You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Scan barcode
A review by lauren_endnotes
River Notes: A Natural and Human History of the Colorado by Wade Davis
3.0
The fundamental dilemma in the [American] West is that we are living with nineteenth century laws and values, twentieth century infrastructure, and twenty-first century water needs.
Davis tries to do a lot of things in the slim volume - a history, a geology, a travelogue, an anthropology, and a political statement. While I enjoyed and learned from each of these facets, the narrative did not flow well... which is ironic considering the riverine subject matter.
Relying on narratives and descriptions from Powell, Stegner, and Abbey, Davis expounds more with his own observations on a raft trip down river. If you are unfamilar with Davis' work, this isn't the best place to start. He's a great writer and storyteller, but you don't get that full effect here.
Davis tries to do a lot of things in the slim volume - a history, a geology, a travelogue, an anthropology, and a political statement. While I enjoyed and learned from each of these facets, the narrative did not flow well... which is ironic considering the riverine subject matter.
Relying on narratives and descriptions from Powell, Stegner, and Abbey, Davis expounds more with his own observations on a raft trip down river. If you are unfamilar with Davis' work, this isn't the best place to start. He's a great writer and storyteller, but you don't get that full effect here.