"With prose as engaging as it is thoughtful, Halverson has crafted an absorbing cautionary tale of ecological trial and error, documenting our tardy but increasing understanding of biological interdependence and its immeasurable value."—Washington Post
"Halverson's book is a microhistory, an examination of America's involvement with a favored fish that sheds light on broader truths regarding our recent relationship with the natural world."—Chronicle Review
"Make no mistake, this book is a major event in the history of angling and ecological analysis. It needs to become the stuff of every angler’s conversation and practice. And it’s such a pleasure to read!"—Gordon Wickstrom, American Angler
"Halverson entertainingly introduces some of the most tangled questions in conservation biology: What is a species? What is native? What is natural? What is wild?"—Jared Farmer, Science
"A well-paced, completely absorbing tale of how man and trout have changed the landscape of the planet."—Ralph Cutter, California Fly Fisher
"In the same way that Michael Pollan's Omnivore's Dilemma reached beyond the realm of foodies, An Entirely Synthetic Fish is connecting with an audience far larger than trout bums. If you happen to be an angler, consider that a bonus in your enjoyment of this great book."—Ralph Cutter, California Fly Fisher
"Intelligent, fair-minded and uncommonly readable."—Rob Oden, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
"Halverson's account of the Green River project was gripping, and in fact, read a lot like a novel (I half-expected Bond to show up)."—Tom Chandler, The Trout Underground
"Fly fishing for trout retains its image as a clean, low-impact outdoor activity. Rightly so, perhaps, but after reading Halverson’s book, you will think twice about how close to nature you are when you cast that line out over a rocky pool."—Laurence A. Marschall, Natural History
"Halverson treats the history of rainbow trout like a detective story and interviews or writes about a cast of fascinating characters . . . an excellent and entertaining read for anyone interested in the history of conservation, but especially the history of how rainbow trout became an entirely synthetic fish."—Peter B. Moyle, The Quarterly Review of Biology
"[A] highly readable book."—Peter B. Moyle, The Quarterly Review of Biology
"This brief book is an excellent and entertaining read for anyone interested in the history of conservation, but especially the history of how rainbow trout became an entirely synthetic fish."—Peter B. Moyle, The Quarterly Review of Biology
Winner of the 2010 National Outdoor Book Award in the Natural History Literature category, as given by the National Outdoor Book Awards Foundation, Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education, and Idaho State University
"Anyone interested in life as metaphor will find here the fascinating historical story of how different people saw their highest ideals and aspirations through the lens of a single, uncommonly compelling fish. And like democracy—but with perhaps more success—they spread it around the world. This unusually well-written, interesting book deserves a place of honor for everyone who sees in trout more than 'just' a fish."—Carl Safina, author of Song for the Blue Ocean, Eye of the Albatross, and The View From Lazy Point
"A fascinating story of man’s urge to cultivate and disseminate a beautiful coldwater fish—at times to the detriment of native species but also the joy of anglers who would not otherwise have the opportunity to catch a trout. A gripping blend of early American history, discussions on taxonomy, and questions of how best to preserve wildness and the indigenous in a world where the human relationship to Nature is complex and always changing."—James Prosek, author of Trout of the World
"This book rewards readers in two equally significant ways. First, it entertains us with stories of intrinsic interest and even mind-stretching improbability. Second, it invites us to be smarter and more congenial citizens, more inclined to think productively about our environmental challenges and dilemmas, and more prepared to rise above faction and return to regarding 'the public good.'"—Patricia Nelson Limerick, Faculty Director of Center for the American West, and author of The Legacy of Conquest: The Unbroken Past of the American West and Something in the Soil: Legacies and Reckonings in the New West
"This is a small book that could influence big fishery issues. I found new insights into some of the problems and I am quite familiar with most of them."—Peter Moyle, University of California, Davis
"The historical research, personal interviews, and putting it together has produced an outstanding piece of work."—Robert Behnke, Professor Emeritus, Colorado State University, and author of Trout and Salmon of North America
