Book Review

by Paul Ganderton

Barrow CJ. 1997. Environmental and Social Impact Assessment: An Introduction. Arnold.pp x + 310. ISBN 0 340 66271 9 £15.99.

Although subtitled "an introduction" it should really be seen as more of an overview. The goal appears to be to provide basic but comprehensive coverage of this rapidly developing subject area. In this respect it succeeds. The 10 chapters are provided with copious references which could take the reader further into the subject. Barrow starts with a brief chapter summarising the nature and use of impact assessment. Subsequent chapters develop aspects of this opening theme. The second chapter is a most comprehensive overview of techniques that interface with impact assessment. This leads on to chapters on policy and management, the impact process and techniques in analysis. These chapters are based on environmental impact analysis. The remaining chapters form an eclectic mixture. A brief history of the subject is followed by the use of impact assessment in developing nations, social impact (a single chapter despite the book's title), application of impact assessment and impact assessment in the future.

This book might well appeal to several audiences. As an overview it provides good coverage of the topic. Anyone concerned with impact assessment could take the subject further from here. Teachers wanting to provide students with project ideas will find numerous ideas which can be adapted. There are some problem areas such as the lack of social impact analysis (although it is a poorly researched field) and some analysis (e.g. the Three Gorges Project in China) don't always tally with other writers but overall this is a fine attempt to summarise a notoriously individualistic topic.