Adios Amigos: Tales of Sustenance and Purification in the American West

by Page Stegner

Page Stegner’s extensive writings on American history have made him a popular and critical favorite. Adios Amigos maintains his high standard. These essays expertly interweave natural history, conservation polemic, ecology, and wilderness adventures on a number of the West's major whitewater rivers. Stegner moves effortlessly from his own experiences on the Colorado, Yampa, Green, San Juan, Dolores, and Missouri rivers to first explorations by historical figures like Lewis and Clark and John Wesley Powell to modern controversies that threaten the continued existence of these special places. From its opening essay, a hilarious, albeit hazardous, journey down the Owyhee River in southeastern Oregon, to its final impeachment of Lake Powell, Stegner's articles are rich in vivid detail, laced with sardonic humor, and always grounded in a passion for the West — both its heady past and the promise of its future.

Genres: Nonfiction

224 pages, Hardcover

First published March 3, 2008

About the author

Page Stegner is a novelist, essayist, and historian who has written extensively about the American West. He is the son of novelist Wallace Stegner.

Stenger received his B.A. in history from Stanford University in 1959, followed by a Ph.D in American literature in 1964. He served as a Professor of American Literature and Director of the creative writing program at the University of California, Santa Cruz from 1965 to 1995, at which time he focused his efforts on writing. He has received a National Endowment for the Arts fellowship (1980), a National Endowment for the Humanities fellowship (1981) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (1982). He is married to novelist Lynn Stegner. They live in Santa Fe, New Mexico. (from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Xarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

While I’m not a river running (though been on two river trips), I did find this book quite enjoyable, especially since one of Stegner’s river trips was on a river I’ve been on! I love reading about things like this: backpacking in the canyons of the southwest, adventuring to find Mayan ruins, river running. I think it’s because I probably won’t be doing anything like that in my life.

I love hearing about the adventure and having the author describe the scenic beauty of the wild. Reading these descriptions makes me yearn to be out there, just sitting and watching the world.

One of the great parts of the books was when he would describe trips with students! So, so stupid. I couldn’t believe how little they cared about the seeing the river, but cared so much about not having the right food. I’m still shaking my head! I am SO happy I’m not one of those people!

In the most disturbing section of the book (last chapter), Stegner describes the history of Lake Powell. Let it be clear: I dislike the premise behind the reservoir as well as what it did not only to archaeological resources but also to nature. I feel those individuals who play on the lake should disappear – they are only adding to the destructive nature of the lake.

[Megan Campbell · Rating 3 out of 5]

My son picked this book out for me on a blind book buy and although I do not know much about river rafting I found this book quite enjoyable and wry informative about the Colorado River.