Sara Dant, Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West (new edition)

This is an in-store event and will live-streamed to Zoom, register here to watch on Zoom.

Pre-order a copy of the new edition of Losing Eden from CW online here or by calling the store (505) 988-4226 - signed copies will be availale after the event.

Historical narratives often concentrate on wars and politics while omitting the central role and influence of the physical stage on which history is carried out. In Losing Eden award-winning historian Sara Dant debunks the myth of the American West as “Eden” and instead embraces a more realistic and complex understanding of a region that has been inhabited and altered by people for tens of thousands of years. 

This revised and updated edition incorporates the latest science and thinking. It also features a new chapter on climate change in the American West, a larger reflection on the region’s multicultural history, updated current events, expanded and diversified suggested readings, along with new maps and illustrations. 

Cohesive and compelling, Losing Eden recognizes the central role of the natural world in the history of the American West and provides important analysis on the continually evolving relationship between the land and its inhabitants.

About the Author

Sara Dant is a Brady Presidential Distinguished Professor of history at Weber State University. She is the coauthor of the two-volume Encyclopedia of American National Parks. Dr. Dant is an advisor and interviewee for Ken Burns' The American Buffalo documentary film (October 2023.)

Tom S. Udall, who wrote the forward and will share a special virtual message at the event, is a former United States senator and representative of New Mexico who has been a strong advocate for renewable energy, the environment, and conservation efforts. He currently serves as the United States Ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa.

Sarah Noss  has served as the Executive Director of the Santa Fe Conservation Trust since 2016 bringing decades of local experience in both organizational advancement and program development to the Santa Fe Conservation Trust. She has led a staff of eight on conservation easement and stewardship issues, trails creation and maintenance, and community conservation projects that get people outside into nature.  After graduating from Stanford University, she returned to Santa Fe, where she worked for many years in advertising as vice president of Creative Images.  After a brief stint in Paris, she came back to the States and ended up in Chicago for almost a decade where she worked in advertising and promotions in the publishing industry.  She returned to Santa Fe in the early 90s and worked at the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation and Cornerstones Community Partnerships as a writer, fundraiser and grant writer.  She was the executive director of the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market Institute from 2005 to 2013.  During her tenure, the $5 million Farmers’ Market Building in the Railyard was conceived, funded and completed.  She also initiated the micro loan program and other Institute programs to support the farmers of northern New Mexico.  Throughout her career, Sarah's passion has been focused on building community around the air, land, water and sky of this beautiful region.

The Santa Fe Conservation Trust, celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2023, helps to create a network of natural, open lands in and around Northern New Mexico communities, forever protected for all living creatures. The organization partners with community members to keep northern New Mexico’s living lands and people flourishing together. sfct.org