Desert Solitaire

Although I have not spent much time in the desert, I feel like I want to after reading Desert Solitaire. If you enjoy reading beautiful descriptions of nature and incredible storytelling, interspersed with thoughtful comments about humankind (and how we have a tendency to mess up nature) this book is for you. I place Abbey's writing with that of Thoreau and Steinbeck - he is that good.

Edward Abbey uses a particular writing using brute honestly and sarcasm. He is an enjoyable writer (which is what he wanted to be from a movie we watched in class: his goal was to entertain). We only read certain chapters in the book, yet I found myself putting the rest of the book on my list to read later.

Great read! We miss Ed's observations of his beloved wild country and his scathing criticisms of civilization wanting to over-develop wild places!
Just imagine what Ed would say about the proposed Confluence gondola debacle... definitely not printable!!!

Enjoyed reading about the Arches National Monument in southern Utah, a place I would love to visit. Mr. Abbey gave an engaging account of the area and what life is like to spend a summer in the hot desert.

This is a classic. Abbey is known for his unwavering environmentalism, but the unexpected beauty of this book is his poetic descriptions of the desert landscape. If you haven't been to the high desert of the Colorado plateau already, this book will want to make you go there.

For fans of the desert southwest, if you have not yet discovered Edward Abbey, I heartily suggest you do...and start
with "Desert Solitaire." His writing is minimal, evoking visuals of Utah and its character.

Desert Solitaire is a profane delight. Abbey's style is cynical, sometimes borderline misogynistic, but always entertaining. He elegantly captures the tragedy of the receding wilderness, and offers a piercing critique of our mechanized consumer society. You will find prose that is crass, and prose that is intoxicating, in equal measure. I dare you to read this and not gain a deeper appreciation for the wild world we are swiftly burying alive.

Enjoyed reading about the Arches National Monument in southern Utah, a place I would love to visit. Mr. Abbey gave an engaging account of the area and what life is like to spend a summer in the hot desert.

This is a classic. Abbey is known for his unwavering environmentalism, but the unexpected beauty of this book is his poetic descriptions of the desert landscape. If you haven't been to the high desert of the Colorado plateau already, this book will want to make you go there.

For fans of the desert southwest, if you have not yet discovered Edward Abbey, I heartily suggest you do...and start
with "Desert Solitaire." His writing is minimal, evoking visuals of Utah and its character.

Desert Solitaire is a profane delight. Abbey's style is cynical, sometimes borderline misogynistic, but always entertaining. He elegantly captures the tragedy of the receding wilderness, and offers a piercing critique of our mechanized consumer society. You will find prose that is crass, and prose that is intoxicating, in equal measure. I dare you to read this and not gain a deeper appreciation for the wild world we are swiftly burying alive.

Abbey truly loved the high desert country and opposed rampant development. I agree with his point of view, especially when city folks moved to rural or semirural lands and demand big city conveniences at the expense of Mother Earth.

Abbey's prose is a bit unorthodox and curmudgeony at times, but I think that's why I enjoy it so much. You can see the passion he has for public lands and equally the disdain he shows for industrial tourism.

Recommended by a daughter who had just visited the area. Down to earth analysis of where we are going with our planet, and it's not very good. Beautiful use of language by Abbey, evokes gorgeous images and a yen for experiencing the outdoors.

Thirty years after my first reading of this book, I read it again on my Kindle. As moving and relevant as ever, a must read for anyone who loves the red rock country of the Colorado Plateau. Abbey's prescient observations still ring loud and clear. Down the River, his story about one of the last river runs before Glen Canyon Dam was plugged, let me live again my own life-changing Colorado River experiences.

More than just autobiographical musings from a young man, this telling narrative reflects on the relationship of human to nature, culture to wilderness. Yes, the descriptive passages are lovely but the passage of thought bouncing from readings to reality are the key to the impact this book can have on personal thought. It is a book that can change culture and for enviro activists a look into the history of the eco-activist movement.

A recent article on Grand Canyon quoted Abbey and triggered my need to read Desert Solitaire. How I wish authors of today could write with this skill and passion. Its been too long since my last visit to the desert. Abbey reminds me why we all need to return there.

I had to read this book for Environmental Studies. It was dry in some spots but in others I couldn't put the book down. The author rants about the government and he calls things out. It left me feeling sick many times, but as he said in the authors note in the beginning, "There is a way of being wrong which is also sometimes necessarily right".

A recent article on Grand Canyon quoted Abbey and triggered my need to read Desert Solitaire. How I wish authors of today could write with this skill and passion. Its been too long since my last visit to the desert. Abbey reminds me why we all need to return there.

I had to read this book for Environmental Studies. It was dry in some spots but in others I couldn't put the book down. The author rants about the government and he calls things out. It left me feeling sick many times, but as he said in the authors note in the beginning, "There is a way of being wrong which is also sometimes necessarily right".

A wonderful account of a rangers yrs time taking care of the Moab state park. It takes place when it was still virgin territory - meaning not over run by man but still being enjoyed in its natural Beaty by man. Wonderful insures on Indian life, cowboys etc. read it - you will enjoy it.

This book should be required reading for everyone. By far, this is one of my favorite books. There's alot to learn from this book. Abbey's insights into Industrial Tourism are great. His descriptions of locales stir the imagination. His radical propositon of new park rules make perfect sense. This is a book the folks in charge of our National Parks should be forced to read.

The vivid writing of Mr. Abbey kept Desert Solitaire on the tips of my fingers and in my dreams for weeks. Edward Abbey uses language that allows the reader to relax, seemingly at his side, while touring the deserts of Utah.
If you are planning to run for the mountains of Utah out of fear of the approaching Y2K, keep your eyes open and you may just catch a glimpse of Mr. Abbey's spirit wandering in his heaven.
Caution: This book is not for the meek humored.