"A passionately felt, deeply poetic book. It has philosophy. It has humor. It has its share of nerve-tingling adventures...set down in a lean, racing prose, in a close-knit style of power and beauty."
THE NEW YORK TIMES BOOKREVIEW
Edward Abbey lived for three seasons in the desert at Moab, Utah, and what he discovered about the land before him, the world around him, and the heart that beat within, is a fascinating, sometimes raucous, always personal account of a place that has already disappeared, but is worth remembering and living through again and again.
This book appears to be beautifully written, thought provoking, and inspiring when Edward Abbey speaks of the beautiful lands and animals he has the blessed opportunity to live with. However, I get the feeling that he feels only a certain standard of people should get to experience the public lands of America. He praises experienced campers, outdoorsmen, and those who frequently commune with nature. Sadly, not everyone can live this life. People have disabilities, time constraints, lack of money, among other things. Grouping these people into the stereotype of the naive and bumbling American tourist is wrong. Not everyone can hike for weeks on end or attempt to tame a wild horse in the blazing desert of Utah. For some people, all they can do to create a personal connection with nature is drive to a place, take pictures, and maybe walk around. There is no shame in that. For our public lands to be protected, Americans must create a personal connection to nature. Reserving this connection to a limited few contradicts Abbey’s efforts in environmentalism, in my opinion.
