Elizabeth kolbert, author of field notes from a catastrophe toms river is an epic tale for our chemical age. Courtesy of i am writing regarding the good news reported in the june 6 article danny devito options film rights for toms river cancer. The new york times the true story of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river won the 2014 pulitzer prize and has been hailed by the new york times as a new classic of science reporting. Waterborne destruction has visited toms river before, albeit via less conspicuous channels, which dan fagin traces with marvelous precision in his new book, toms river. A thrilling journey full of twists and turns, toms river is essential reading for our times. A story of science and salvation, talked about his book and responded to viewer questions september 22, 2014 book discussion on toms river. It is about the dumping of industrial pollution by chemical companies including cibageigy, in toms river, new jersey, beginning in 1952 through the 1980s, and the epidemiological investigations of a cancer cluster that subsequently emerged there. Jun 18, 2019 devito film on toms river cancer cluster to pay homage to environmental activism. Fagin was interested in the dumping of industrial pollution that led to increased. Elizabeth kolbert, author of field notes from a catastrophe. His new book project is about monarch butterflies and the anthropocene.
Dan fagin toms river the montclair public library presents dan fagin tuesday, september 17th, 7pm the riveting true story of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, and an unforgettable cast of characters into a sweeping narrative in. Twitter facebook email a book that deftly combines investigative reporting and historical research to probe a new jersey seashore towns cluster of childhood cancers linked to water and air pollution. Dan fagin science and environmental journalist science. Former newsday reporter fagin journalismnew york univ coauthor. A story of science and salvation ebook written by dan fagin. It is about the dumping of industrial pollution by. Listen to toms river a story of science and salvation by dan fagin available from rakuten kobo. He won the 2014 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction for his bestselling book toms river. I have lived in toms river twice first while in high school, from 19841989, and it is my current residence since 2000. The true story of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river won the 2014 pulitzer prize and has been hailed by the new york times as a new classic of science reporting. Dan fagin handles topics of great complexity with the dexterity of a scholar, the honesty of a journalist, and the dramatic skill of a novelist. New jersey town plagued by two generations of toxic waste dumping. A science journalism professor at new york university, dan fagin is a nationally prominent journalist on environmental health topics.
And such is the power of dan fagin s toms river, surely a new classic of science reporting. When my family originally moved to new jersey in 1984, we lived not too far from where the first break in the cibagiegy pipeline occurred. The story of a small town engulfed by industrial pollution, toms river melds hard hitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, deep. A story of science and salvation is a 20 nonfiction book by the american author dan fagin. Start a free 30day trial today and get your first audiobook free. Chemical troubles in toms river may 6, 20 issue vol. Toms river audiobook by dan fagin 9780385360319 rakuten kobo. Danny devito options dan fagins pulitzerwinning book toms. Toms river by dan fagin publishers lunch bookateria. Devito film on toms river cancer cluster to pay homage to environmental activism. Dan fagin born february 1, 1963 is an american journalist who specializes in environmental science. At once intimate and objective, toms river is the heartbreaking account of one towns struggle with a legacy of toxic pollution. A cibaowned chemical plant came to the coastal town of toms river, new jersey, in 1952 to make dyes through processes that used and discharged enormous quantities of water. Toms river winner of the pulitzer prize winner of the new york public librarys helen bernstein book award a new classic of science reporting.
A book that deftly combines investigative reporting and historical research to probe a new jersey seashore towns cluster of childhood cancers linked to water and air pollution. Toms river by dan fagin overdrive rakuten overdrive. A story of science and salvation, by dan fagin bantam books share. Dan fagin has combined deep reporting with masterful storytelling to recount an extraordinary battle over cancer and pollution in a new jersey town. Download for offline reading, highlight, bookmark or take notes while you read toms river. Apr 23, 2014 dan fagin 85 has been awarded the 2014 pulitzer prize for his most recent book, toms river.
The story of a small town engulfed by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, deep. A story of science and salvation 20 by dan fagin is the true story of a small new jersey town decimated by industrial pollution. Mar 19, 20 for years, large chemical companies had been using toms river as their private dumping ground, burying tens of thousands of leaky drums in open pits and discharging billions of gallons of acidlaced wastewater into the towns namesake river. The story of a small town engulfed by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, deep historical research and unforgettable characters into a sweeping narrative in the tradition of a civil action, the emperor of all maladies, and the immortal life of henrietta lacks. In an astonishing feat of investigative reporting, prizewinning journalist dan fagin recounts the sixtyyear saga of rampant pollution and inadequate oversight that. His new book project is about monarch butterflies and the future of biodiversity in the anthropocene. Fagin concludes, has been to solidify governmental opposition to conducting any more toms riverstyle investigations. A story of science and salvation, talked about his book and responded to viewer questions and comments he was interviewed at the 2015 tucson festival of books. Before joining the nyu faculty in 2005, dan was the environmental writer at newsday for 15 years, during which time he was twice a principal member of reporting teams that were. A story of science and salvation, about a small town in new jersey that was negatively impacted by industrial waste pollution. This is a work of nonfiction that chronicles the historical aspects of environmental science, and how pollution leads to illness. Devito film on toms river cancer cluster to pay homage to.
A story of science and salvation, i saw a tv replay of the movie, a civil action, starring jon travolta. In 2005, dan fagin, an environmental journalism professor at new york university, began researching toms river. See the complete profile on linkedin and discover dans connections. Maintaining and extending the collaborative relationship with the republic of mexico over the shared waters of the colorado river should be a sustained priority.
Elizabeth kolbert, author of field notes from a catastrophe, advance praise for toms river toms river is an epic tale for our chemical age. Toms river quotes showing 19 of 9 a simple pecking order has always characterized mankinds relationship to waste. A story of science and salvation traces the story of a new jersey town plagued by two generations of toxic waste dumping. It is ironic that within a week after reading dan fagins book, toms river. When toms river welcomed the swiss chemical company cibageigy now known as novartis in 1952, they did not know that the company had left towns in both switzerland and ohio due to complaints about air and water pollution.
And such is the power of dan fagins toms river, surely a new classic of science reporting. Danny devitos jersey films 2nd avenue has optioned the screen rights to toms river. Danny devitos film on the toms river cancer cluster, based on book by dan fagin, will homage to environmental. For years, large chemical companies had been using toms river as their private dumping ground, burying tens of thousands of leaky drums in open pits and discharging billions of gallons of acidlaced wastewater into the towns namesake river. Toms river, winner of the 2014 pulitzer prize and the academies communication award for best book, tells the story of a small town ravaged. The riveting true story of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story. In an astonishing feat of investigative reporting, prizewinning journalist dan fagin recounts the. Dan fagin 85 awarded 2014 pulitzer prize for toms river. This study guide is based on the following version of this book. Dan fagin has written a powerful and important book. Despite this books emotionally neutral title, toms river is at bottom a horror story of unregulated capitalism. Now available in paperback with a new afterword by acclaimed author dan fagin, the book masterfully blends hardhitting investigative journalism, scientific discovery, and unforgettable characters.
Dan fagin science and environmental journalist science and. Dan fagins new book, toms river, is an edgeofyourseat account of industry and illness in a new jersey town, with plenty of side trips. It won the 2014 pulitzer prize and was a winner of the new york public librarys helen bernstein book award. By dan fagin the riveting true story of sixty years in the life of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, deep historical research, and an unforgettable cast of characters into a sweeping narrative that leaves us asking. The river ran low during the parched summer of 1965, the driest in ocean county in a century. Toms river, once a quintessential jersey shore town, is the focus of dan fagins pulitzer prizewinning book toms rivers. View dan fagins profile on linkedin, the worlds largest professional community. In an astonishing feat of investigative reporting, prizewinning journalist dan fagin recounts the sixtyyear saga of rampant pollution and inadequate oversight that made toms river a cautionary example for fastgrowing industrial towns from south jersey to south china. How a revolutionary textile coloring compound tainted a waterway excerpt when aniline dye was synthesized from coal tar. It was so low that about onesixth of the flow under the route 37 bridge originated not as rain or groundwater but as wastewater discharged by the toms river chemical corporation two. Mar 19, 20 dan fagins new book, toms river, is an edgeofyourseat account of industry and illness in a new jersey town, with plenty of side trips.
Winner of the pulitzer prize winner of the new york public librarys helen bernstein book award a new class. It was encouraging to tell this story in a deeper way, rather than just reciting events that happened in toms river, says dan fagin, whose. Dan fagin director science, health and environmental. A story of science and salvation, was awarded the 2014 pulitzer prize for general nonfiction. New yorker masterful portrayal of the scientific process at work in a town facing environmental crisis. Jul 18, 2015 dans recent publications include the new york times, scientific american, nature and slate. A story of science and salvation 20, in the category for general nonfiction, which is given to a distinguished and appropriately documented book of nonfiction by an american author. A story of science and salvation, the pulitzer prizewinning book by dan fagin. Winner of the pulitzer prize winner of the new york public librarys helen bernstein book award a new classic of science reporting.
Its author, dan fagin, talks about the origins of dumping in toms river. Aug 19, 20 it is ironic that within a week after reading dan fagins book, toms river. Its author, dan fagin, talks about the origins of dumping in. The 2012 agreement known as minute 319, signed in 2012, included important water sharing provisions and for the first time allowed water to be returned to the. The new york timesthe riveting true story of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river melds hardhitting investigative reporting, a fascinating scientific detective story, and an unforgettable cast of characters into a sweeping. For fifteen years, he was the environmental writer at newsday, where he was twice a principal member of reporting teams that were finalists for the pulitzer prize. Mar 22, 20 the very big idea that would transform toms river and reshape the global economy was born in 1856 in the attic laboratory of a precocious eighteenyearold chemistry student named william henry. Danny devitos film on the toms river cancer cluster, based on book by. The wealthy throw out what they do not want, the poor scavenge what they can, and whatever remains is left to rot. Dan fagin is an associate professor of journalism and the director of the science, health, and environmental reporting program at new york universitys arthur l. The story fagin tells is the background story of my high school and college years. His work has been recently published in nature, the new york times, scientific american, and slate and he is also the coauthor of toxic deception. It was so low that about onesixth of the flow under the route 37 bridge originated not as rain or groundwater but as wastewater discharged by the toms river chemical corporation two miles upstream.
Toms river ebook by dan fagin 9780345538611 rakuten kobo. Dans recent publications include the new york times, scientific american, nature and slate. How the chemical industry manipulates science, bends the law and endangers your health, 1999 reveals the complex motives that blinded residents of toms river to the consequences of the practices of the towns major employer, cibageigy, a chemical company. The true story of a small town ravaged by industrial pollution, toms river won the 2014 pulitzer prize and has been hailed by the new york times as andquot. And such is the power of dan fagins toms river, surely a new classic of science reportinga sober story of probability and compromise, laid out with the care and precision that characterizes both good science and great journalism the new york times. For the readers of a civil action, the emperor of all maladies and the. Dan fagin pulitzer prizewinning journalist, known for toms river a pulitzer prizewinning journalist who writes frequently about environmental science, dan fagin is also a science journalism professor at new york university.
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