"This collection of sixty-one photographs includes images of places that are revered for their perfection of form, historic cultural landscapes, and views of paradise lost. Tom Fischer has envisioned each with greatest of care in hopes of finding beauty in truth. Through his pictures and essays Fischer presents us with a great paradox of modern life: that the driving human desire to find paradise often leads to the destruction of the places we love most. Thousands of tourists visiting a place like the Yosemite Valley alter it to such a degree that it is no longer paradise. Our recognition that we can't achieve utopian experience has led to everything from theme parks to the private gardens of the wealthy. For many the afterlife is the only hope for paradise. Fischer acknowledges that the earth's processes are so complex that it is next to impossible to tell if our attempts to save the planet are a gift or a curse. Recognizing this has led him to assume the role of observer rather than theorist in his studies of the land. Those seeking answers to the pressing environmental questions of the day will not find them in the writings of this author or the images of this book, but it is possible that they will identify some useful questions." -- From book jacket
