Searching for Yellowstone: Ecology and Wonder in the Last Wilderness [B0446]

1997 HCDJ 1st edition. Yellowstone National Park is beloved passionately and, as with all objects of passion, it generates heated feelings and has for over 125 years. Created in 1872, Yellowstone has been at the center of efforts to conserve the nation's once vast western wilderness. In turn Yellowstone's history has demonstrated how complex those efforts to conserve it have been. As Schullery writes, "We inherited this great humming thing . . . Ever since then we have imagined ourselves wise enough to control it and have rushed to judge what is wrong with it. And every time we looked hard enough, we discovered that there was more wrong with our judgment than with Yellowstone." This marvelously detailed book skillfully and objectively traces the park's social and ecological history from Pleistocene times to the present. Searching for Yellowstone is an absolute "must read" for anyone wanting to understand why the park is engraved in the American consciousness.

From recent Amazon/GoodReads reviews: "A remarkably detailed history of Yellowstone. Great read for the park lover. As a former employee, I now realize that I still had so much to learn."; "A well-rounded examination of the history of Yellowstone National Park. I like that the author does not shy away from the more controversial management practices having to do with the reintroduction of wolves, bison slaughter outside the park due to the threat of brucellosis transmission to cattle, the yearly culling of elk herds, and dealing with the millions of visitors that come into the park annually. The biggest drawback to the book is that it is quite dated now. But this is a decent and broad introduction."; "Well written, engaging history of Yellowstone, going back to when Native Americans lived there. Great analysis of the history, the flora and fauna, the politics of establishing the National Park System, and the constant struggle among hunters, ecologists and politicians. Excellent background for my first trip to Yellowstone-which begins today."; "I always recommend this book for anyone interested in the ecological and political history of Yellowstone. The author is a gifted writer and it's such a pleasure to read this."