I've been aware of McConnell's writings over the years and was intrigued by how she could shape a story of wilderness and the ingenuity (audacity?) of westward expansion into a book such as this. I was unaware of the Applegate Trail and the people behind the origins of it and found the historical aspects of this fascinating. The book wasn't dry and moved easily.

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

In Wilderness and the American Spirit, McConnell takes us on a sweeping, flyover tour of American colonization and the colonists' ever-changing relationship and association with the idea of "wilderness." Every few decades, new discoveries and philosophies (and commerce) impacted the landscape of North America and the hearts of its people, but one things stayed true from the Applegates and homesteaders all the way to the Hippies and New Age spiritualists: Americans have always struggled to see land as anything other than a resource. As we enter a new age and the consequences of our chemicals and industries become achingly apparent, it remains to be seen if we can change quickly enough to save it.

While I think the overarching theme and scope of this work was meaningful and thought provoking, McConnell seemed to lose her way in some of the details. The choice to focus on the story of a Mouseketeer in the latter chapters, for example, or the chapters devoted to contemporary music festivals felt like stretching the theme of the work to a breaking point. Wilderness and the American Spirit is at its best when it is asking the reader to re-interpret events we might have never critically evaluated before, like some of the deeper motivations behind the CCC and push to create recreational outdoor spaces during the midcentury. And the final chapter was a hopeful manifesto to how the "quieting" of the pandemic showed us that monumental change is entirely within our power to execute. If only we can garner up the courage and the urgency to try.

My gosh, this read was so interesting. I have a particular interest in this topic after playing Red Dead Redemption 2 - and this book delivered

I received an ARC from Netgalley

The author's constant opinion expressed through sarcasm and subjectivity prevented the reader from enjoying the book, as the direction of chapters and their relevance to the theme were unclear. The use of terms like "magical" and lack of explanation for bold statements left the reader feeling disconnected and unable to form their own opinions. Overall, the author's strong bias overshadowed the content of the book, making it unenjoyable. Sadly I didn't enjoy this book

Thanks to Over Cup Press and NetGalley for this free ARC in return for my honest opinion.

Very interesting book that mixes a lot of personal opinion with the authors knowledge of geology and environmental advocacy. My personal philosophies differ from the author, but it also is good to be able to read other points of view.
I have learned a lot about things like the Applegate Trail and the Humbolt Sink, as well as really interesting stories of people who traveled West and who settled in the pristine American wilderness. But the author flounders when she tries to correlate certain acts in American history into a destruction of the Wilderness, and it appears that there is nothing that government can do to reverse the development of the American West. But no matter your point of view, at least half of this book is enlightening. Unfortunately the other half of this book is questionable historical analysis.

I wanted to like this book. The author’s constant opinion expressed through sarcasm and subjectivity prevented me from enjoying the book.

I was constantly unsure of the direction or point of the chapters and how it related to the theme. I felt like the author rushed through history using events like war, to prove his hypothesis throughout. How does the chapter on the Micky Mouse club relate to wilderness?

More than once, the term “magical” referring to the way people thought was used. People thought the way they did based on their experiences and history up until that moment. They had less information and historical context to use when making decisions. Using the term “magical” is not objective and appears the author insinuates they are foolish or stupid. “Those ordinary citizens, those dupes lured by God and gold…”

There are many statements throughout this book that have little explanation, leaving me thinking, wait, what? .“Many were marched right off the edge of the continent into the frigid waters of the Pacific Ocean. West.” This is a bold statement. I need some explanation. “Everywhere, parking lots paved paradises.” Everywhere? “For the first time more Americans described themselves as urban rather than rural.” Was this a poll?

The author’s opinion felt pushed through the words and left me with little ability to form my own through the case presented. I simply didn’t enjoy it.