Nature’s Metropolis Turns 25: A Conversation with William Cronon

This book is a monumental biography of Robert Moses, who was the single most powerful man in New York City and State during his time. It explores how Moses accumulated and wielded power, shaping the city through his public works projects, including highways, bridges, and parks. The book delves into Moses's early life, his idealistic beginnings, and his transformation into a powerful figure who dominated New York's politics without ever being elected. It also highlights the social and environmental impacts of his projects and his eventual fall from power. The biography is renowned for its detailed and nuanced portrayal of power dynamics in urban politics.

Nature's Metropolis is an ecological history that examines the rapid growth of Chicago and its impact on the Great West during the late 19th century. Cronon argues that the distinction between city and country is an illusion, and that these areas are interdependent. The book focuses on commodity flows, transportation systems, and the human modification of the environment, which Cronon terms 'second nature. ' It explores how Chicago's growth was fueled by its position as a hub for trade in grain, lumber, meat, and other products, and how this growth affected the surrounding regions.