Yellowstone: A Journey through America's Wild Heart

by David Quammen

Best-selling author David Quammen takes readers on a breathtaking journey through America's most inspiring and imperilled ecosystem - Yellowstone National Park. Filled with amazing images captured by eight National Geographic photographers over an extensive two year deployment in the park, it is unlike any Yellowstone book before it. Yellowstone's storied past, rich ecosystem and dynamic landscape are brilliantly portrayed in a captivating mosaic of photographs and eloquently written text that blend history, science and research from the field.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature, Travel, Natural History, History, Photography, Science

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 22, 2016

About the author

David Quammen (born February 1948) is an award-winning science, nature and travel writer whose work has appeared in publications such as National Geographic, Outside, Harper's, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times Book Review; he has also written fiction. He wrote a column called "Natural Acts" for Outside magazine for fifteen years. Quammen lives in Bozeman, Montana.

Reviews

[Anne Osterlund · Rating 4 out of 5]

A stunning book with gorgeous photographs and thought-provoking text.

[Deb (Readerbuzz) Nance · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am writing a book about Yellowstone Park, so I'm reading everything Yellowstone I can find. I got this beautiful book for my birthday. It's National Geographic-quality, with big bold pictures and intriguing text. Lots of the most interesting parts take place during the winter. It makes me wish I could go there then.

[Suchi S · Rating 4 out of 5]

Doubly thought provoking and inspiring reading this while in the National Park

[Jonathan Forisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m planning to visit Yellowstone for the first time later this month, so I thought it would be nice to read a book about the place. There’s so much history wrapped up in the world’s first national park, but I don’t know much of it, so Quammen’s book was a good place to start.

It’s a National Geographic book, so obviously you get a lot of gorgeous photos and some high-quality writing about the place. Though it’s fairly short, this book does a good job of telling the history of the place and outlining some of the issues inherent to taming a wild place and trying to keep an element of its wildness.

Sections of the book were fairly pessimistic, which I’m sure is hard to avoid when discussing the fate of nature in today’s world, though I think Quammen also did a good job of balancing that with a healthy optimism. The point that he kept coming back to was that the entire idea of Yellowstone is unlikely and brilliant, and if we could make that happen then there’s no limit to what can be done in the American wilderness. I hope he’s right.

[Amy Dance · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you love Yellowstone, wildlife, beautiful photos- this book is for you. A coffee table book with more photos than words, but it talks of the majesty, the fragility, the strengths & issues concerning Yellowstone- how modern life is a threat (ex. Migratory paths cut off or disrupted) & ways we can help, how different species interact, balancing conservation with public access. I love that it contains short features on people who have close relationships with the area- natives, hunters, ranchers, conservationists, park workers... there are no easy answers to preserving Yellowstone, but working together, in civil discussions, cooperation, coordination & compromise, there is hope. But mostly, the photos- they are incredible.

[Debra · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit I picked up this book because of its cover and quick glance at the inside photography - that and I want to see Yellowstone close up. This book is a thoughtful look at an iconic park that is dealing with the surrounding property problems and the interior policies that are trying to balance a complex system of living organisms. As man discovers each change effects another area and so on. A wonderful slow read with some laugh out-loud moments when the author finds himself in scenarios that when more exciting than he anticipated.

[Aleksandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

So many interesting facts and insights which have stuck with me after finishing reading; really inspirational too, considering all the people Quammen met and their professions working with animals in areas of wildlife. Kind of showed me how much more there is to do professionally out there surrounded by things I'm passionate about/ love; nature, animals and understanding the balance between humans and the earth. The writing style confused me at parts and was a bit excessive, but I didn't mind at all. Photography was beautiful and heartwarming.

[Fran · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was been one of my greatest and most humbling experiences to visit Yellowstone 5 times in my life (so far). These memories are directly tied to my childhood, however only two of my four children have enjoyed this experience. This is a national treasure, but this beautiful "coffee table" book shared the complexities currently and concerns for the future. I learned a lot and enjoyed every page and photograph!

[Rebecca · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful National Geographic book of Yellowstone, touching on perspectives of conservation and ecology issues surrounding the area in the midst of gorgeous, full-page photographs. I can't believe nobody has commented on the author's hilariously rude descriptions of the people he met. These were the highlights of the book for me; I laughed out loud at most of them and am glad he didn't meet me!

[Nathan · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of essays and photos documenting ‘America’s best idea’, the national park, and specifically the first one. The complicated ecosystem and all its many players from bears to trout to moths to wolves to elk to hunters to ranchers to tour guides to park rangers and all of their interconnected relationships and dependencies.

[Lara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful book with gorgeous pictures of Yellowstone and for this reason, not good for the Kindle. Like a very long National Geographic article.

[Bronwyn Echols · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent portrayal of the natural history of Yellowstone (the wildlife, the ecosystem, not so much the geology) and of the challenges facing the park and its surrounding lands.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautiful photography!

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was only interested in the pictures.

[Praneesh K · Rating 4 out of 5]

Yellowstone Caldera

[Susan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs; smart, well researched and documented facts and discussions. 10 years old. Exactly what I expect from this author, and very much appreciated!

[Jack · Rating 5 out of 5]

Isn't just a travelers guide, gets into the history and controversies surrounding Yellowstone.

[Janis · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book! I would have loved it even without the photos. The author is very good at explaining each topic he considers. I loved little gems like Kansas farmers potentially being a deciding factor in whether or not grizzlies survive in Yellowstone. How can that possibly be true? Read the book & you will know.

[Grillables · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought it started off a bit like a slight coffee table book (beautiful pictures, but relatively brief text that was not too engaging), but it picked up pace and intensity. I missed the quirky accessibility of some of Quammen's earlier essays (like _Natural Acts_ and _Flight of the Iguana_), but his well-honed science writing turned the book into more than a compilation of pretty pictures. This was a good, quick overview of some of the challenges of "cultivated wilderness" and the interconnected and competing desires of wild and human ecosystems.

[Mary Drew]

Might look like another coffee table book, but David Quammen's text makes it so much more.

[Sandybear76 · Rating 4 out of 5]

excellent photos. sections talk about various animals in Yellowstone, conservation, ranchers, and other varied topics.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photos and words paint a picture of the issues our first national park is facing and proposes how we might preserve this "cultivated wild." The author's voice was technical and knowledgeable, but charming and left me wanting to hop online or on a plane to learn more.

[Karen Amero · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful and thought provoking book about the challenges and the wonders of Yellowstone National Park.

[Dona · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on this national park and how we all are interconnected to it.

[Judy Naylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extraordinary photos; a wonderful book to read and savor.

[Danielle T · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely little book- essentially a National Geographic Issue entirely written by David Quammen about Yellowstone National Park, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem area, their history, and the complex web of interactions within the parks. I say parks because many of the photos are also of Grand Teton National Park, YNP's southern neighbor, as well as photos from around the region because wildlife tends to ignore arbitrary boundaries. Great coffeetable book with excellent photos that remind me of home.