American Covenant: National Parks, Their Promise, and Our Nation's Future

Michael A. Soukup · Gary E. Machlis

Mar 2021 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Danny Campbell

About this audiobook

An intimate and candid account of our national parks and their strengths, vulnerabilities, and essential role in American life. Part memoir, part critique, and paean to the value of national parks, American Covenant distills the experience and insights from two long careers in conservation. Michael A. Soukup and Gary E. Machlis show how the national parks are essential to maintaining the essence of our national heritage, and key to America's future in a changing climate and political landscape. Sharing real-world examples of both victories and defeats in protecting national parks, this candid, thoughtful book reminds us that the national parks are a promise-a covenant-within and between generations of Americans. The book is also a call to revitalize, reconstitute, reconfigure, and reform the National Park Service, which the authors believe is governed too much by outdated management practices and politics instead of a foundation of expertise and science.

About the author

Michael A. Soukup served as chief scientist for the National Park Service. He lives in Blue Hill, Maine.

Gary E. Machlis is University Professor of Environmental Sustainability at Clemson University, and served as science advisor to the director of the National Park Service. He lives in Central, South Carolina.

A classically trained actor, director, and teacher with many regional Shakespeare plays to his credit, Danny Campbell has narrated over 150 titles and directed at least that many. He is a multiple AudioFile Earphones Award winner and was named one of AudioFile's Best of the Year 2017.