Desert Solitaire: A Journey into the Sacred Wilderness

Sydney: third time buying this book after gifting the first two. always inspiring <3

United States on Feb 25, 2024

Jludeau: Very descriptive writing. I really enjoyed the book. I know that it has recently faced criticism, but it was written at a time when social norms were way different. The author does a beautiful job capturing the landscape of the West.

United States on Feb 11, 2024

Amazon Customer: Now, I definitely need to see it for myself. Abbey did an amazing job inspiring me to travel to and thru those beautiful lands, ironically.

United States on Jan 15, 2024

Catherine O'Keeffe: This is a great read to explore: the history of parks, desert flora and fauna, living with nature. If you love to camp, hike or travel, Abbey’s book will put into words much of what you feel.

Canada on Oct 01, 2022

Javier de Pison: Nice writing on an original subject

Spain on Feb 22, 2022

Rhenan: produto chegou em boa qualidade, recomendo.

Brazil on Mar 05, 2021

L. G. Cullens: Imagine what Edward Abby would have to say if he were still alive to see what humankind has further wrought.

In not having read this particular book of Abbey's before, I've shortchanged my reading experience. To me, his narrative in Desert Solitaire is befitting the setting, at once harsh and lulling, even hauntingly poetic with discordant notes. If you discern the writing's undercurrent, you may also feel its poignancy.

In this book, the best of his writing to my mind even if a little drawn out, he is more in touch with the paradoxes of the natural world than many can countenance. It is also a Nature book, pleasurable for those that can visualize the detailed settings, especially those that have alone and on foot previously experienced the awe of true wilderness.

I have to agree that Edward Abby can come across as intolerant and contemptuous of much of society, which stems from his idealism. A subjective reaction on our part though, where to the objective mind he's often enough on the mark, if abrasively so, in highlighting shortcomings we are loath to admit in ourselves. Sadly, we are for the most part subjective creatures that have followed a path to the...

United States on May 31, 2020

M: Respect pour les humains qui sont à la mesure des déserts du Colorado, de l'Utah, des Arches.
Edward Abbey écrit beau, puissant, émouvant. Il est de ceux qui ont perçu la beauté démesurée, la spiritualité de ces lieux et qui savent leur rendre hommage. Il est de ceux qui peuvent y vivre, seuls, nourris par l'intensité qui rend saint et/ou qui rend fou. C'est un géant apte à survivre sur une terre de géants.
Ce sont les terres où est née cette prière:
With beauty may I walk
With beauty behind me may I walk
With beauty above me may I walk
With beauty below me may I walk
With beauty all around me may I walk

France on Sep 11, 2019

GZP: I have spent some time in all of Utah's national parks, and my favourites by far are Arches and Canyonlands (both just outside Moab) both of which happen to be the settings of this book. (Note that the cover photo is of Monument Valley in Arizona, which does not feature as a location in the book.)

The book is Abbey's account of his time as a park ranger in Arches in the 50s, some time before paved access roads were built. At this time access to Arches was only for the hardy and determined, its majesty unspoilt by motor vehicles, RVs and tourists. Abbey rails against the future plans to increase access, and worries that the magic of the park will be lost. Of course those plans were executed, and now millions visit Arches every year. Has the park been ruined as a result? I'm sure Abbey would have hated the current situation, but I don't think the outcome is quite as bad as he feared. True, many tourists just breaze through in their cars and don't really engage with the park. Some areas, like delicate Arch, have become like a Disney theme park, but I think the impact is limited. 90% plus of the area of these great parks remains pretty unspoilt IMO.

Abbey's curmudgeonly...

United Kingdom on Aug 26, 2017

Clifford: Read it, loved it, have since bought and read all of his other work- books I will keep.

On the completion of "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey
Earlier today I completed reading "Desert Solitaire" by Edward Abbey, a book that was for me full of immeasurable personal connection and inspiration. By connection I mean I felt connected to the material as one is connected to their own feelings and philosophies. In many regards I feel Edward Abbey and I to exist almost as one in thought and perspective, but of course I feel equally the chasm by which every man is separated from every other. It is entirely apparent he is Edward Abbey and I am Clifford Novey- each replete with as many idiosyncrasies as one can imagine.
The reading of this book took place over the period of what I would say was close to 2 months, mostly in short visits to the coffee shop and sitting in the sun. I found myself looking forward to each reading- treasuring my dog eared paperback- knowing that I was going somewhere I wanted to be- a wise place- a wild place- a place of beauty- a place of sobering reality- a place of angry outcry and of sublime affection.
Southeastern Utah. The mid 60s. Ed has...

United States on Mar 02, 2013