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Red: Passion and Patience in the Desert

terry tempest williams

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The beloved author of Refuge, Terry Tempest Williams is one of the country's most eloquent and imaginative writers. The desert is her blood. In this potent collage of stories, essays, and testimony, Red makes a stirring case for the preservation of America's Redrock Wilderness in the canyon country of southern Utah.

As passionate as she is persuasive, Williams writes lyrically about the desert's power and vulnerability, describing wonders that range from an ancient Puebloan sash of macaw feathers found in Canyonlands National Park to the desert tortoise—an animal that can "teach us the slow art of revolutionary patience" as it extends our notion of kinship with all life. She examines the civil war being waged in the West today over public and private uses of land—an issue that divides even her own family. With grace, humor, and compassionate intelligence, Williams reminds us that the preservation of wildness is not simply a political process but a spiritual one.

"Lush elegies to the wilderness.... Earthy, spiritual, evocative." —The Boston Globe

"Erotic, scientific, literary.... Her intimacy with this landscape is complex and passionate." —Los Angeles Times Book Review

"Her finest writing... Use[s] pure language in the face of laws that need to be changed and lawmakers and citizens who need to understand that there is another way to see." —Portland Oregonian

288 pages, Paperback

First published September 11,2001

This edition

Format
288 pages, Paperback
Published
October 8, 2002 by Vintage
ISBN
9780375725180
ASIN
0375725180
Language
English

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About the author

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terry tempest williams

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Terry Tempest Williams is an American author, conservationist and activist. Williams' writing is rooted in the American West and has been significantly influenced by the arid landscape of her native Utah in which she was raised. Her work ranges from issues of ecology and wilderness preservation, to women's health, to exploring our relationship to culture and nature.

She has testified before Congress on women's health, committed acts of civil disobedience in the years 1987 - 1992 in protest against nuclear testing in the Nevada Desert, and again, in March, 2003 in Washington, D.C., with Code Pink, against the Iraq War. She has been a guest at the White House, has camped in the remote regions of the Utah and Alaska wildernesses and worked as "a barefoot artist" in Rwanda.

Williams is the author of Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place; An Unspoken Hunger: Stories from the Field; Desert Quartet; Leap; Red: Patience and Passion in the Desert; and The Open Space of Democracy. Her book Finding Beauty in a Broken World was published in 2008 by Pantheon Books.

In 2006, Williams received the Robert Marshall Award from The Wilderness Society, their highest honor given to an American citizen. She also received the Distinguished Achievement Award from the Western American Literature Association and the Wallace Stegner Award given by The Center for the American West. She is the recipient of a Lannan Literary Award for Nonfictionand a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship in creative nonfiction. Williams was featured in Ken Burns' PBS series The National Parks: America's Best Idea (2009). In 2011, she received the 18th International Peace Award given by the Community of Christ Church.

Williams is currently the Annie Clark Tanner Scholar in Environmental Humanities at the University of Utah and a columnist for the magazine The Progressive. She has been a Montgomery Fellow at Dartmouth College where she continues to teach. She divides her time between Wilson, Wyoming and Castle Valley, Utah, where her husband Brooke is field coordinator for the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

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Community Reviews

Rating(4.2 / 5.0, 100 votes)
5 stars
41(41%)
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34(34%)
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100 reviews All reviews
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Tiny_Ducc
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Terry has a truly lyrical way with words. Her descriptions are so vivid and enchanting that they make you immediately want to immerse yourself in the vast and mysterious desert.

As you read her words, you can feel deep feelings of oneness with the land welling up inside you. It's as if you can sense the ancient spirit of the desert and its connection to all living things.

Terry's writing also inspires a strong sense of duty within you. It makes you realize the importance of understanding this unique ecosystem, protecting it from harm, respecting its beauty and power, and communicating its significance to others.

Her words have the power to touch your heart and soul, and to make you see the desert in a whole new light. You can't help but be drawn in by her passion and her love for this remarkable place.

Terry's lyrical prose is a gift that allows us to experience the desert in all its glory, even if we've never set foot in it. It's a reminder of the beauty and wonder that exists in the world around us, and of our responsibility to protect it for future generations.

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reijubluntsmoke
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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Utah is truly a remarkable place. The article I read was beautifully written, and it had a profound impact on me. It made me see Utah in a whole new light and appreciate its many wonderful aspects.

Before reading the article, I often found myself complaining about certain things in Utah. But now, I realize that I was overlooking the beauty and charm that this state has to offer.

The article described the stunning landscapes, from the majestic mountains to the vast deserts. It also mentioned the unique culture and history that can be found here. These details made me understand that Utah is much more than just a place to live.

I am now more determined than ever to explore Utah and discover all that it has to offer. I want to hike in the mountains, visit the national parks, and learn more about the local history and culture.

Thanks to the beautifully written article, I have a newfound appreciation for Utah and a desire to make the most of my time here.
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RooWrld
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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She has a unique way of mixing the environment with eroticism.

Her approach is truly captivating and has a profound impact on me.

It makes me see the landscape in a whole new light and inspires me to care about it just as much as she does.

The way she combines these two elements creates a sense of allure and beauty that is impossible to ignore.

It makes me realize that the environment can be not only a source of natural beauty but also a place where passion and desire can thrive.

Her work has opened my eyes to the hidden potential of the landscape and has motivated me to take a more active role in protecting and preserving it.

I am truly inspired by her and her ability to merge the seemingly disparate worlds of the environment and eroticism.

It is a powerful combination that has the potential to change the way we view and interact with the natural world around us.
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VaultBoy03
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I read this immediately after finishing Terry's latest book, "When Women Were Birds."

Having been completely transformed by that incredible narrative, as well as by "Refuge" many years ago, I was cautious not to set myself up for disappointment with high expectations about this book.

However, from the very beginning, I found myself deeply immersed in it. I couldn't help but take notes and spend a great deal of time pondering over many of its sections.

In fact, I was so engaged that I even shared parts of it with a friend of mine, and we ended up discussing it for hours on end.

While there were a few chapters that didn't quite captivate me as much as others, overall, the book delivered its message powerfully and remained true to its title.

It had such a profound impact on me that it even inspired me to write one of the best songs I have ever written.

I truly find Terry's writing to be a guiding force in my life. I firmly believe that she is one of the most inspired writers I have ever had the privilege of encountering.

Her deep connection to the earth, to herself, and to the people in her life serves as a remarkable example to me.

Her words have the ability to touch the deepest parts of my soul and make me see the world in a whole new light.

I am forever grateful for the gift of her writing and look forward to whatever she has in store for us next.

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rummikab
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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The desert has had a profound impact on me. It is like a mirror that allows you to face yourself. TTW captures this essence perfectly.

This book is an absolute must-read for desert dwellers, those who have a general love for nature, and anyone who is in the process of confronting their inner self.

In this era of the Trump administration, this book takes on even greater significance. It has the power to empower people to speak up for others, not just our fellow humans but also our non-human and inanimate family in the wilderness.

It serves as a reminder that we are all interconnected and that we have a responsibility to protect and advocate for those who cannot speak for themselves.

The desert, with its harsh beauty and unforgiving environment, teaches us valuable lessons about resilience, self-discovery, and the importance of listening to the whispers of our souls.

TTW's book encapsulates these lessons and presents them in a way that is both engaging and thought-provoking.

It is a literary gem that will leave a lasting impression on anyone who reads it.
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TRYIO
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I was a huge fan of When Women Were Birds, T-T-Dub's other remarkable book. Even when I read this particular work while camping and traipsing through the red rock canyons of Zion and Utah, it left me feeling a bit cooler than When Women Were Birds.

The overall narrative consists of a more anthologized collection of elements such as articles, testimonies, short stories, and more. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it makes it harder for me to extract some profound and elusive meaning.

I did appreciate her reflections on why she writes, the sensual and erotic aspects of nature, and her respect for the history and the people who have inhabited the lands she loves for so long.

However, the language that hovers between the ineffable and the material, the spiritual aspects of her desert temple, had less of an impact on me in this book compared to previous ones. Even in the midst of the slick rock and the awe-inspiring heights of the Grand Canyon and Zion National Park, I didn't sense the power of the words as strongly as I had before.

Perhaps it was because I was experiencing it firsthand and didn't require a book for that connection. Or maybe T-T-Dub's words didn't nourish me as well as I had anticipated. In any case, I simply liked this book. There's nothing more to it.
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Kraanerg
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I witnessed the blue light of winter cascading across the valley.

A part of me had an urge to leap, not due to despair, but out of pure joy.

It is a rather challenging impulse to put into words, yet I am convinced it has something to do with the sensation of feeling extremely small and extremely large simultaneously.

The desert heat had a profound effect on the group, loosening both their muscles and their spirits.

Gradually, joy crept in and filled their boots, as if it were a tangible presence.

It was a moment of pure bliss, a respite from the hardships and challenges they had faced.

The heat seemed to have a magical quality, transforming their state of mind and bringing a sense of peace and contentment.

They stood there,沐浴在沙漠的阳光下，感受着那份独特的温暖和喜悦。

It was a memory that would stay with them forever, a reminder of the beauty and power of nature.

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ShiionKoro
★ ★ ★ ★ ★
July 15,2025
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I re-read this book a decade after originally reading it, and I realize now how much Terry’s words have had a profound impact on shaping my own spirituality over time.

This remarkable book has truly endured as a kind of Bible for me. It is a treasure trove of poetry and prose that not only guides my morals but also gives a powerful voice to my values. It constantly reminds me of my deep and essential interconnectedness with the earth and all its wonderful creatures.

“Red” has rekindled and reinvigorated my love for Terry Tempest Williams. Her words have the ability to touch the soul and open our eyes to the beauty and importance of the world around us. I am now filled with a newfound excitement and anticipation as I look forward to checking out more of her works from my local library. I can’t wait to explore the depths of her writing and continue to be inspired by her unique perspective and powerful insights.

I am certain that each new book will be a journey of discovery and growth, further enriching my spiritual and intellectual life.
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