The present work is in no way opposed to a concern with the environment. It is against the effort to sell a reactionary economic, political and social agenda dressed up as concern for and protection of the environment. This book demonstrates that what we call 'environmentalism' is an expression of the world view of segments of the world's upper class. When they talk to us about pollution, resource scarcity, and overpopulation, they are actually talking about their own fears, hatreds, and ambitions. Whatever label we affix to today's environmentalism, it is certain that it carries over into the 21st century the same kinds of reactionary, aristocratic and elitist tendencies evident two centuries ago in England and Germany. Such tendencies also emerged in a significant way in the late 1800's in the United States. Environmentalism takes on a new meaning when taking into account the well thought out presentation given in this important and thought-provoking book.