John F. Richards

About the Author

John F. Richards is a distinguished historian specializing in environmental and world history, with a career spanning decades of rigorous scholarship at Duke University, where he served as a professor and director of the Trent Center for Bioethics, Humanities, and History of Medicine. His work explores the intricate relationships between human societies and the natural world, particularly the economic and ecological impacts of global trade and resource exploitation. In World Hunt: An Environmental History of the Commodification of Animals (California World History Library), Richards delves into the historical commodification of wildlife, tracing its evolution from early modern hunting practices to contemporary conservation challenges. A recipient of numerous awards, including the Beveridge Prize from the American Historical Association, Richards' research illuminates the long-term consequences of humanity's dominion over animal populations, offering critical insights for understanding today's environmental crises.