A review by jerrica
Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West by Wallace Stegner

5.0

This book gave me such a thorough education on the figure of John Wesley Powell and how instrumental he was in trying to shape policy with regards to settlement in the West. I was constantly spouting off facts to people and probably will continue to do so. Powell's attempt to use science and history as a means to settle the West, rather than corporate interest and blind patriotism, was an admirable one. The West would be a very different place had he been allowed to set the guidelines for its settlement, and this book helped me understand the basis for a lot of the current issues out West.

Powell was truly ahead of his time and would still be ahead of his time today, sadly, since we still cite money as the most important basis for making a decision, rather than scientific or historical fact.