Wilderness and the American Spirit

by Ruby McConnell

The idea of the American spirit has always been rooted in expansion and abundance— at great cost to the environment. Americans now find themselves at the edge of entering an age of scarcity, less ready to thrive than ever before, and in need of a new relationship with the natural world. Wilderness and the American Spirit retells the story of the American West putting our national mythology in context with our current environmental crisis. Ruby McConnell is a geologist who uses the Applegate Trail— the lesser known southern alternative to the Oregon Trail— as a vehicle to tell stories in the same way that Rachel Carson used birds and Edward Abbey used Arches. The trail begins in the deserts of Nevada, home of today's Burning Man Festival. She follows the route westward through time and place exploring map-making, land use policies, the establishment of utopian communities (both faith-based and not), and the creation of resource based economies, connecting the dots and showing how we got to now. Blending history, science, and storytelling Wilderness and the American Spirit traces one route leading to our current moment and suggests new routes to move us forward.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

288 pages, Paperback

Published March 19, 2024

About the author

Ruby McConnell is a writer, geologist, and adventuress whose work focuses on nature, the environment, and the relationship between landscape and the human experience. Her experiences as a researcher, activist, and explorer in the wildlands of the western United States led her write A Woman’s Guide to the Wild- the definitive outdoor guide for anyone who identifies as, or loves, women (or just wants to learn how to read a map) and its companion, A Girl’s Guide to the Wild (spring 2019). Ruby believes that positive outdoor experiences are the key to healthy living and protecting the environment and is committed to breaking down barriers that prevent all kinds of people from being outside. Her writing has appeared in publications such as Grain Literary Journal, Oregon Humanities Magazine, and Mother Earth News and was awarded an Oregon Literary Arts Fellowship in 2016. She is almost always in the woods of the Pacific Northwest, but you can find her online at www.rubymcconnell.com and @RubyGoneWild.

Reviews

[Blaine DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very interesting book that mixes a lot of personal opinion with the authors knowledge of geology and environmental advocacy. My personal philosophies differ from the author, but it also is good to be able to read other points of view.
I learned a lot about things like the Applegate Trail and the Humbolt Sink, as well as really interesting stories of people who traveled West and who settled in the pristine American wilderness. But the author flounders when she tries to correlate certain acts in American history into a destruction of the Wilderness, and it appears that there is nothing that government can do to reverse the development of the American West. But no matter your point of view, at least half of this book is enlightening. Unfortunately the other half of this book is questionable historical analysis.

[Shelby Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell’s passion for the topics in this book is undeniable. By tracing the evolution of the American spirit from the colonization of America onward, she provides insightful context for today’s pressing issues. McConnell highlights the deep connection between wilderness and the human experience while illustrating how we’ve gradually drifted away from this core value.

If you’re searching for the wilderness but feel disconnected from it, this book will rekindle your appreciation for the outdoors. McConnell offers a fresh perspective on the sense of calm and accomplishment of engaging with the physical world.

[Hannah Elsie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilderness and the American Spirit is an awesome read—an engaging, deeply interdisciplinary exploration that weaves together history, philosophy, religion, science, environmental justice, geography, and politics with impressive clarity.

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

McConnell dives deep into the idea of America & the Wilderness, covering time periods from colonization of the United States, to Covid and present day. As someone born and raised in Portland, Oregon, it was great to hear some historical parts of Oregon's history that I hadn't learned in school or heard before, like the Applegate trail. McConnell explores the idea of how we have drifted away from nature and the wild with modernization, but that there are aspects of these ideals that can still exist if we try. Despite the unsettling past, dealing with disheartening themes like consumerism, destruction, etc., the book ends on a more hopeful outlook for our society. One quote that stuck with me, that I feel deals with the importance of our connection with nature is:

"..as long as we continue to be made from earth materials, our bodies and our breath, will remain connected to the natural world" McConnell, 237.

[Reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell’s book is about America, Americans, the wilderness, and nature. Americans have an unusual relationship with the natural environment shaped by other aspects of our society that are not static, either, such as the constantly changing place of religion and commercialism. I do not think it is a coincidence that the book shares the same name of a cigarette brand with a cartoon “Indian” on the package. This book helps explain how such a product could come to exist and what type of environment birthed such a product. This book stresses the status of maps as cultural artifacts that express as much about the people making said map than the land being mapped itself. Throughout the last few centuries, people’s spiritual, practical, and intellectual relationship to nature and the natural habitat changed, and McConnell mainly uses the area around the Applegate Trail as the storytelling backdrop for this exploration. Studying local history through books like this one can be a rewarding way to better appreciate your surroundings.
I do see a little problem with this book, and I see from the other reviews that I am not completely alone about this. I do think, however, that some reviewers are making a mountain out of a molehill. Take negative feedback along these lines with a grain of salt. There are opinions in this book, but that is simply how books of this sort work. Each chapter has a few claims, and they are unique and intricate. She is trying to say something new and specific about complicated, broad topics. That, by its very nature, involves expressing opinions. Reading negative reviews of this book, I begin to suspect that some of the readers wanted a history textbook that is easier for them to read or are chafing under McConnell’s left-leaning political compass.
With that said, the naysayers aren’t completely off base. More than I think is responsible, McConnell overstates her case or provides overgeneralized claims or evidence to make a paradigm she is trying to establish look stronger. For example, playing “cowboys and Indians” is a profane mockery of nature embedded with sexism and racism, but renaissance fairs are somehow much more genuine, heartfelt ways to appreciate nature and society. Why can’t she see that neither practice is much more authentic than the other, and neither is particularly environmentally conscious? (I will concede that one practice is more harmful than the other to people, but we are discussing authenticity and relationship to environment here.) She gives renaissance fairs an unreasonably favorable assessment because of its historical ties to Oregon hippie festival culture, which she likes and thinks is important. Also, although more measured approaches do have their problems, McConnell characterizes right or center-leaning, more conventional conservation efforts as inherently wrongheaded when, at least to some extent, resource extraction will always be with us. Making sure that nature can provide for our most basic needs forever and making difficult compromises with powerful people is not “being a tool of the man.”
Although at times frustrating, her book is worth a look to help you think more deeply about your relationship to nature and how comprehensively bits and pieces everywhere within even your most basic beliefs comes from the history of your environment and sweeping cultural trends. I still definitely recommend this book. Reading an opinion or two you don’t agree with is a part of being a grown-up. Both your nonfiction and fiction reading should challenge you, so you can be a well-rounded person.

[Gwyneth Spoerri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell’s Wilderness & The American Spirit is an experience of living as well as reading. It is not only a narrative of American history, but also a profound meditation on America’s enduring entanglement with nature and the wilderness that has shaped its identity.

Anchored in topography, signposts, and the specified focus of the Applegate trail, McConnell curates an immersive and exposing retelling of America’s long and complex cohabitation with nature. It is incredibly difficult to put centuries of history into words, from Westward expansion and the displacement of Native Americans to a society reeling from the impacts of COVID-19 in 2020, but McConnell, through diligent research and gripping storytelling, does it exceptionally well.

McConnell writes with a distinct sense of balance, remaining informative without dictating opinions, and maintaining a sense of passion without lapsing into ranting. McConnell writes with a careful amount of clarity and conviction that give a sense of personalization and passion to her prose. Given the stakes and ambition of the book, as well as the historical ground it covers, this subtle sense of intimacy with the author is really impressive.

All this to say, this book feels incredibly important in today’s world, something I was increasingly aware of as I read on. In the PNW and beyond, the vast American wilderness remains a defining, and often unacknowledged, expression of our national spirit. This is a story of nature’s importance, and ultimately a call for reconciliation in amending centuries of human impact. McConnell’s work is a timely and urgent reminder of what has and continues to connect us, and what remains at stake.

Some lines I noted

“Early maps placed humanity in the center of the world, cementing in our psyches the idea of ourselves as disproportionately important” (1).

“And then the pandemic came, arriving as a whisper, blanketing the world with silence and slowing the turn of the wheel until even time stood still, days passing like water in a lazy stream” (227).

“It was easy to see just how closely tied our fates are to the fate of our surroundings, how we reflect and amplify the human condition onto the world around us (…) It was easy to see how we are all butterflies of a sort, capable of causing hurricanes with a flutter of our wings” (229).

[Burton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilderness and the American Spirit portrays many different histories of the Pacific Northwest, particularly of the Oregon Trail and Applegate Trail. McConnell uses her background as a geologist and environmental activist to educate readers on American history within an environmental context. While she focuses on nature - how humans have shaped it and how it has shaped humans - she also discusses the impact and developments of artists and social movements in the PNW throughout the book. As an Oregon resident who did not grow up in the Pacific Northwest, I enjoyed reading about local history and how certain things came to be. I liked that McConnell explained smaller histories as well as larger ones, describing the personal stories of individuals like the Applegate family and Buffalo Bill Cody. Reading about these personal stories made the landscape's history feel more accessible and interesting. McConnell also has a very engaging voice throughout this book, frequently using humor and wit alongside important historical facts. I also found it clever the way this book was organized, with "signposts" guiding you before each chapter about what you are about to read. This nod to actual trailhead imagery made me feel like I was embarking on a hike while trying to reach the end of the book. Unlike many historical books that don't try to touch on modern issues, I enjoyed how this book addressed very recent history, up to 2020. McConnell was able to connect the environmental and political history of Oregon with current social disparities and issues very well. I enjoyed her analysis at the end of this book, encouraging her readers to reconnect with both their communities and nature in order to seek real, productive change. I personally hadn't connected politics and nature in the same way McConnell does here and I enjoyed hearing her perspective.

[Lenna Veronica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A luminous, devastating, and deeply necessary journey through American myth, land, and conscience.

Ruby McConnell’s Wilderness and the American Spirit is one of those rare works that feels like both an excavation and a prophecy. Blending environmental science, feminist memoir, historical re-narration, and lyrical storytelling, McConnell traces the myth of the American West—from its violent colonial beginnings to its commodified, Instagrammable present—with unsparing clarity and an aching love for the land.

Structured like a trail itself, the book’s “trail stories” cut through centuries of westward expansion, environmental destruction, and spiritual longing. The Applegate Trail becomes a metaphorical spine—supporting the book’s inquiry into what America believes about land, freedom, destiny, and who gets to belong. The writing is equal parts fierce and tender. McConnell is the kind of guide you trust instinctively: a geologist by training, a storyteller by blood, and a woman whose voice feels simultaneously ancient and sharply contemporary.

What stayed with me most were the contrasts: between the rugged heroism of settler myths and the quiet, devastating truths of stolen land and shattered ecosystems; between the hopeful pioneerism of the New Deal and the poisoned legacies of railroads, reservations, and atomic fallout. And always, always, the question of spirit—what it has meant to Americans, how it’s been hollowed out, and how it might yet be reimagined in a postmillennial, post-exploitative environmental ethic.

This is not a book you read once. This is a book you carry—with its maps and ghosts and calls to action echoing long after you turn the final page.

[Riley Kirsch · Rating 5 out of 5]

McConnel recounts American History, specifically focusing on the Applegate trail, the history of colonization in the America's, and the movement to the West impacts on the American Spirit over time. She also connects how people throughout history have shaped the relationship between men and landscape by mentioning the importance of maps and how they are reminders of mens power over land and people. Through this she also discusses how capitalistic ideals, consumerism, and other changes in politics have led us to the environmental crisis we are currently experiencing today. She does this by connecting her knowledge of geology, history, and story telling to create imagery that immerses you into the world of past Americans and how they have led to peoples separation from nature through a variety of factors including religion and humans belief in being the superior species.

In the finally chapters she discusses Covid and how it impacted the world but what I found most interesting was her chapter "Trail Story; The Quieting" where she discussed the environmental impacts during the lockdown. She goes on to say "Streets emptied of cars. Skies emptied of planes. The ocean emptied of noise. Smog cleared." She goes on to also note the injustices that occurred during this time too but I appreciated the fact that she noted the obvious impact that humans (or lack thereof) were having on the environment when unable to go out and about. She also notes how humans could and did make notable improvement on the environment but let it all go to waste when life began to proceed as normal. This book was different than anything I had read before and I enjoyed the storytelling mixed with calls to action, science, and American history.

[Peter Torre · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell delivers American history from a unique point of view. She describes how Americans over time have preserved and abandoned their links to the natural world, and how even through all the political changes in our country, people still tend to allow fear and greed to control their lives, at the expense of the environment and, consequently, our freedom. She connects the past to the present, by using the state of the forgotten Applegate Trail, established in the mid-1800s, to map the gradual deterioration of the American landscape. The map itself represents deterioration, roughly up until the COVID-19 pandemic, which slowed everything down. Though marked with red dots, it saw the transformation of Americans, who once could have been grubstakers of the Gold Rush, into more self-reflective people who appreciated the small things in life and the simple pleasures of sewing or taking a walk through the quiet neighborhood.
The book is well-rounded and pretty well-written, and I found that it could jump from one time or person in history to the next very smoothly. She weaved the stories together and pointed out patterns that I’d never thought about before. For example, it struck me how she explained that “Make America Great Again” carried the same long-forgotten weight of the Wild West, depicted by men like Thomas Durant in the 1800s who deemed the new land a playground for people who wanted land and money, or who just wanted leisure, all in “Indian county without Indians” (McConnell 90-91). I liked the overall message of the book, that we should “go outside” (222) and refrain from overconsumption of limited resources, and that we should strive to distance ourselves from the colonial attitudes which, in large part, founded this country.

[Emjay · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC!

In Wilderness and the American Spirit, McConnell takes us on a sweeping, flyover tour of American colonization and the colonists' ever-changing relationship and association with the idea of "wilderness." Every few decades, new discoveries and philosophies (and commerce) impacted the landscape of North America and the hearts of its people, but one things stayed true from the Applegates and homesteaders all the way to the Hippies and New Age spiritualists: Americans have always struggled to see land as anything other than a resource. As we enter a new age and the consequences of our chemicals and industries become achingly apparent, it remains to be seen if we can change quickly enough to save it.

While I think the overarching theme and scope of this work was meaningful and thought provoking, McConnell seemed to lose her way in some of the details. The choice to focus on the story of a Mouseketeer in the latter chapters, for example, or the chapters devoted to contemporary music festivals felt like stretching the theme of the work to a breaking point. Wilderness and the American Spirit is at its best when it is asking the reader to re-interpret events we might have never critically evaluated before, like some of the deeper motivations behind the CCC and push to create recreational outdoor spaces during the midcentury. And the final chapter was a hopeful manifesto to how the "quieting" of the pandemic showed us that monumental change is entirely within our power to execute. If only we can garner up the courage and the urgency to try.

[Jessica Hammer · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Wilderness and the American Spirit “ by Ruby McConnell centers around the American West, specifically Oregon and the Applegate Trail. It is a very informative and imaginative telling of the trail's history and impact on the country's relationship with nature through specific stories and first-hand accounts. It features trail stories about everything from The Grateful Dead and Burning Man to Buster Keaton and Dennis Day.

I found it really interesting to read about how all of these people and events are connected to this one aspect of American history, the Applegate Trail. I also liked how McConnell's knowledge as a geologist was able to shine through and become a useful storytelling tool. Though this book's main theme is the American wilderness and how we stay connected to it through the generations, some aspects of the book tend to veer off from this theme. Though the tangents still relate to the Applegate trail, McConnell did a great job telling those stories, so I didn’t mind it that much.

McConnell's imagery shines in this book. I don’t usually read nonfiction but the way that McConnell tells these stories really takes you to the time and place, helping you understand the impact of the wilderness on Americans in any given decade.

The overall analysis of how America's relationship with the wilderness has changed over the decades was really impactful and it helped me understand why people feel so alienated from the wilderness nowadays. This made McConnell's call to action so much more inspiring. I would recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the American West, the wilderness, and/or the human spirit.

[inês · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved how through the exploration of the Applegate Trail, the author sheds light on all that is wrong with Christian-Judaic beliefs on the relationship between man and land. This land existed prior to the emigrants braving through it. It rejuvenated itself at its own pace. The aftermath of the European exploitation is that this trail (like so many others) has been used and modified to an enormous extent, hanging on by a thread. Industrialization created an unequal relationship with nature and the gap is ever widening.
The emphasis on people's stories is fundamental because it places us at the epicenter of change. We are capable of destroying, rehabilitating, changing our ways, radicalizing, conforming. Mentalities evolve (even if slowly) and so do our relationships with each other and the world around us.
The long historical exposition serves as a way for us to understand not only the history of the Applegate Trail but also that this sense of impending doom is not new. We didn't get to this place yesterday. Rather, we have been on a rapidly progressing marathon to where we are, and we can choose to change course.
The book asks us to make reparation to the people and the land. It reminds us that we are capable of radical change, showcased during Covid-19. It provides us with bottled-up hope, exploring how we could improve. Changes in education to improve our connection to nature, as well as believing that our individual choices do matter and are not just a drop in the ocean.

[Katherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilderness and the American Spirit is a book about nature, people, and how Western America came to be the landscape as we know it. McConnell’s tone throughout the book steered this story away from sounding like a textbook and instead told the stories of the Applegate and Oregon trail in a new and engaging way.

Non-fiction like this is not my typical read, which makes it all the more telling that this book kept my attention all the way through. McConnell’s knowledge on the history of the natural world is made apparent by the way they described the beauty of the wilderness while also accurately depicting the horrors of surviving the trails to the west.

The wilderness was romanticized in order to bring settlers, and McConnell makes a point to note the real experiences of those who attempted to make this journey. It seemed like the author cared a lot about understanding every side of the story. With that, important context is given to the concept of manifest destiny, and this allows us to better understand the motives of early settlers and the reactions of the indigenous people.

The way the story is told through fact and interjecting hindsight does its job of reconnecting its readers to the wilderness and its history. I was really interested in the focus on maps and how this tells more about the people within the past than it does about the actual land being travelled. Even if non-fiction isn’t your thing, I’d recommend this read to learn a little more than what history class might’ve taught you.

[Katarina Rivera · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell's Wilderness and the American Spirit tracks a path through history of our connections and disconnections with nature, from the colonialist surge westward for gold to preservation efforts in the modern day. Bringing these eras together is the Applegate Trail, which is used as both a literal example of the paths forged across the wilderness and as a metaphor for our interactions with wilderness and with each other, and the trail we've walked across history. Along the way, she brings into question the idea of wilderness itself: how do we define wilderness, and who has the privilege of drawing the maps to mark what is and isn't wilderness?

For the most part, it is a compelling read, with details of history and nature combining into an intriguing narrative. My most major criticism is that the book too often gives into the urge to generalize. Oftentimes, I find myself asking, "Who's they?" The book's generalizations often make generations feel less like groups of individuals and more like one faceless mass, all summed up too briefly in one pronoun and forced to fit. However, when the narrative returns to its focus on characters of history and the sweeping power of nature, it is at its best, with simple storytelling revealing the complexity of history. I recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of colonization, especially its impact upon the natural world around us.

[Rachael Phillips · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wilderness and the American Spirit is an approachable and conversational history of the main alternate of the Oregon Trail: the Applegate Trail. I appreciated the narrative tone that was more engaging to me, as someone who rarely reads nonfiction. The book covers history from the early-1800s through 2020, putting the westward expansion movement in a broader context of American exceptionalism and “manifest destiny”.

I also appreciated the effort to correct the historically established way of speaking about women’s and Indigenous people’s actions (or lack of actions) during this era. It also touched on the history of Oregon as an “exclusionist” state, where Black people were entirely banned from the state. I would have appreciated an even deeper dive into some of these perspectives, as the main story still followed the white men and spoke of women’s and Indigenous experiences mainly in asides.

Although I felt like there were some sections where I failed to understand their importance to the thesis, Ooerall this book posits some interesting perspectives about the American mentality and our relationship to the outdoors and the concept of “wilderness”, as both a positive “manly” association and a dangerous unknown that must be tamed. It will be interesting to those who like culturally conscious history and alternative perspectives.

[Gabby McCune · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Native American woman in America, I have to pat McConnell on the back for putting this lovely body of work together. Colonialism and, more specifically, the Americas' history with the Native people is a difficult story to tell. There are so many biases that we face in the American school system and growing up in a White-centric society, and therefore it can hard to be brutally honest. However, this problem doesn't seem to scare away McConnell who gives her readers all the gorey details and more.

I absolutely loved this author's voice as well. It was the perfect balance of informative and engaging, all without reading too much like a textbook. Her voice honored the Native American's unconditional love for nature, so unlike the kind of mindset of our colonizers, without missing the entire message. It's hard to do something like that and I admired it a lot.

I think one thing I struggled with was I felt like there could have been more inclusion of Native American voices, especially of those who have experienced life of reservation. Although it is said in the beginning that the author isn't attempting to speak on behalf of the Native American people, it is a fine line she walks on. It could have used an essay or an interview, something that stronger than the author's word alone.

Overall, it was quite the compelling read!

[meri · Rating 4 out of 5]

In Wilderness and the American Spirit, we walk alongside Buffalo Bill, Buster Keaton filming The General, and Thoreau retreating into voluntary isolation to understand the larger mythology they helped shape, the legends about the American wilderness that have woven themselves into the nation’s imagination. Their narratives linger, even as most people now encounter nature from behind a windshield or in a national park gift shop. McConnell remarks how much has been forgotten: how daily life slowly detached from the land, how shopping malls replaced rivers, and how a generation, coming of age to the sound of Nirvana’s ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’, began to realize the future they were handed was scorched. She asks readers to be just awake enough to feel that something fundamental has been lost. The book is subjective in places, which makes it all the more digestible—only textbooks have the right to be boring. Wilderness reads like your politically jaded but poetically inclined aunt explaining long-lost stories of the Anthropocene over a Patti Smith record. It’s a reminder of the world that lies outside. Stepping out of the noise, even briefly, is an escape from our overly commodified environment and a return to the vastness of the wild, while we’ve too often been misled onto paved roads and Disneyland facades. Reading is already such a return.

[Katarina Haven Beches · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m going to preface this by saying this was not my usual read. I stick to romance, fantasy, and classics when I can – relying on those genres to escape into another world entirely. However, I am happy to say that I thoroughly enjoyed this book, despite it falling outside of my wheelhouse. Not only did it explore a subsection of history that I'm personally not too familiar with, but it did that in a fun way that kept me turning the page. I appreciated the details and human personality infused in the book, just as much as I loved how I really learned more about areas spanning from Nevada to Oregon, specifically the Applegate Trail (which I had never heard of before). This book grew my own knowledge for sure, but I also really appreciated McConnell's consistent use of voice and strong style. At times, some of her statements seem to be generalized and sweeping, but as a whole, I learned a lot and enjoyed the process. The magical language (if you read the book, you’ll get that nod;) is really something and I would definitely recommend!!

[Emily Spaulding · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sharp, thoughtful, and surprisingly emotional look at how Americans have shaped, and been shaped by, the idea of wilderness.

Nonfiction isn’t usually my go-to genre, but I ended up really loving Wilderness and the American Spirit. Ruby McConnell weaves together history, personal stories, environmental commentary, and cultural analysis in a way that never feels overwhelming. Instead, it feels like she’s guiding you along a trail, pointing out the things you’ve walked past a hundred times without noticing.

The mix of “trail stories” and broader historical chapters keeps the book moving, and the Applegate Trail serves as this anchor that ties everything together. McConnell digs into the myths we’ve built about the West, the harm those stories caused, and the complicated truth underneath it all, without losing sight of the land’s beauty or resilience.

What stuck with me most was how she connects the past to the present, showing how our old ideas about land and destiny still shape the world we’re living in. It’s insightful, compelling, and honestly just really well written.

[Öykü Ertay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I want to mention first, that I am a voracious fiction reader, and I do not believe I have much experience with non-fiction. My experience with this book, though, was smooth as I found McConnell’s language rather refined and flowing. I am also not an American, so I appreciated, and mostly needed the historical highlights that lay at the core of the book, I believe. While talking about the Americans, I think McConnell’s book also provided a general culture that everyone would greatly benefit from. 

On the other hand, I was very intrigued by the relationship McConnell established with the word wilderness, as it met my expectations and prior literary definition quite perfectly. I have found the format of Signposts to be a formally controversial part of the book but I respect and perceive them as a unique portrayal of the author’s voice and personality among the information and research provided. This looks like an easy read and feels that way too, but it is dense.

[Jay Green · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is pleasant enough. The author has a very clear voice throughout, and it brings the reader through a lot of history of the Pacific Northwest that I was not aware of. There is a warmth in the tone, and McConnell is clearly very passionate about the topics which she brings up such as the American Dream, the effects of Manifest Destiny, and the disparate historical events that ended up shaping the West. I believe there is some romanticization to settlers, both engaged with and also critiqued in dual fashion which makes for a unique piece, as well as the feeling that any one of the many topics could’ve been expanded upon into its own study. I've never been particularly interested in stories of colonizing America, but I felt taken with the ones narrated to me by McConnell. I credit it to the author for making something that I find usually quite sad, still sorrowful, but able to make me sit with it for longer than normal.

[Nora A · Rating 4 out of 5]

"From the now time, it is easy to see what was lost. We had a chance in that time, an opportunity to turn things another way, to grasp another future. Still, it might not be too late."

Ruby McConnell transports readers on a journey, illustrating the history of humankind and their connections to the earth. From the establishment of the Applegate Trail to the silence of a global pandemic, we learn about the ways in which we have molded the environment (for better or for worse) and the ways it has shaped us. McConnell's tone throughout the book is pensive and, at times, remorseful. I typically don't gravitate towards historical nonfiction works, but I thought McConnell's style of writing, lyrical yet still rational, allowed me to immerse myself in these mundane stories, all of which made me consider my own choices and reflections as an active part of our natural world.

[Ava Kobos · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell makes subjects such as geology and state history incredibly engaging and palatable. Some of the strongest points of the book are her geological descriptions; she vividly illustrates the ecological conditions of the Oregon Trail and what it would’ve been like for pioneers to carve their way through the wilderness, and explains and how those experiences represented American attitudes.
I felt that some of the chapters prodded at themes beyond the book’s core, and I wish that these had been replaced with more expansive explorations of McConnell’s strongest ideas, such as the relationship between ecology and feminism or how the country could further prioritize Indigenous perspectives and lives. Still, I enjoyed most parts of the book and was impressed by the breadth of McConnell’s knowledge about Oregon.

[Charles Iovino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell does a fantastic job of weaving together history, science, and the American mythos to form one complete narrative about the wilderness and our relationship to it. McConnell's background as a geologist shines through her vivid descriptions of the Applegate Trail and beyond, which is put in the context of how people have historically interacted with the land. The book moves from a historical account of the Trail and travels both geographically and temporally to the modern age, and ends up feeling like a moving call to action. Though I am not an avid non-fiction reader, McConnell’s voice was so compelling that the book was an extremely enjoyable read and felt deeply personal as well as expertly researched and written.

[amood.reader · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Wilderness and the American Spirit was an enjoyable read, especially for those who love hiking, are interested in our environmental concerns, and are history lovers. I always heard about how Oregon is full of rich landscaping and a beautiful place to visit. Ruby McConnell weaves through time to tell how we came to where we are now. The author uses the lesser-known Applegate Trail to tell stories to depict the exploration and expansion through time. If you’re interested in the following topics, then I suggest you should give this book a chance and share your thoughts!

[Olivia Delgado · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell’s Wilderness and the American Spirit is a timely read that teaches one about the history of the American land. Her perspective as a geologist and environmentalist is infused throughout her essays and leaves you learning something new with each section. The storytelling is beautifully written as she expresses her knowledge of facts about the Applegate Trail and beyond. As a reader I loved gaining a new understanding of America’s past which shows how a geological perspective is so crucial.

[Sarah-jane Ward · Rating 1 out of 5]

I received an ARC from Netgalley

The author's constant opinion expressed through sarcasm and subjectivity prevented the reader from enjoying the book, as the direction of chapters and their relevance to the theme were unclear. The use of terms like "magical" and lack of explanation for bold statements left the reader feeling disconnected and unable to form their own opinions. Overall, the author's strong bias overshadowed the content of the book, making it unenjoyable. Sadly I didn't enjoy this book

[Kellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ruby McConnell provides a well organized look at America's interaction with the wilderness over time. She delves into everything from the first settlers to modern day events. I found the writing very engaging, weaving together both stories and factual information so that I could gain a full understanding of the topic. Although some sections did not always seem to connect with others, each provided something that I though was interesting. I learned a lot while reading this book and would definitely recommend giving it a try!

[Emily Etheridge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wilderness and the American Spirit by Ruby McConnell is a collection of essays that is a breath of fresh air for all outdoorsmen. McConnell wraps history into this book, telling it in a poetic way that walks the trees and leaves right into your home. The passion McConnell has for environmental issues is clearly explained, logical, and overall given such a creative voice. I personally really enjoyed each and every essay I had the privilege of reading.