This book is about the cowboy way of life in the Oklahoma panhandle between about, 1970 and 1980, not long ago.
The author follows his own daily journal as ranch manager of a 5000 acre cattle ranch through four years.

The chapters describe the day-to-day activities as well as the seasonal rythms of the work, and the quirky weather of the region.

The stories are all very interesting. The fact that the happenings and the people and even the horses and cattle were all real, not fictional characters makes it all the more interesting, even useful as a historical perspective of that area and time period, just a few decades ago.

The author impresses the reader that the way of life is both hard and addictive. He points out that cowboys love their horses but not the cattle, and that they rely on close friends, usually on neighboring ranches, especially at roundup time.

As their lives are closely tied to their horses, it is natural that the last 20 pages or so involve the four horses used on the ranch and their futures.

This is an outstanding book to get to undeerstand the cowboy actual lifestyle and to know the Oklahoma and Texas panhandle. ( )