Wallace Stegner is truly timeless!

His works have withstood the test of time, and the topics he explored 30 years ago remain highly relevant today.

Stegner had a remarkable ability to capture the essence of human nature, the challenges of modern life, and the importance of the environment.

His stories and novels continue to resonate with readers, provoking thought and inspiring discussions about the world we live in.

Whether it's the struggle for identity, the impact of technology, or the need for conservation, Stegner's words offer valuable insights and perspectives.

His writing style is engaging and accessible, making his works enjoyable for a wide range of readers.

Wallace Stegner's contributions to literature are significant, and his legacy will continue to influence generations to come.

What's not to like about Wallace Stegner?

He is truly a remarkable individual. Not only is he a brilliant writer, but he is also an activist, a great teacher and mentor, and a literary gem of the West.

This collection of essays is a treasure trove. It delves into our relationship with the natural world, explores the rise of the environmental movement, offers commentary on other great writers, and includes, my personal favorite, a letter to his mother "much too late," penned when he was an old man.

The fact that an old man can look back at his life and admire his mother with such tenderness and honesty speaks volumes about his humility and clear-sightedness.

I have been reading this collection intermittently since I was a teenager. However, it is this letter to his mother that I return to most often. Especially now that I am a mother myself and need to be reminded of what truly matters in the world and the people who have a lasting impact on me.

It is, without a doubt, one of the most moving pieces of writing I have ever had the pleasure of reading.

I truly adored this thought-provoking compilation of essays regarding living and writing in the West. Composed in 1990, I am left to wonder what Stegner would opine today about the velocity at which we interchange information. I was especially enamored with his essay on Sense of Place:

“The profound ecologists caution us against being anthropocentric. However, I am cognizant of no other means to view the world, whether settled or wild, save through my own human eyes. I am aware that it was not fabricated specifically for my utilization, and I bear a share of the culpability for what members of my species, particularly the migratory ones, have inflicted upon it. Nevertheless, I am the sole instrument to which I have access by which I can relish the world and endeavor to comprehend it. Therefore, I must坚信 that, at least from a human perspective, a place is not a place until people have been born within it, have matured in it, have dwelt in it, known it, and passed away in it - have both experienced and molded it, as individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities, over more than one generation. Some are born in their place, some discover it, and some realize after an extensive search that the place they departed is the very one they have been seeking. But regardless of their relationship to it, it is rendered a place only by a gradual accretion, similar to a coral reef.”

I will almost read every single work that Wallace Stegnar writes.

This is a charming book of essays that has made me contemplate the West, water, and Mormonism from a completely different perspective.

The sole reason it doesn't receive 5 stars is that his message becomes a bit repetitive.

The West is sacred, it lacks abundant water, and our current approach to the land is not sustainable - we understand all that.

Nevertheless, there are some truly beautiful and wonderful essays that should be read while relaxing in a hammock in the backyard or on the banks of a river while waiting to catch fish.

Regrettably, I don't possess a hammock and I'm not overly fond of fishing, so I ended up reading it in bed.

Oh well.

Timeless

His words about our ravenous gorging on scarce resources remain as relevant today as they were when he first spoke them. In a world where the demand for resources seems insatiable, his message serves as a powerful reminder of the consequences of our actions. We continue to consume natural resources at an alarming rate, often without considering the long-term implications. This unrestrained appetite for resources not only threatens the delicate balance of our ecosystem but also puts the future of our planet at risk. His insights into our behavior are truly timeless, as they have the potential to guide us towards a more sustainable future. By heeding his words and taking steps to reduce our consumption and protect our resources, we can ensure that future generations will inherit a world that is rich in both natural beauty and opportunity.

Some of the essays were truly outstanding,展现出了很高的水准和独特的视角。

However, others, particularly those that focused on the aridity and barrenness of the American West, seemed rather dated. It was as if they were written in a bygone era and failed to capture the current essence and dynamism of that region.

The descriptions of the arid landscapes and the lack of development felt a bit one-sided and did not take into account the many changes and progress that have occurred over the years.

Overall, the collection of essays had its strengths and weaknesses, and while some were excellent, the dated nature of others detracted from the overall quality. I would rate it 3.5 stars.

Combination memoir, essays and stories offer a unique and captivating exploration. They give us a remarkable good insight into Stegner's world view, which is firmly focused on the American west and environmental concerns. Through his works, we can vividly envision the vast landscapes, the unique cultures, and the challenges faced by the people in the American west. Stegner's nonfiction work serves as an excellent sample, allowing readers to experience his deep understanding and passion for this region. His words paint a detailed picture of the natural beauty that exists there, while also highlighting the importance of protecting the environment. Whether it's through his personal memoirs or his thought-provoking essays and stories, Stegner's work leaves a lasting impression and encourages us to think more deeply about our relationship with the American west and the environment.

Classic nature writing has a unique charm that combines historical significance and poetic beauty.

It takes us on a journey through time, allowing us to experience the wonders of nature as it has been witnessed and described by great writers throughout history.

The words used in nature writing are often carefully chosen to paint a vivid picture in our minds, making us feel as if we are actually present in the natural landscapes being described.

Each section of a nature writing piece can stand alone, offering a distinct perspective or moment of inspiration.

Whether it's a description of a beautiful sunrise over a mountain range, the sounds of a forest at night, or the delicate beauty of a flower, nature writing has the power to touch our hearts and souls.

It reminds us of the importance of protecting the natural world and allows us to connect with the beauty and wonder that surrounds us.

Although I didn't finish reading this particular piece of nature writing, I was still able to appreciate the historical and poetic value it held.

I look forward to exploring more of this genre and uncovering the many treasures it has to offer.

I know this book is about Wallace Stegner’s stance on the west and conservation. However, what really touched me was his letter to his mother. He described losing a parent at a young age in such a beautiful way.

From a letter much too late:

“My name was the last word you spoke, your faith in me and love for me were your last thoughts. I could bear them no better than I could bear your death…”

“I knew you could no longer see my face, that you spoke from a clouded, drugged dream, that I had already faded to a memory that you clung to even while you waned from life. I knew that it was love speaking, not you, that you had already gone, that your love lasted longer than you yourself did. And I had some dim awareness that as you went away you laid on me an immense and unavoidable obligation. I would never get over trying, however badly or sadly or confusedly to be what you thought I was.”

“Your kind of love once given, is never lost. You are alive and luminous in my head. Except when I fail you listen, you will speak through me when I face some crisis of feeling or sympathy or consideration for others. You are a curb on my natural impatience and competitiveness and arrogance.”

“I was twenty-four, still a schoolboy when you died, but I have lived with you more than three times twenty-four years. Self-obsessed, sports crazy or book crazy or girl crazy, I never got around to telling you during your lifetime how much you meant.”

“But I was not intelligent enough to comprehend the kind of example you had been setting me, until it was too late to do anything but hold your hand while you died.”

This whole essay is beautiful, and I cried when I read it. The way he talks about his mom and loss is worded so well.

I also enjoyed the way he spoke about conservation. It makes me grateful to live next to Lake Erie. He talked at the very beginning about how someone’s identity is usually formed by the world around them and how he knows who he is because of the nights he spent under the stars. I feel envious of his ability to know who he is from the stars above his head and from what the world has taught him. I don't feel as wise or as close to the earth as I'd like to be.

Where Stegner finds himself in the world around him, I find myself in the people I surround myself with. It made me think about how I wish I was more in-tune with the earth or more well-balanced between society and nature.

Anyways, these essays were refreshing and beautiful to read, and I really enjoyed them.

Some more quotes I enjoyed:

Thoughts in a dry land

“I really only want to say that we may love a place and still be dangerous to it. We ought to file that environmental impact study before we undertake anything that exploits or alters or endangers the splendid, spacious, varied, magnificent, and terribly fragile earth that supports us”

A capsule of history of conservation

“The Indians stressed the web of life, the interconnectedness of land and man and creature. Chief Luther Standing Bear of the Oglala Sioux put it this way: only to the white man was nature a wilderness and only to him was the land infested with wild animals and savage people. To us it was tame. Earth was bountiful and we were surrounded with the blessings of the great mystery”

4.5 This is absolutely gorgeous nonfiction that explores the west from a variety of angles.

He provides such a literate and detailed explanation of my longing for home in the San Joaquin Valley.

With sheer talent, he manages to make the topics of preservation and the history of water rights into a real page turner.

He has the perfect words to describe the loss that comes with transient living.

And the review at the end of the book of one of his great novels is truly a treat.

Overall, he has made my life richer by presenting these fascinating and thought-provoking ideas.

His writing is engaging, his research is thorough, and his insights are profound.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in the west, in history, or in simply reading a great piece of nonfiction.

It will surely leave you with a new appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the world around us.

If you're a die-hard fan of Wallace Stegner or have an unwavering love for living in or visiting the West, then this book is an absolute must-read for you. Stegner's exquisitely crafted words carry with them a profound sense of the West's beauty, its desolation, the destruction that has befallen it, and its inherent fragility.

The book is neatly divided into three distinct parts. The first part is a deeply personal note penned by Stegner, addressed not only to the West he holds dear but also to his mother. If you've delved into his semi-autobiography, The Big Rock Candy Mountain, you'll have a vivid understanding of the arduous trials she endured with her rather difficult husband and how she managed to keep the family afloat as they traipsed from one place to another.

The next part is not merely a beautiful portrayal of the West but also a poignant reminder of how fragile the environment is and how perilously easy it is to devastate those places we cherish the most. Stegner was a conservationist through and through, and his arguments are spot-on.

Finally, Stegner handpicks some of his favorite (and mine too) authors of Western fiction and gives each of them their well-deserved recognition; Steinbeck, Stewart, Doig, Clark, and Berry. It's a bit odd that he didn't include A.B. Guthrie, one of the great luminaries of Western literature, although he does make a mention of Guthrie's The Big Sky.

One could peruse this book time and time again and discover something new and captivating each time.

Once again, we are treated to the excellent writing of Wallace Stegner. This collection brings together many of his most memorable works, providing yet another fascinating insight into the American psyche. It shows our lack of a proper conception regarding the need to protect Mother Earth. Stegner's words also offer profound insights into a writer's mind, process, and motivation. His works are not only a reflection of the American society but also a mirror of the human condition. Through his writing, we can see the complex emotions, the struggles, and the aspirations of the people. Stegner's ability to capture these elements and present them in a vivid and engaging manner is truly remarkable. This collection is a must-read for anyone who appreciates good literature and wants to gain a deeper understanding of the American experience.