Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness by Edward Abbey Summary and Reviews
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Book Reviews of Desert Solitaire: A Season in the Wilderness
Book Review: A spectacular representation of Southern Utah....
Summary: 5 Stars
Reading Desert Solitare was like revisiting The Desert of Southern Utah. The commentary brought back vivid images of Arches National Park, Dead Horse Point, and the entrire Canyonlands Region. This book is a must read for anyone planning a trip to Southern Utah, or any student of the Physical ScienceBook Review: A tantalizing experience of the outdoors with aggression!
Summary: 5 Stars
Superb! I loved his description of the desert and how it used to be. Being from Utah, I have visited the sites many times and it's cool to compare the differences. I think that his rude demeanor and aggressiveness are due to the fact that he was sexually deprived being alone in the desert. However, there were those gopher snakes . . .Book Review: A voice crying in the wilderness
Summary: 5 Stars
This is one of only four or five books that I can say truly impacted my life. Many years ago my boss saw me reading "The Monkey Wrench Gang" (which did not significantly impress me). He suggested "Desert Solitaire" as a much better example of Edward Abbey's work. I took his recommendation seriously, and have been thankful to him ever since.
Having grown up in Idaho I had done a fair amount of backpacking in the mountains and forests, and I was somewhat of an outdoor enthusiast at the time. But the thought of recreating in the desert never held much allure to me--until I read this book. Now I make at least a couple of backpacking/camping trips per year into the desert. I still love the mountains, lakes, rivers, and forests, but I now know that the deserts are also full of wonder.
My favorite chapter told about Abbey's trip to Havasu Creek and Falls. While reading about it I remember saying to myself, "There can't possibly really be a place like this". I determined that I would find out if such a place actually existed and if it was as wonderful as Abbey described it. A few years ago I made the trip to Havasu Falls, and I found that the author's description of the place was perfect.
Not only did this book help me to appreciate the desert for what it is, it taught me to appreciate non-fiction writing in general and nature writing in particular--things I thought I did not care for previously. I highly recommend this book to anyone who has an appreciation for the outdoors.
Book Review: A witty, intelligent book written by a man.
Summary: 5 Stars
If you've ever visited the four corners region of the country, you know the irresistable romantic lure Abbey talks about in this book. Utter isolation is really what this book is about, and no matter what level of outdoors preson you are, you'll have no problem empathizing with what Abbey has to say. Great Book.Book Review: Abbey Lives!
Summary: 5 Stars
There's not a whole lot I can add to all of the reviews posted thus far, so I'll keep this brief. Abbey was ahead of his time in foreseeing the problems that would overtake not only the canyonlands area, but the nation and the world. He wasn't afraid to speak honestly, even if it meant exposing the sometimes contradictory nature that was inherent in Abbey (and that is present in all of us). While some of Abbey's other books were perhaps not up to par, Desert Solitaire is truly a great book. Some have said that it has the power to change lives. I can attest to this personally, because it changed mine.