A Behind-the-Scenes Look at Life in the National Parks: Ranger Confidential

A. K. S.: This book fulfills it's promise to be about living, working, and dying in the national parks! Ranger Confidential is non-fiction, and filled with eye-opening events in the national parks which call upon the ranger's response, day or night.
I've visited most of the parks mentioned in the book, and had no idea of what went on behind the scenes. The book is very well written--I'd recommend it, especially to readers who enjoy the outdoors and our national parks.

United States on Nov 11, 2023

GC: Great book! Amazing stories! You will cry!

Japan on Nov 08, 2023

Craig LaFargue: Very well written and a good read that you can’t put down. I highly recommend it for anyone who loves the wilderness

United States on Oct 31, 2023

AWM: Interesting real world perspective of life as a Park Ranger. A must read for those considering this career.

United States on Oct 27, 2023

Uncle Ang: Recommend. Great read.

Canada on Oct 07, 2023

ed: I found this book to be one of my forever favorites. The writing is so very easy to follow and the details beg for more.

I would recommend this book for anyone that likes the great outdoors as well as those that believe a park rangers job is cushy.

United States on Sep 25, 2023

G. Stauffer: I bought this book not long after I had gone to Yellowstone. We interacted with the rangers there and had a wonderful experience that when this book was recommended in an issue of Backpacker magazine, I bought the book. It was very interesting. We've hit up several national parks attending ranger sessions, etc. and this book parallels a lot of what we see there. It's a tough but rewarding job of being a ranger and if I were a much younger self would go back and try my hand at it. I'm writing this recommendation 13 years after buying the book but still recommend it.

United States on Aug 31, 2023

Mountain Wolf: If you live for the outdoors, have hiked the Grand Canyon and mountain trails of the high country, you may have secretly envied and admired our park rangers.

But this book tells of the toll that it takes on their lives from low wages; burnout; PTSD; death in the line of duty; and the stress of dealing with a too often insensitive and ignorant public bent on killing themselves in a myriad of ways.

Canada on Dec 30, 2017

Alex Tee: Maybe it's just me, but I somehow thought there was going to be a bit more animal attacks and the like. Most of the book seemed to revolve around climbing accidents - not that it wasn't fascinating and at times very sad.

The book itself is very interesting and gives you a glimpse of what it's like to be a park ranger for the US - very hard but very rewarding.

If you want something a bit different to read, but that is still light and easy, then this book is probably it.

United Kingdom on Sep 05, 2016

Offeciers: Interesting book. Made me respect rangers even more. If you want to know more about what rangers do and how they put their lives on the line, this is the book for you! I read it while travelling through the US and while visiting several national parks. I kept quoting from the book and was determined not to end up as 'another story' about a 'stupid tourist not following the rules of the park'. The book probably saved my life since it made me more careful :-)

United Kingdom on Aug 07, 2014