Utah Books

Although this book does not go into great depth about the subject, it is well written and will leave the reader longing to make a trip to the lake. The author presents the controversy about the damn in a well balanced manner and keeps the focus of the book on the existing treasures of the lake.

This is the best book ever written about this subject. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the beauty and history of Utah.

greg has provided an incise, colorful, cutting edge view of the colorado plateau with emotion, insight, and humor. i would highly recommend this book to anyone who is curious about the four corners area, environmental impact, and a deep love of the written word and its impact.

Landscape of Desire - Identity and Nature in Utah's Canyon Country - Greg Gordon

The author mentions in his "Author's Note" that "For years I have struggled with the dilemma of writing about a place I love, a place known only to a few hearty souls..." I to hesitate to mention this book for fear this wonderful land will become over trodden, but do so for the same reason as the author - to get the word out on conservation of our lands...to helps us all to learn about the wonderful natural lands around us and to help us all to find ways to conserve these lands and use them wisely.

Greg Gordon not only describes these lands through history, land and people as does Kenneth A. Brown and Wallace Stegner, but also interweaves his story about his relationships with the land and with his students that accompany him during a two month hike along Muddy Creek and the Dirty Devil River from I-70 to Lake Powell. By doing this, to this reader, the area and book comes alive. This book is not just about the land, it's history but is also about human relationships, and how you can learn from not only the land but from each other. Gordon does a wonderful job of taking you through this desert environment, providing you with insights on the geology, plant and animal life and history of the area and does it in a human story telling manner that rivals many works by Edward Abbey. You know he loves this land, its solitude and its beauty and that he desires to preserve it through education and stewardship.

A wonderful read and a great story teller, I couldn't put the book down and look forward to reading more by this author!

David Lloyd Koenck
Snowmass, Colorado
Moab, Utah

This is my favorite book by Bill Ransom. The grouping of prose and poetry make for a fascinating read. I read it all in one sitting as I couldn't put it down. Bill's real and imaginary life co-mingle in his prose to create riveting stories and impossible (but oh so true) scenarios. Great read.

Here's a collection of Ransom's finest poetry (nominated for both the Pulitzer and the Nat'l Book Award), short fiction, novel excerpts and creative nonfiction. This book melds several genres together, which makes shelving it in bookstores a problem. Therefore, it's sadly been overlooked. It is autobiography only in that each selection is tied directly somehow to the author's life. A sleeper of a book that's a great bargain!

Loved the book. Without the book, I would never know why the Music Department at the University of Utah recognizes him with an annual concert and dedicating their office to him.

"LeRoy Robertson: Music Giant from the Rockies" is an outstanding look into the life of one of America's best composers. Dr. Robertson-Wilson provides readers with interesting and intimate looks into the personal life of her father while maintaining an unbiased and professional approach to her writing. The accomplishments of LeRoy Robertson speak for themselves. It is a shame that more listeners have not fully enjoyed the music of this extremely gifted and talented composer.

As a past active Mormon (for over 50 years), I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Like the majority of active Mormons, I was in denial about what the true church history was until I decided that I wanted to find the truth for myself. Mormon church history has become so watered down by the general authorities and other church leaders that it hardly has any truth left in it.
Reading Beadle's first hand experiences of coming to Utah (before the Salt Lake Temple was completed....only the foundation was present when he moved there), mingling with the Mormons, listening to Brigham Young speak and traveling around Utah was fascinating and confirmed everything I'd already learned or suspected about Utah and Mormon history.

An excellent book covering the mid 1800s of Mormonism as the church was coming out of the horrible days of the Reformation and Blood-atonement. Beadle, an editor of the Reformation spawned Salt Lake Tribune tells of incidents, big and small, fostered by Brigham Young's Theocratic hegemony.

If you are a true Canadian Hockey fan, then you already have this book! Can you imagine Wayne Gretsky whispering in your ear "You're gonna be a legend"! Truly inspiring and very well written. You'll keep the pages turning.

The fact that there was a loonie at centre ice during the Salt Lake City Olympics only makes the double gold that much sweeter.
I loved reading about how the loonie came to be as well as how the Canadian teams perceived it. This story is for the true Canadian Hockey fan and will remain a legend for years to come.

I devoured this short read of Canadian history in one sitting.

I took the time to review this book because I feel strongly that it contains excellent photographs which deserve a wider audience. Michael Smith is one of the best living photographers and a national treasure of the US. He is known well in the photographic community but remains fairly obscure outside this group. I recommend this book to anyone interested in excellent photography.

Michael A. Smith has traveled many miles photographing the land, the cities, and the people across America, and is possibly the greatest photographer of our time. Not only is his subject matter interesting, every picture in this publication reveals his mastery of seeing, composition, and print quality. An excellent book.

The Mobil Travel Guide for California was invaluable for our recent trips on the California coast and to Las Vegas and the Grand Canyon. My past experience with other Mobil Travel Guides is that their information is complete and accurate. The ratings system for hotels and restaurants are reliable and will steer you to excellent values and quality establishments. Unless an establishment is brand new, it is a safe bet that it has not been included in the Guide for a reason. The Guide is especially helpful for families who are looking for a quality hotel room or meal for a reasonable price.

We have used the maps in the Guide and it has helpful information for planning trips, including mileage and time between destinations. The individual listings of motels, hotels and restaurants give useful information regarding decor, amenities and pets. We moved our family and pets across country using the Mobil Guide to find hotels that accepted dogs in our price range. This is the finest resource for domestic travel that I have seen. I recommend that you buy it for planning your trip and don't forget to bring it along. We changed our travel plans in the Mojave desert and made reservations on our cell phone using the Mobil Guide to California and the West!

The guide has a nice layout, which makes things easy to find. Each section gives a general overview of what there is to do in an area; this is a great starting point if you are not familiar with the location. I think this would be a great asset to anyone traveling about in Arizona, California, Nevada, and Utah.

I am the 4th great granddaughter of Patty Sessions. This book is an excellent genealogical source for me. She in one or two places in her journal addresses her descendants. I feel as if she is speaking directly to me. She worked hard all of her life, you can tell by her entries. It humbles me to know that I am related to such a great lady. I am thankful that I am able to have this book in my library.

Patty Sessions didn't spend a lot of time detailing the happenings of each day, she was too busy doing everything else imaginable. The entries are usually just a few lines for each day, yet month by month, and year by year, she paints a picture that is an effective illustration of what life was like in early polygamy, what folk beliefs influenced her, and the her role she shared with the more recognized greats of the mormon West, like Brigham Young.
Patty Sessions shares her life and passion for religion, but her religion is quite different from the Mormonism of today. Patty Sessions' life makes great reading for any student of history at any level.
The editor, through pain-staking effort, has added notes of background and clarification that really bring some obscure parts to life. I have given other books about Mormon History five stars, and I regret it as this book IS Mormon History, and provides unique insight that only comes from witnessing a life in words of those who lived it.

A captivating read of a vanished Rocky Mountain culture who "bucked the trend" of normal society by retreating to the high mountainous regions of the Yellowstone environs.

The authors have carefully pieced together significant evidence and documentation to impart the reader with a respected awe into the lives of the Sheep Eater Indians.
From archeological digs, petroglyphic sites, stone and animal tools, etc. to discussions with contemporary day descendants, this study covers it all in general terminology.

Having visited a few of these sites myself, it never ceases to amaze what had once occured in these landscapes so long ago.

The Sheep Eaters were an amazing people that flourished in the majestic, alpine environments of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho, including areas that are now part of Yellowstone National Park. They lived entirely by gathering the natural plant foods of their environment in addition to hunting Big Horn Sheep, which was their primary source of protein. They were renown as a peaceful, highly-skilled, and even industrious people who so thoroughly mastered their rugged alpine environment, they opted to continue living in the mountains even after others in the region adopted the horse, the tipi, and the buffalo-hunting-on-the-plains lifestyle.

The authors provide a thorough picture of Sheep Eater history and culture, including social structure, religious beliefs, and the crafting of their tools, clothes, bows, living shelters, and even their cookware.

This is an excellent introduction to a Native American people that few know anything about. Both scholars and laymen will enjoy the very accessible, easy-to-read material. Mountain Spirit should be required reading for everyone interested in the American West, Native American culture, as well as those seeking inspiration from a people who managed to prosper in one of the most beautiful and forbidding environments in North America.