"An Ecological History of Modern China is the first attempt at a comprehensive and conceptually coherent account of the process of development in modern China, from the perspective not of the economy but of the biophysical world. This book shows that development in China is desirable in many ways, but that there is a cost in environmental degradation. Specifically, the book addresses the question of how agricultural, industrial, and urban development have affected the resilience of China's ecosystems-their ability to withstand disturbances and further growth"--