The Retreat of The Elephants-An Environmental History of China is the first such history of China to encompass the three thousand years for which there are written records. In the May|June '04 issue of Orion Magazine, reviewer David Lukas writes,

Ranging from countless specific examples to thought-provoking ruminations, Elvin meticulously details the ecological consequences of economic growth in Chinese civilization. The chapters titled "War and the Logic of Short-term Advantage," and "Water and the Costs of System Sustainability" are chillingly resonant in our current political climate-even though the events Elvin describes took place thousands of years ago... Elvin really excels at supporting his arguments with marvelous examples, often quoting ancient poety and song to construct the story of Chinese environmental history...Elvin seeks to divine the perceptions that led to both the destruction and deification of the natural environment.