on an American topic that is of political and/or social concern.

Egan’s book starts by educating us on the engineering marvels of the late 1800’s that broke down the barriers of the Great Lakes – Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Erie, and Superior – for improved shipping and to allow Chicago’s sewage to float out to the Mississippi . These man-made changes exposed 20% of the earth’s fresh water to waterborne disease, sea lamprey, zebra and quagga mussels, and more; destroying native species and changing the ecosystem forever. Egan also talks about other threats including toxic algae, climate change, and dredging of shipping channels; addressing the pressing concern of a potential Asian Carp invasion. There are glimmers of hope, as Egan uncovers relatively simple things we can do to ensure that the Great Lakes will be healthy for generations to come.

As Egan covers the life within the Great Lakes, the threats they face daily, and their revival, you can feel his concern for and love of one of our most precious resources. This book is a must-read, as it provides a concise history of the Great Lakes, information on man-made and environmental concerns leading to where we are today, and a blueprint for protecting these bodies of water for the future. The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is relevant and informative. It is a book that should not be ignored.

Reviewed by Jennifer Harden