The subject of this book seemed highly promising. After all, Wallace Stegner is widely regarded as a master in the field of literature. However, upon delving into the book, it became evident that it was overly burdened with research.

As a result, it read more like a dry and academic dissertation rather than the captivating nonfiction work that I had eagerly anticipated. The excessive amount of research details seemed to overshadow the narrative and the author's ability to engage the reader on a more personal and emotional level.

While the research itself may have been thorough and well-documented, it unfortunately detracted from the overall reading experience. It left me longing for a more fluid and accessible presentation of the subject matter, one that would draw me in and keep me hooked from beginning to end.

Despite Wallace Stegner's reputation, this particular book failed to meet my expectations due to its overwhelming emphasis on research.

I purchased this book at an NPS bookstore during our visit to the three national parks in east and central Utah.

The initial part vividly recounted the eventful journey of Powell and his team along the Green and Colorado rivers and through the Grand Canyon in 1869.

The second half detailed Powell's influence in Washington as the director of the National Geologic Survey.

I empathize with Powell's realism regarding the challenges that the arid West presented for development, in contrast to the more optimistic promotion of those who believed it could be settled just like the Midwest.

However, I do think the author has a hint of the Steinbeck "Grapes of Wrath" bias, assuming that federal scientists and bureaucrats always have the public's best interests at heart.

The book was written in the 1950s, prior to the popularity of "public choice" analysis.

Nevertheless, the book remains well worth reading as it provides valuable insights into the history and development of the American West.

It's truly a challenging task to determine what rating to assign to this book.

Certainly, there were some thrilling aspects, such as the whitewater exploration into uncharted canyons, which had the power to grip the reader's attention. However, a significantly larger portion of the book was rather dry and plodding.

All those sections that delved into how John Wesley Powell managed to obtain funding (or not) and the government's squabbles over the merit of the geological survey made for a long and somewhat tiresome read. It was like wading through a never-ending chronology of bureaucracy.

Overall, I can't truthfully say that I "enjoyed" this book. Nevertheless, I must admit that I learned an enormous amount from it, and I have a great deal of respect for it. Wallace Stegner is an outstanding writer, and there were passages within the book that were crafted with absolute perfection.

Moreover, the parts that dealt with governmental disagreements and conflicts among stakeholders were uncannily familiar. Even though this book was written in the 1950s, based on events from the late 1800s, we are still engaged in so many of the same arguments and fighting the same water wars in the American West. John Wesley Powell was frustratingly far-sighted.

I have a profound love for Stephen Ambrose's book "Undaunted Courage" which chronicles Lewis and Clark's cross country expedition via the Missouri and the Columbia Rivers. So, when I came across a book about John Wesley Powell's exploration down the Colorado River, it was an absolute no-brainer for me to pick it up.

I myself have had the privilege of being on the Colorado River twice. Once, as a child, I went on a thrilling white water rafting trip in the Grand Canyon. And again, as an adult, I took a more leisurely float trip in Arches National Park. Recently, I had yet another encounter with the Colorado River, this time from above, at the breathtaking Horseshoe Bend just outside the Navajo Reservation in Page, Arizona. Having experienced that river and witnessed those magnificent canyon walls up close has significantly enhanced my enjoyment of this adventure.

The second half of the book delved into the aftermath of the excursion and Powell's arduous battles with Washington. It appears from other reviews that many people lost interest at this point. However, personally, I find the intrigues and backstabbing in politics to be quite fascinating, and thus I also relished this part of the book. Nevertheless, ultimately, this section did seem to drag on a bit too long, which led to my decision to rate the book 3 stars.

A Thrilling Journey into the Last Unexplored Wilderness of the West

This book takes readers on a captivating adventure through the untamed west. It is filled with inspiring quotes that offer profound insights.

One such quote emphasizes the continuous process of self-education. The protagonist learns not only while awake but even in his sleep. He absorbs knowledge from every source, be it books, acquaintances, or experiences. Facts don't just stick randomly in his mind like stray flies on fly-paper. Instead, they are organized like iron filings around magnetic poles or ions around anode and cathode in an electrolytic bath. Order is an essential part of his learning process, a result of his ability to discriminate. What he said about Spencer Baird of the Smithsonian could truly be said of himself. In the modern scientific world, which is often buried under a mountain of meaningless observations and facts, he has the ability to see the diamonds among the sands.

Another quote highlights the difference between verifiable knowledge and fable. Verifiable knowledge progresses slowly and requires cultivation. In contrast, fable has various means of传播, like burrs, feet, claws, wings, and an indestructible sheath like weed-seed. It can be carried almost anywhere and take root without the need for soil or water.

These quotes add depth and richness to the story, making it a truly engaging read.

I’m truly glad that all the historians, geologists, ethnologists, and others in related fields have a deep love for this book. However, having approached it as a fan of Stegner’s fiction, I have to be honest and say that I found it a little too dry for my liking. In fact, I might as well admit that it was rather boring for my personal taste.

I did enjoy certain aspects of it, such as some of the adventures of those rank amateurs who courageously set out to explore America’s great West. Their stories were filled with excitement and a sense of discovery. Additionally, I was quite taken with the first photos and paintings of the Grand Canyon. The Grand Canyon is so large and cavernous that it is almost impossible to fully take in its grandeur.

Nevertheless, despite these interesting elements, I could not bring myself to finish the book. Maybe it was the overly academic style or the lack of a more engaging narrative that made it a bit of a struggle for me to get through. But I do understand that different people have different preferences when it comes to reading materials, and this book may be a treasure trove of knowledge and inspiration for others.

This is my April book club book. However, I was eager to read it right away as I had to borrow it from the library. I had some prior knowledge about John Wesley Powell. I've attended lectures at our history museum regarding his journey down the Colorado River. But what truly amazed me was what he did after that. If politics hadn't suppressed some of his ideas, the west might not have been settled in the way it was, and the water issue might not have become as significant as it is today. In Stegner's book, Powell is depicted as a fascinating individual with a voracious thirst for knowledge and the ability to delegate tasks to his talented subordinates. I couldn't help but draw parallels between today's Congress and the men who hindered Powell's vision over 125 years ago.

This book is not a light and quick read, but it was extremely enjoyable. It offers valuable insights into a significant period of American history and the remarkable figure of John Wesley Powell. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in history, politics, or the development of the American West.

Wallace Stegner is truly one of my all-time favorite authors.

However, this was the very first non-fiction book of his that I had the pleasure of reading, and it most definitely did not disappoint.

I had absolutely no idea about the significant influence that John Wesley Powell had and could have potentially had if he had remained in legislative power for a longer period of time.

I gained a great deal from this book, but my main takeaways are as follows.

Firstly, he had only one arm! Yet, he managed to undertake amazing expeditions, climb mountains, collect specimens, and was even considered a "bully of a man" by those who accompanied him on his expeditions.

Secondly, Colonel Powell was the first to explore and map the Colorado and Green Rivers in the Rocky Mountains. He played a crucial role in dispelling the myth that there was a continuous and calm body of water that extended all the way to the Pacific Ocean. (The description of his expedition is found in the first 1/3 of the book; reading just that part alone is extremely fulfilling.)

Thirdly, he made intense efforts to catalog and record Native American languages and customs. He had the opportunity to encounter a few tribes who had never seen white men before, and he was both fascinated and respectful of their way of life. Without his enthusiasm as an ethnographer, we would not have the rare collection of Native American artifacts in the Smithsonian.

Finally, he realized that the wild West was not like England; it was mostly a desert and needed to be treated as such. Many people disbelieved him, and those in politics actively thwarted his efforts at water conservation and planning. If his policies had been implemented, there most likely would never have been the dust bowl of the 1930s. He also tried to keep the land out of the hands of big companies and in the possession of small farmers. Stegner does an outstanding job of highlighting the little remembered, yet truly incredible, work of John Wesley Powell. I'm really glad that I persevered and finished the book, even though it took me a few checkouts.

At times as dry as the land it discusses, this book is more a biography of John Wesley Powell, or perhaps hagiography. Powell was the one-armed amateur scientist who rapidly transformed into a selfless and skilled bureaucrat. His vision for the American West was unfortunately denied by Congress and the settlers of the West.

The first part of the book focuses on Powell's expeditions, while the latter part details his work in DC, managing numerous surveys and agencies. Surprisingly, the second part is highly instructive and interesting, more so than the tiresome recounting of every mile of the discovery trips. Congress in the 1880s and 1890s seems just like today's Congress, with lots of talk of anti-science and government encroachment on states' rights and the individual's right to be. If they had heeded Powell's advice, the American West would be very different.

It took me over two months to read this book. It's one of those books that you're glad to have read but won't revisit. However, it's essential in any library on the American West. Stegner's prose is engaging, and Powell was clearly one of his heroes. Powell paved the way for Teddy Roosevelt and Gordon Pinchot, but he was just one man against a sea of selfish and impatient interests. He was an interesting man who appears almost saint-like in this retelling. Sadly, his contributions to reclamation are overshadowed by his status as an explorer. He was also a cultural anthropologist and a philosopher.

The high desert, red rock canyon country of south-east Utah was the last part of the contiguous United States to be mapped, and there was a good reason for that. This region is extremely harsh, with blistering heat and difficult terrain that makes it challenging to navigate on foot, by horse, boat, or even a jeep. Powell was the first (white) explorer to attempt to map this area, including its rivers, mountains, and plateaus.

This book chronicles that history and also follows Powell's political career over several decades. He tried to convince Congress and the public, who were eager for the Homestead Act, that agricultural farming would not work in vast areas of the arid, desert West. However, he failed, and it wasn't until decades later that the US Government began to understand his points. Powell predicted the subsequent water war that has persisted and intensified in the last 15 or 20 years, over 150 years ago. He knew precisely what would happen to the lands of the West if farming and ranching were left unchecked and the water resources were not protected.

The most exciting part of this book is the first 150 pages, where Powell and a small group of adventurers travel along the Green River from Wyoming through the Uintas and eastern Utah, eventually meeting up with the Grand/Colorado River and continuing through southeast Utah and northern Arizona, running the Grand Canyon, and ending up in the tip of Nevada. His descriptions are amazing and, in many ways, a love letter to the red rock country that he holds so dear. The rest of the book is more political, detailing the history of homesteading and immigration through the western United States, including bits of the wars, treaties, and the decimation of the Native American tribes, as well as a lot of congressional arguments, acts, and vetoes that led to the "opening" and settlement of the West. Stegner wrote this in the 1950s, and it is fascinating to see how much still holds true 75 years later in the fight for water and other essential resources in the hot desert mesas and mountains.

Verifiable knowledge makes its way slowly, and only under cultivation.

However, fable has burrs and feet and claws and wings and an indestructible sheath like weed-seed. It can be carried almost anywhere and take root without the benefit of soil or water.

Wallace Stegner, already perhaps America's best writer of fiction, has here written a terrific history of the geological survey of the arid West and a partial biography of John Wesley Powell.

Stegner's main focus is on maintaining that the West was opened only after men of science like Powell were able to impose order and reason on the fantastical images of the West conjured by men like William Gilpin, Charles Wilber, and even Thomas Jefferson. Those men believed that the agricultural potential of places like west Texas, Utah, and the Dakotas was essentially limitless, that the "rain follows the plow" and that the aridity could be undone by determined homesteading.

Surveyors and scientists like Powell resisted these fantasies through careful and devoted study. Stegner, obviously an admirer of Powell's, devotes much of this book to characterizing Powell as an embodiment of reason, standing stalwart against the popularizers of Manifest Destiny.

I came away from it with a renewed appreciation for the importance of caution and critical thinking in evaluating ideas. Thousands embraced the stories of an idyllic west because they felt good and were fun to believe, while the truth was complicated and unglorious. We must always be vigilant in distinguishing fact from fiction and use reason and evidence to guide our understanding of the world.

Adventure in nature and adventure in bureaucracy could be the subtitle of this remarkable book.

The first portion takes us on a thrilling journey down the Colorado River with John Wesley Powell as he undertakes the arduous task of charting it for the very first time. The vivid descriptions make one yearn to see this adventure brought to life on the big screen. The first part of the book further unfolds as he leads additional excursions to the west. Despite lacking a formal education, Powell manages to ascend to the ranks of one of the great scientists of the 19th century.

The second part of the book delves into Powell's foray into the world of government bureaucracy. He becomes the head of one, then two, and ultimately three government scientific institutions. His adventure now lies in securing funding from Congress to carry out what he believes is right for the American people, particularly the settlers in the west. The political shenanigans in Congress were in full swing during the 1880s and 90s, adding another layer of complexity to Powell's endeavors.

Stenger's writing is a true delight, beautifully crafted and highly descriptive. This is the third book I have had the pleasure of reading by him, but the first non-fiction work. It is undoubtedly a first-rate read that captivates from start to finish.