Dam /

With the current movement toward dam removals in the Western world, it is interesting to see a book that treats dams as buildings of particular significance. This book's approach is not technical, but historical. It presents dams under different perspectives: as symbols of dominance, works of designers, and objects of beauty. It also covers dam failures and the recent backlash against dams. Turpin, a professional with more than 30 years of experience in environmental assessment and management, presents and describes dams all over the world, with particular emphasis on dams in the UK and the US. The book includes a large number of photographs and drawings of dams. Turpin is the coauthor of Environmental Impact Assessment (2002). Summing Up: Recommended. General readers and undergraduate and graduate students in environmental policy, history, and civil engineering. E. Gomezdelcamp Bowling Green State University