--- product_id: 4933965 title: "The Control of Nature" price: "3761 kr" currency: ISK in_stock: true reviews_count: 8 url: https://www.desertcart.is/products/4933965-the-control-of-nature store_origin: IS region: Iceland --- # The Control of Nature **Price:** 3761 kr **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** The Control of Nature - **How much does it cost?** 3761 kr with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.is](https://www.desertcart.is/products/4933965-the-control-of-nature) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description The Control of Nature [McPhee, John] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. The Control of Nature Review: Review of The Control of Nature by John McPhee - In The Control of Nature published in 1989 (paperback) by John McPhee combines three essays from the New Yorker. Each of the three topics deals with the relationship of man to earth processes. Geologically speaking the processes include in the First Topic fluvial geomorphology and delta mechanics of the Mississippi River. In the Second Topic volcanism and the formation of igneous rocks on an island, Heimaey - off the south coast of Iceland, dominate the discussion. There is also a small section on Hawaii. In the Third Topic the focus is on the slope processes (mass wasting - debris flows) on the rising and eroding San Gabriel Mountains, bounding Los Angeles on the north. Also, in varying degrees, the essays deal with a spectrum of difficulty or success which man has had in confronting Nature. McPhee is an honest reporter, he finds facts, often reporting directly the words of people he has interviewed. He focuses on important crucial information. This work is valuable to both layman and expert. It is not just that he one of the best expository writers to confront geoscience, but that he had the intellect to recognize what is both important and interesting. In each circumstance he exposes the human history context. Along the Mississippi this history goes back at least as far as the War of 1812, and the transition from natural levees to the man-created levees which now dominate and shape the problems with living beside the third largest river system in the world. McPhee also develops the history of the Corp of Engineers with its influential and costly history to present day. Heimaey history, pronounced "hay may" is short, recent history. Beginning in February, 1973, a volcanic eruption in the northern Atlantic begins and threatens the lively hood of a prosperous fishing community. What does man do? This is, perhaps, an economic success case of Man's control of nature. In California the canyons and "foot-of-the-mountain" area of the southern San Gabriel Mountains are subject to a spectacular phenomena called debris flows. Clay, mud, sand, and enormous boulders are carried down slope through canyons in an ugly slurry-like form called debris flows destroying homes and buildings. Today at great expense to the taxpayer (state and national) man runs a complicated, high-cost, high-maintenance program to protect man from this natural geologic process. McPhee's delineation of the history of how we go to this present state of affairs reminds me of the story of the frog in the pot which is brought very slowly to a boil. Would we do it the same way if we had understood the result or geomorphic process. In my paperback version of The Control of Nature there is only one figure on page 226, and a very schematic figure at that. McPhee flouts the dictum that a "picture is worth a thousand words." He is able to write in paragraphs that are truly graphic, taking three-dimensions and making the visual, verbal. The rest of us require diagrams and maps. As I was reading about the conurbation of the Atchafalaya, the Red River, the Mississippi River, the Old River, the old River Control Structure, and the Old River Control Auxiliary, I eventually had to break down, go out on the INTERNET and find some maps. It isn't just that these all have unique locations, but also that the locations evolve and have a history. For some things words alone will not suffice. That is this reviewers opinion. Reviewer Opinion: This is a very important book from a technical geoscience point of view because it successfully integrates human history and geologic process. From a layman point of view it underlines the importance of geologic process to man. In my opinion the Core of Engineers is often given a bad rap for merely doing what we have asked them to do. Our representatives (Congress) not the Corps set the objectives. I recommend this book. The Control of Nature deserves to be read and re-read and will not go out of date. Review: Great book about the engineering battles between mother nature and us-well researched and written - Great book, love the writers style. Best section (opinion) is on the mountains around LA, which turn into rock slides during the rain. Harrowing stories of the people and houses buried in these events, also how the flood control dams work, the local geology and the effort required to keep it all working. Well researched, a quick read that is hard to put down. ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #99,127 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #50 in Environmentalism #107 in Ecology (Books) #702 in U.S. State & Local History | | Customer Reviews | 4.5 out of 5 stars 697 Reviews | ## Images ![The Control of Nature - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/719OHQYXiRL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review of The Control of Nature by John McPhee *by W***E on March 9, 2010* In The Control of Nature published in 1989 (paperback) by John McPhee combines three essays from the New Yorker. Each of the three topics deals with the relationship of man to earth processes. Geologically speaking the processes include in the First Topic fluvial geomorphology and delta mechanics of the Mississippi River. In the Second Topic volcanism and the formation of igneous rocks on an island, Heimaey - off the south coast of Iceland, dominate the discussion. There is also a small section on Hawaii. In the Third Topic the focus is on the slope processes (mass wasting - debris flows) on the rising and eroding San Gabriel Mountains, bounding Los Angeles on the north. Also, in varying degrees, the essays deal with a spectrum of difficulty or success which man has had in confronting Nature. McPhee is an honest reporter, he finds facts, often reporting directly the words of people he has interviewed. He focuses on important crucial information. This work is valuable to both layman and expert. It is not just that he one of the best expository writers to confront geoscience, but that he had the intellect to recognize what is both important and interesting. In each circumstance he exposes the human history context. Along the Mississippi this history goes back at least as far as the War of 1812, and the transition from natural levees to the man-created levees which now dominate and shape the problems with living beside the third largest river system in the world. McPhee also develops the history of the Corp of Engineers with its influential and costly history to present day. Heimaey history, pronounced "hay may" is short, recent history. Beginning in February, 1973, a volcanic eruption in the northern Atlantic begins and threatens the lively hood of a prosperous fishing community. What does man do? This is, perhaps, an economic success case of Man's control of nature. In California the canyons and "foot-of-the-mountain" area of the southern San Gabriel Mountains are subject to a spectacular phenomena called debris flows. Clay, mud, sand, and enormous boulders are carried down slope through canyons in an ugly slurry-like form called debris flows destroying homes and buildings. Today at great expense to the taxpayer (state and national) man runs a complicated, high-cost, high-maintenance program to protect man from this natural geologic process. McPhee's delineation of the history of how we go to this present state of affairs reminds me of the story of the frog in the pot which is brought very slowly to a boil. Would we do it the same way if we had understood the result or geomorphic process. In my paperback version of The Control of Nature there is only one figure on page 226, and a very schematic figure at that. McPhee flouts the dictum that a "picture is worth a thousand words." He is able to write in paragraphs that are truly graphic, taking three-dimensions and making the visual, verbal. The rest of us require diagrams and maps. As I was reading about the conurbation of the Atchafalaya, the Red River, the Mississippi River, the Old River, the old River Control Structure, and the Old River Control Auxiliary, I eventually had to break down, go out on the INTERNET and find some maps. It isn't just that these all have unique locations, but also that the locations evolve and have a history. For some things words alone will not suffice. That is this reviewers opinion. Reviewer Opinion: This is a very important book from a technical geoscience point of view because it successfully integrates human history and geologic process. From a layman point of view it underlines the importance of geologic process to man. In my opinion the Core of Engineers is often given a bad rap for merely doing what we have asked them to do. Our representatives (Congress) not the Corps set the objectives. I recommend this book. The Control of Nature deserves to be read and re-read and will not go out of date. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great book about the engineering battles between mother nature and us-well researched and written *by J***F on November 21, 2025* Great book, love the writers style. Best section (opinion) is on the mountains around LA, which turn into rock slides during the rain. Harrowing stories of the people and houses buried in these events, also how the flood control dams work, the local geology and the effort required to keep it all working. Well researched, a quick read that is hard to put down. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Would benefit from illustrations *by N***C on September 26, 2019* This is a collection of three essays about man’s attempts to control nature. the first chapter is about the lower Mississippi River. The second is about an Icelandic volcano. And the book ends with the San Gabriel mountains around Los Angeles. McPhee writes with intelligence and grace, and has a gift for finding colorful witnesses. However the chapters are not of equal quality. The first in particular suffers from the book’s lack of photos or diagrams, and the written descriptions of flood control measures and their modes of failure sometimes fall short. On balance a fine book that many will enjoy, especially if they have spent time in the places McPhee discusses. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.is/products/4933965-the-control-of-nature](https://www.desertcart.is/products/4933965-the-control-of-nature) --- *Product available on Desertcart Iceland* *Store origin: IS* *Last updated: 2026-04-28*