Customer Reviews

Tracks of the Unseen: Meditations on Alaska Wildlife, Landscape, and Photography

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Nick Jans has done it again -- this time with pictures! Mr. Jans' previous compilations of essays ("The Last Light Breaking" and "A Place Beyond"), as well as his Alaska Magazine articles, introduced readers to his great love and appreciation of the Alaskan arctic and its inhabitants. In "Tracks of the Unseen," Mr. Jans also includes his own photographs, which ideally complement his essays. There is some content overlap with his essays in "Alaska" (photographs by Art Wolfe), but this is a more integral pairing of the essays and photos. This is a lovely book, with Mr. Jans' graceful writing continuing to transport readers to the great north.

I'm guessing Nick Jans probably lives like he writes. There's nothing extraneous here. Every word has a purpose. Unfortunately, the message it conveys is one of loss. The wilderness is changing, disappearing, even in the remote areas of the world. Regardless of the message, this book is a beauty. The photography is vibrant, the prose compelling, and the sentiment touching. The wilderness couldn't have found a better voice.

This is a potent book; just 164 pages but every photo is jaw-dropping and not a word is wasted. Author is a life-long Alaskan and in most essays he is reflecting on Alaska and things Alaskan. Humorous, touching and stimulating in many other ways. Well worth your $$.

The book was thoroughly enjoyable. Photography was excellant. Chapters were short easy reads. I enjoyed the insights to life in the arctic and the discussion of the people who live there with snapshots of native culture.