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Leave It As It Is: A Journey Through Theodore Roosevelt's American Wilderness by David Gessner
kevinm56's review against another edition
5.0
This is a great book. I found his interpretation of Teddy Roosevelt’s life inspiring. Roosevelt had many flaws: he loved killing things, his enthusiasm for American expansion and military adventures, and his attitude toward and treatment of Native Americans. But he also did quite a bit of good when it comes to conservation: he declared 230,000,000 acres of American land off-limits to industry and development.
TR was quite progressive, not only for his time, but he would be considered progressive now – which speaks to how little progress we have made. This section from the book is about TR’s platform in the 1912 election (which he lost):
“The progressive platform was stunning in its modernity: a social insurance system for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled; strict campaign finance restrictions; women’s suffrage; an eight-hour workday; a minimum wage for women; an inheritance tax; worker’s compensation for injuries in the workplace; and a vow to ‘destroy this invisible Government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics.’”
Gessner sees hope, though I am not sure it is warranted. It is refreshing to read.
“We are changing. The culture is changing. Or rather the cultures. It is my dream that, despite recent evidence and recent politics, we will change into something more creative, more open, more fluid; something larger, more magnanimous, more inclusive, and ultimately more exciting.”
I hope he’s right, but it will take quite a bit to change our culture of greed and our obsession with growth. We can’t legislate it – that won’t work. But I think we need to change our culture somehow before we destroy each other and all that we have created that is good.
TR was quite progressive, not only for his time, but he would be considered progressive now – which speaks to how little progress we have made. This section from the book is about TR’s platform in the 1912 election (which he lost):
“The progressive platform was stunning in its modernity: a social insurance system for the elderly, unemployed, and disabled; strict campaign finance restrictions; women’s suffrage; an eight-hour workday; a minimum wage for women; an inheritance tax; worker’s compensation for injuries in the workplace; and a vow to ‘destroy this invisible Government, to dissolve the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politics.’”
Gessner sees hope, though I am not sure it is warranted. It is refreshing to read.
“We are changing. The culture is changing. Or rather the cultures. It is my dream that, despite recent evidence and recent politics, we will change into something more creative, more open, more fluid; something larger, more magnanimous, more inclusive, and ultimately more exciting.”
I hope he’s right, but it will take quite a bit to change our culture of greed and our obsession with growth. We can’t legislate it – that won’t work. But I think we need to change our culture somehow before we destroy each other and all that we have created that is good.
jdintr's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book in advance of a trip to North Dakota and a stay at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. While Gessner covers the basic history of TR, this is a reflection on today's wild lands and a reaction to TR-ump's efforts to roll back Clinton- and Obama-established public lands--in particular Bear's Ears National Monument.
The book ranges from history to travelogue and around to op-ed. The titular quote, "Leave it as it is," uttered by TR at the dedication of Grand Canyon National Monument. Gessner traces the evolution of this meaning--coined at the height of industrialization in America, but relevant to today when re-wilding of public lands grows more and more urgent.
Along the way, Gessner endorses the ideal of a protected migration corridor along the spine of the Rockies which would allow elk and antelope, as well as grizzlies and mountain lions, to expand their range and adapt to the impact of climate change. (One thing I did after finishing the book was mail a donation to the American Prairie Preserve, which is doing just this in Montana.)
Gessner writes several chapters about Bears' Ears National Monument, an area just outside the Navajo Reservation in the Four Corners region which holds countless sites of priceless human artifacts. The monument was proposed by a group of native American tribes, and was seen as a huge step forward for the native community at the time of its ratification in the waning days of the Obama presidency. Gessner describes a hike through the monument, and recounts the efforts of stakeholders to preserve the monument, even as the Trump Administration returned thousands of acres for exploitation by ranching and extractive industries.
The book ranges from history to travelogue and around to op-ed. The titular quote, "Leave it as it is," uttered by TR at the dedication of Grand Canyon National Monument. Gessner traces the evolution of this meaning--coined at the height of industrialization in America, but relevant to today when re-wilding of public lands grows more and more urgent.
Along the way, Gessner endorses the ideal of a protected migration corridor along the spine of the Rockies which would allow elk and antelope, as well as grizzlies and mountain lions, to expand their range and adapt to the impact of climate change. (One thing I did after finishing the book was mail a donation to the American Prairie Preserve, which is doing just this in Montana.)
Gessner writes several chapters about Bears' Ears National Monument, an area just outside the Navajo Reservation in the Four Corners region which holds countless sites of priceless human artifacts. The monument was proposed by a group of native American tribes, and was seen as a huge step forward for the native community at the time of its ratification in the waning days of the Obama presidency. Gessner describes a hike through the monument, and recounts the efforts of stakeholders to preserve the monument, even as the Trump Administration returned thousands of acres for exploitation by ranching and extractive industries.
sarahcollins040's review against another edition
Not in the mood for a book like this, might try later
rachel_reece's review against another edition
3.0
I had trouble getting through this one because the majority of it was summaries of conversations with community and national political activists. But OMG there were some excellent nuggets of nuanced perspective sprinkled throughout that I will come back to. And some great nature descriptions.
And he did a really good job of, in his words, "...resisting slamming the door on the past even if what we find there seems flawed to our eyes." I definitely gained a richer appreciation for Teddy Roosevelt!
And he did a really good job of, in his words, "...resisting slamming the door on the past even if what we find there seems flawed to our eyes." I definitely gained a richer appreciation for Teddy Roosevelt!
kimses's review against another edition
4.0
“Leave It As It Is” by David Gessner is an outstanding book about Theodore Roosevelt and his passion for nature and conservation. Gessner documents his travels through the Southwest following TR’s (Roosevelt) trail.
Teddy Roosevelt was man full of energy, ideas, ambitions, passions and contradictions. Taken alone, the story of TR is a full and robust story. But Gessner has wound the story of TR around his dedication to the national parks and monuments and laid bare so many layers of what is involved in the history of the parks/monuments and the political battles that still go on today.
In the very beginning, Gessner says “Over the previous few years I had been relearning an old lesson: no matter how often public lands are ‘saved’, they are never really safe”. This is the basic premise of the book. Going back to manifest destiny, when Americans pushed Westward to spread Capitalism and Democracy, forcing Indigenous people off their land, the book covers what really happened during this time. From there, Gessner takes us through the 1906 Antiquities Act and brings us to the current day where there are battles that continue to happen over public lands. Each side has its own story. The Environmentalists want to preserve the natural areas. The Tribal Councils want to preserve the history that resides in those areas. The Ranchers want to continue to lease land from the government and have multitudes of cows graze the land. Some politicians want to scale back the parks/monuments to allow further mining.
The book definitely has political aspects to it. It also gets a bit preachy at times. Although it is clear where Gessner stands, he does a good job of laying out the different sides of the argument. The question that remains is how to get all sides together to work out an acceptable plan to save the environment, allow for migration of animals, protect the artifacts and historical tribal areas, and allow business to prosper. Is it even possible or will it continue to change every time there is a new party in the White House?
Honestly, some of the things that were outlined in this book were jaw-dropping to me. Look at the history of Bears Ears. Obama designated it a National Monument, Trump cut it back by 85% and Biden is trying to restore it to its original boundaries that Obama documented. Crazy stuff.
The book didn’t leave me feeling hopeful, but it did leave me informed. Anyone who is concerned about climate change and continuing to try and atone for what happened to the Indigenous people should read this book.
Teddy Roosevelt was man full of energy, ideas, ambitions, passions and contradictions. Taken alone, the story of TR is a full and robust story. But Gessner has wound the story of TR around his dedication to the national parks and monuments and laid bare so many layers of what is involved in the history of the parks/monuments and the political battles that still go on today.
In the very beginning, Gessner says “Over the previous few years I had been relearning an old lesson: no matter how often public lands are ‘saved’, they are never really safe”. This is the basic premise of the book. Going back to manifest destiny, when Americans pushed Westward to spread Capitalism and Democracy, forcing Indigenous people off their land, the book covers what really happened during this time. From there, Gessner takes us through the 1906 Antiquities Act and brings us to the current day where there are battles that continue to happen over public lands. Each side has its own story. The Environmentalists want to preserve the natural areas. The Tribal Councils want to preserve the history that resides in those areas. The Ranchers want to continue to lease land from the government and have multitudes of cows graze the land. Some politicians want to scale back the parks/monuments to allow further mining.
The book definitely has political aspects to it. It also gets a bit preachy at times. Although it is clear where Gessner stands, he does a good job of laying out the different sides of the argument. The question that remains is how to get all sides together to work out an acceptable plan to save the environment, allow for migration of animals, protect the artifacts and historical tribal areas, and allow business to prosper. Is it even possible or will it continue to change every time there is a new party in the White House?
Honestly, some of the things that were outlined in this book were jaw-dropping to me. Look at the history of Bears Ears. Obama designated it a National Monument, Trump cut it back by 85% and Biden is trying to restore it to its original boundaries that Obama documented. Crazy stuff.
The book didn’t leave me feeling hopeful, but it did leave me informed. Anyone who is concerned about climate change and continuing to try and atone for what happened to the Indigenous people should read this book.
tabbycat26's review against another edition
1.0
I got frustrated with this book. As I expected it to describe all the places that Teddy Roosevelt tried to preserve but this seems more like an autobiography. Definitely wasn't even able to finish this book
mohawkm's review against another edition
5.0
Important reading for anyone who wants to live in the West (or does so currently). As we talk about making certain wilderness areas "sacrificial" due to the massive increase in people coming to see wilderness, let's talk about what the reasons are for preserving islands of wilderness are. This book covers a lot of subtleties that are worth understanding while sharing bits about Teddy Roosevelt throughout.
rumpfie's review against another edition
5.0
One of the best nonfiction books I've read in a long time. About public lands, public/presidential policies, Theodore Roosevelt, and more. So good. Highly recommend.