The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan, published in 2017, examines the ecological challenges and transformations of the Great Lakes, resulting from human intervention like the construction of canals, which facilitated commerce but also introduced invasive species. Egan intertwines history, personal narratives, and expert interviews to illustrate the negative and sometimes irreversible effects on local ecosystems and economies.

Dan Egan's The Death and Life of the Great Lakes is lauded for its thorough research and engaging storytelling, detailing significant ecological challenges and human impact on the Great Lakes. Critics commend its clarity and urgency but note that it can be heavy on technical details for general readers. The book effectively raises awareness on critical environmental issues.

Readers who enjoy The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan are typically environmental enthusiasts, history buffs, or those interested in ecological preservation. Similar readers also gravitate towards Silent Spring by Rachel Carson and The Sixth Extinction by Elizabeth Kolbert.

Informative / Mysterious / Unnerving / Contemplative / Challenging

- The Death and Life of the Great Lakes by Dan Egan was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in General Nonfiction in 2017, highlighting its critical acclaim and impactful coverage of environmental issues.
- The book vividly explores how changes in the Great Lakes ecosystem have far-reaching implications for the region's economy, ecology, and public health.
- Dan Egan presents compelling insights into the history and future threats to the Great Lakes, often referred to as the world's largest freshwater ecosystem.

**Dan Egan**  
An author and news reporter who has covered the Great Lakes for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel since 2003, receiving multiple awards for his work. He grew up in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and his coverage is influenced by childhood memories of time spent on Lake Michigan.

**DeWitt Clinton**  
Historically notable as a former mayor of New York, Clinton is featured for his role in jumpstarting the construction of the Erie Canal, which connected the Hudson River to the Great Lakes.

**President Eisenhower**  
The U.S. president during the construction of the Seaway, who had concerns about its economic and political impacts, particularly in relation to foreign ships.

**General John Peabody**  
A general in the Army Corps who is motivated by childhood experiences with Lake Erie to work on preventing the spread of Asian carp into the Great Lakes.

**David Lodge**  
A professor at the University of Notre Dame known for his expertise on invasive species, who led a team developing DNA-based testing for the detection of such species in ballast water.

**Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet**  
A French missionary and fur-trapper duo known for their exploration journey to Lake Michigan in 1673.

**Vernon Applegate**  
A researcher with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who developed a poison to combat the invasive lamprey and planned to restore native trout to control alewives.

**Howard Tanner and Wayne Tody**  
Fisheries biologists associated with introducing Pacific salmon to the Great Lakes to boost fishing tourism, with Tanner emphasizing economic growth over ecological restoration.

**Mike Freeze**  
A former Arkansas Game and Fish chairman who provides insight into the use of Asian carp for sewage treatment experiments, which led to their invasive spread when funding for the project ran out.

**Ken Koyen**  
The last full-time commercial fisherman on Wisconsin's Washington Island, who has observed changes in whitefish adapting to invasive species and altering their diet.

**The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)**  
A U.S. governmental body responsible for enforcing environmental regulations, critiqued for its role in the spread of invasive species in the Great Lakes.

**U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service**  
A federal agency within the Department of the Interior that enforces wildlife regulations and is involved in ongoing Great Lakes fishery disputes.

**U.S. Army Corps of Engineers**  
A key governmental body dealing with the shipping industry and invasive fish solutions in the Great Lakes, often focusing on remedies like poisons or barriers.

**Ron Thresher**  
An American researcher who leads efforts to control invasive species with DNA-based methods at a facility in Australia, highlighting the importance of gene containment.

**The International Joint Commission**  
An organization that settles U.S.-Canada water boundary disputes, involved in commissioning studies on Great Lakes water levels but overlooking scientists' adaptive recommendations.

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