Technical Abstract: The 2007 volume, “Old Fields: Dynamics and Restoration of Abandoned Farmland”, edited by VA Cramer and RJ Hobbs and published by the Society for Ecological Restoration International (Island Press), is a valuable attempt to synthesize a dozen case studies on agricultural abandonment from all of the major agricultural regions except Asia. The editors review developments in ecological theory such as state and transition models and systems models that may be useful in this synthesis, but do not fully employ them for that purpose. Their overall conclusion was that no single environmental, cultural or biotic factor was universal in its effect, nor did temperate, tropical and Mediterranean regions respond similarly after abandonment. Many of the foundation ecological concepts from early studies in temperate humid regions did not translate well to other areas.