Nature's Metropolis (book)

"Nature's Metropolis" by William Cronon explores the relationship between the city of Chicago and its surrounding environment in the 19th century. It examines how urban growth and industrialization transformed natural landscapes and ecosystems into resources for a booming metropolis. Cronon illustrates how the city relied on the hinterland for agricultural produce, timber, and other materials, showing the interconnectedness of urban and rural areas. The book highlights the environmental costs of this development, emphasizing that cities are not isolated but are deeply embedded in the natural world, shaping and being shaped by it.