“Millstein presents a compelling case that Leopold’s land ethic, properly interpreted, offers ‘the environmental ethic of our time.’ She demonstrates that her novel reading of the land ethic is exegetically accurate, consistent with current science, and pertinent to debates in the philosophy of ecology, environmental ethics, and conservation policy. Additionally, the book is highly accessible, engaging, and relatively concise. Overall, The Land is Our Community is an absolute tour de force.” 

Philosophy of Science

“Millstein’s comprehensive but accessible work brings back to the present the importance of Aldo Leopold’s ‘land ethic.’ It functions as much more than a revisiting of his most famous work, A Sand County Almanac, but opens modern conservationism to the light of Leopold’s ideas and critique. This relatively short (but both broad and deep) work is a strong blend of environmental ethics, history and philosophy of biology. It demonstrates how Leopold’s land ethic is as relevant to our modern discussions around climate change, land use, biodiversity and evolutionary biology as it was originally.”

Philosophy in Review

“Millstein’s book, The Land Is Our Community, offers a philosophical analysis that stimulates essential conversations among sectors committed to conservation about our ethical responsibilities with the environment. . . . This critical discussion must begin now, as we are at a pivotal moment in the environmental crisis. The Land Is Our Community can ignite the exchange of ideas and foster connections between science and philosophy.” 

Tapuya

“A deftly argued reexamination of a foundational element of environmental ethics. . . The way Millstein analyzes and unpacks Leopold’s ideas across his career and puts them into service provides a model for how philosophers can work alongside historians. Together we can uncover narratives that reveal the emergence and evolution of concepts. A philosophical treatment like The Land Is Our Community makes me want to be a better historian, in order to help others explore the evolving concepts in ecology on which our shared efforts to rehabilitate our planet’s natural systems can be built.”

Journal of the History of Biology

“Reinvigorates the environmental philosophy of Aldo Leopold, the esteemed American conservationist who worked with the US Forest Service in Arizona and New Mexico and at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. . . . Taken in its entirety, The Land Is Our Community is an informative addition to the body of literature on environmental philosophy, as it gestures toward several potential research questions in philosophy, ecology, and environmental policy.” 

BJPS Review of Books

“I warmly suggest this book for those who had no chance to read Aldo Leopold’s original writings, and especially for those who fear that widespread misinterpretations influenced their understanding of Leopold’s land ethic.”

Conservation Biology

“Millstein, a philosopher of science, takes up the challenge of translating Leopold for our current century, with all of our current problems, offering insight into what he meant and why it still matters. . . . Where the author shines is in the pulling together of Leopold’s philosophy and offering it up for our consideration in light of modern ecology. . . . Leopold’s land ethic calls for every human to acknowledge that they are part of the natural community and that, as citizens, we all derive benefits while having a duty to that community of nature that has sustained us. In 2025, these still seem to be lessons worth learning.” 

Quarterly Review of Biology

“Millstein presents lucid explanations and defenses of the concepts central to Aldo Leopold’s land ethic with the aim of demonstrating their value for meeting today's environmental challenges. . . . Replete with examples of healthy and sick communities and successful policy measures, Millstein’s book is a timely and informative study.”

Choice

“‘What’s good is what’s good for the land.’ This formulation of Leopold’s packs so much into a single phrase. Millstein meditates on some of the aspects of that mighty slogan that are most pertinent to our time: the necessity of connection and care among all living beings, including the soil that sustains us, the return of the commons, and the power of community to resist extraction and create a civilization for the long haul. Millstein has actively engaged in local political struggles with significant success, and here she conveys some of her hard-won wisdom. This is a book that can be put to use. Leopold would like that.”

Kim Stanley Robinson, author of The High Sierra: A Love Story

“As a philosopher of biology, Millstein brings a distinctive and valuable perspective to the interpretation of Aldo Leopold. Peppered with careful analysis of key concepts, The Land Is Our Community explores and defends the enduring relevance of Leopold’s land ethic.”

Marion Hourdequin, author of Environmental Ethics: From Theory to Practice

“In his influential 1949 essay ‘The Land Ethic,’ Aldo Leopold shared his view that a thorough philosophical reorientation was needed to ensure a healthy future for land and people. He also held that such an ethic of care had to evolve continually within an expansive ‘thinking community.’ In The Land is Our Community, Millstein brings fresh perspectives and ideas to this necessary conversation. She offers a clear-eyed reexamination of the foundations of the land ethic and well-grounded principles for its further evolution.”

Curt Meine, author of Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work