Cannon’s simple thesis is that the Supreme Court, highest arbiter in the land and national bastion of fairness and objectivity, is a key player in wider social battles of ideology and values, especially when it comes to environmental issues. The controversies of environmentalism are incredibly complex, are actually conflicts of value systems (e.g. mastery vs. harmony). By a comprehensive review of landmark environmental Court cases, Cannon argues convincingly that how these cases are decided amount to symbolic elevations of certain values over others. Important reading for anyone who wants further insight into the cultural or political status of environmentalism today.