Edward Abbey (1927–1989)

This was a stubborn tear-jerker. When the old man says he's going to stay on his ranch until he dies, you just know he's going to die. The question is, will he buckle under to the sheriff & the military who want to take over his ranch to run atomic tests? Will his grandson or his long-time friend stand by him? You can feel the respect they have for him, but how far can one person go? Who really has the right to 'own' and change (destroy) land?
Great descriptive writing that reminds me of some desert valleys and high mountain forests I have known.… (meer)

If you are a fan of books about nature and the National Parks, this book would be a good choice. Since it was published in 1968 and possibly based on writing from the late 1950s, this book does contain some seemingly outdated ideas and language. However, Abbey is quite passionate about nature and the "correct" way to protect and enjoy it. There is certainly value in the ideas that he expresses here even if some of the thoughts on the Navajo and other topics may be offensive to some readers. Once again the context of time needs to be considered and as always we don't have to like every idea we read in a book. In fact, disagreement with an author is what leads to new ideas and the formulation of our own ideas.… (meer)