The Environment and You

The textbook The Environment and You, 3rd Edition, provides non-majors in introductory environmental science courses with a structured overview of ecological systems and natural resource interactions. Published by Pearson in 2023, this volume helps learners understand fundamental scientific principles behind environmental balance and human activity.

Authors Norm Christensen, Lissa Leege, and Justin St. Juliana construct a progressive learning path that connects environmental ethics, policy, and physical science to living systems. The text synthesizes core themes such as organism and population ecology, biome distribution, ecosystem function, and global climate change. Subsequent chapters address natural resource management, examining water, air quality, agriculture, forest reserves, and energy systems.

To strengthen analytical practice, the authors include dedicated 'You Decide' features that prompt readers to evaluate complex environmental choices. This approach offers structured academic guidance for general education undergraduates exploring contemporary environmental science without requiring specialized prior coursework.