Customer Reviews

The Last Wilderness: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge

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Kennan Ward's book contains stunning photographs of the land, plants, and animals of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Mr. Ward writes from his personal experiences as a photographer and naturalist. Kennan published this book to help keep this pristine wilderness area a place of incredible beauty and wildlife diversity. His book makes a strong visual argument for the case of preserving this wildlife area from oil drilling. He does this by showing photographs of the significant environmental impact of oil companies in Alaska. I hope this book will not be a reminder of what the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge was like, but instead, what it will continue to be for future generations of people and wildlife that come to this "last wilderness." I would highly recommend this book to any person who would like to learn more about the wildlife and environmental issues pertaining to the Refuge.

As a 25-year Alaskan resident, I can say that publication of Kennan Ward's spectacular picture-format book "The Last Wilderness: Arctic National Wildlife Refuge" could not be more timely. As stated at the beginning of the book by contributing sponsor Yvon Chounard, Patagonia: "Boosters of Arctic drilling have proposed a shady deal with the American public. We're asked to allow industry to drill for oil in the last pristine wild place in the United States and in exchange they'll sell us that oil at great profit to themselves." While the same boosters describe the Arctic Refuge as a "desolate wasteland" the photographs in Ward's book prove just the opposite. Dramatic photos of healthy wildlife populations in the Arctic Refuge are contrasted with the industrial sprawl in the nearby Prudhoe Bay area to the west. In the aftermath of the recent terrorist attacks -- although drilling boosters are sensing a new opportunity -- nothing has really changed. False and wreckless suggestions are now being made by some that development of the Arctic Refuge would help solve the terrorist threat while they try to hide the truth that the amount of oil to be recovered would amount to only about 6 months worth of oil while just minimal increases in automobile fuel efficiency would "produce" many times the equivalent amount of oil. As someone who has been fortunate to visit the Arctic Refuge, I can say that "The Last Wilderness" does an excellent job of showing readers the caribou, grizzlies, polar bears, wolves, arctic fox, musk oxen, migratory birds and other wilderness values that would be sacrificed to industrial oil development if the boosters have their way. Whether the Arctic Refuge will, in fact, survive into the future will depend on what people do with the knowledge this timely book provides. The Foreword by Robert Redford makes it clear that simply enjoying the beautiful images in the book will not suffice: "If we don't speak out as a unified citizenry we will allow [development interests] to squander one of the last wild places on earth soley for the short term gain of big industry."

Beautiful photo essay on the Alaska Wilderness with a hopeful bequest to future generations of animals and all who love America's wild places.

So many Americans know so little about this great gift our forefathers have given us - The Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. The fact remains that this coastal plain supports the highest density of mammals and birds in the arctic. Kennan Ward's book brilliantly helps us understand what's at stake here. The photographs alone are priceless! We believe that it would be a sin to rob future generations of the opportunity to understand this virgin land. Anyone who cares about America's heritage should take time to read this masterwork and understand what's at stake.

It is amazing how this book gives you a personal feel for the animals and their environment. The wildlife is perfectly comfortable and nature performs for Kennan Ward. He has the connection and a gift for capturing nature in its most potent moments. This book is a work of love and pristine beauty! If this land is allowed to be exploited for oil, this could be the last record of this incredible wilderness.

What a beautiful celebration of an area under threat. Thank you to the Wards for their focus and drive. We hope to see more work from these talented artists.