Customer Reviews

Wild Nevada: Testimonies On Behalf Of The Desert

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"Wild Nevada: Testimonies On Behalf Of The Desert" is a collection of essays that promote the expansion of legally protected wilderness areas in the Silver State. The title follows in the footsteps of similarly-minded publications such as "Testimony: Writers of the West Speak on Behalf of Utah Wilderness" and "Arctic Refuge: A Circle of Testimony." As Roberta Moore and Scott Slovic explain, 'wilderness' isn't a notion that most Americans associate with Nevada. This is unfortunate since Nevada is one of the most beautifully wild states in the country. At the same time, she has been slammed with nuclear testing, heavy mining, extensive grazing and designation as the nation's nuclear waste depository. As resident populations grow and resources become scarcer, the editors propose to protect what's left with the creation of wilderness areas. The thirty testimonies come from a broad range of writers including academics, ranchers, politicians and rangers. Naturally, some of the selections resonate more than others. Jon Christensen's 'Nevada: Wilderness or Wasteland' is especially interesting in that it offers the assessments of John Muir. US Senator Richard Bryan shares insights he gained when taking a trip into the Black Rock Desert. The book features many persuasive writings on Yucca Mountain. US Senator Harry Reid once more advocates his home state's natural wonders while touting his accomplishments in wilderness expansion. As an artistically written yet fact filled essay, Reid's 'Blank Spot on the Map' is deeply satisfying. As with Snyder's 'Finding Space in the Heart,' the testimonies actually extend beyond essays to occasionally include poetry. The contributors section offers a useful write-up on each author, illuminating the life experiences that influenced the angle in each essay or poem. Early in "Wild Nevada," many of the writers appeal to the reader's spirituality. This reviewer has always found an appeal to the reader's belief in the supernatural to be a weak argument to get anybody to do anything let alone protect the environment. For the most part, the short essays (most are only a few pages) are informative and interesting opinion pieces. Some essays directly advocate a legal change in land status. Most essays offer bucolic vignettes and personal experiences in Nevada's outback. Those who think of Nevada as a landlock of dead-looking yuckiness should walk away from this book with a better sense of appreciation for the Sagebrush State's flora, fauna and geography. This is after all the goal of the book. There's always the hope that enough little books like "Wild Nevada" will eventually convince people that Nevada is not a wasteland.