Something's Rising: Appalachians Fighting Mountaintop Removal Paperback – February 1, 2011

This book, a book about grass roots struggle against big coal and the devastation of the Appalachian mountains, is an important book. It is a book of beautifully written stories, full of imagery. I can see eighty-six-year-old Jean Ritchie's eyes in the rich descriptions and almost hear her sing. These descriptions make me want to sit at her feet, hear her voice and her wisdom. All the people in the book are portrayed as real people I'd like to meet, their stories so compelling, their voices sincere. But most of all, though, this book makes me heartsick for a way of life that has been, not lost, but stolen or sold, it inspires me to join this fight against the ravages of coal. Coal has done little for the people of Appalachia but make us poor, use our land and our people badly, and destroy the mountains with which we identify. Something's Rising is a cry for justice, for a way of life, a warning for the people of Appalachia and America to wake up before it is too late, before our mountains are gone,our streams polluted beyond reclamation. It should be required reading, not in every history, geography and science class in high school and college, but for every legislator in this country,every man or woman who was elected on claims he or she represents "the people."

This is a great work of oral history and environmental literature not from academics or outside observers but rather from the people on the receiving end of a raw deal. Coal is big money for capital but a curse for labor. Appalachia contains some of the poorest zip codes in the United States, and yet billions of dollars in natural resources have been harvested from these very counties. This short book attempts to explain some of the reasons why this is so. And this is nothing new. Ballad singer Addie Graham saw it first hand decades ago:"You don't know the wealth that went out of that country. It'd kill you to know of it. When the big companies came in they bought all the timber in that country, all through it . . . . All that walnut timber, millions of dollars worth, went out of there. The wealth that was in that country, they never got nothing much for it; it went too cheap"What happened with timber and other natural resources happened with coal, and it continues to this day. Wealth goes out and the people stay poor and despised, the butt of jokes in the 'liberal' media.The thirteen activists and artists portrayed here and the the editors of this book attempt to redress this imbalance.

Excellent book on mountain top removals and the destruction of Appalachia.

I never read the entire book. I purchased it as a gift for my brother in Newfoundland but since you don't deliver to Canada I was forced to have it delivered to my home and then remail it to Canada.

This book is very powerful and a true work from people like you and I who support preserving the environment and local culture. Very eye opening and inspirational to people all over who have experienced loss at the hands of greedy corporations.

Bought for Appalachian Studies class. I was not disappointed.

Somethings' Rising is one of the best books I have read about the genocide going on in Appalachia. This area has been used, abused and ignored by America and with the help of this book and others out there like it, America can face the awful truth and help right the wrong done to Appalachians.

Excellent book with personal insights into a very polarized issue in Appalachia. It is good to hear the people speak relating personal stories often overlooked in the conflict between resource extraction from outside corporations and the health issues it causes.