Yosemite: An American Treasure

by Kenneth Brower, National Geographic Society

Discover more than 120 stunning color photographs featuring this jewel of the Sierra Nevada.
 
The beauty and the grandeur of Yosemite National Park beckon 4.1 million visitors each year. Some are rock climbers who come to challenge Yosemite’s granite. Some, en route to the backcountry, come for solitude. But by far the greatest number come to experience the view from the valley. Author Kenneth Brower details the captivating variety of Yosemite’s plants and animals. He chronicles how rivers of ice shaped the valley and relates the saga of the park through its first 100 years. Despite concerns about large crowds straining park resources, Brower remains optimistic. He writes, “The message of Yosemite is not how badly the park is run, but how well.”
 
Each National Geographic Park Profile captures the beauty of one of the United States' beloved national parks. Other installments in the series include books on the Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, and the Blue Ridge Mountains.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Geography, Photography, Reference, Environment

199 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Kenneth Brower is an American nonfiction writer. He is the oldest son of the late environmentalist David R. Brower.

He is best known for his many books about the environment, national parks, and natural places, many of them in hundreds of libraries and by major publishers, including several titles in the series The Earth's Wild Places published by the Friends of the Earth in the 1970s. His most widely read book, on Yosemite, is in over 1200 worldCat libraries. Many of his books have been published by The National Geographic Society. Several of his books have been translated into Japanese, German, Spanish, and Hebrew.

He is also known for being the author of The Starship and the Canoe, a comparison of the lives of scientist Freeman Dyson and his 'rebellious' son George Dyson.
(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The writing isn’t an example of fine literature. But that is not the point of the book. It is more of an opportunity to know and understand more about Yosemite and to relive the experience of being there, which is enhanced by beautiful photos. Having just visited the park and finding it completely astonishing, the book heartily succeeded. Hence the four stars.

[Dee Renee Chesnut · Rating 5 out of 5]

A favorite story was from Kenneth Brower who, as a child, thought the name of the place was My-semite.

[Nathan Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful coffee-table book presenting an overview of Yosemite National Park in a conversational, narrative style not unlike what we've come to know and love from all those National Geographic specials, and accompanied by many gorgeous photographs, a few by Ansel Adams. Published in 1990, it was probably written at least a year before, and so readers who grew up during the '80's or visited the park at that time may experience a touch of nostalgia, especially if they've also visited recently.

[Peter J. · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely love Yosemite as do so many millions of others! As a consequence, I was fascinated by this book. Kenneth Brower has done extensive camping in Yosemite both as a child and as an adult, and has an intimate knowledge of the park. Being a National Geographic book, the photos were of course, stunning! I enjoyed reading about the history of the park from the Native Americans, who lived there for millennia to the unbelievable and rapid changes that took place after the gold rush.. because of the over 100 full color photos in the book, it was a fairly quick read…

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This author writes so lovingly of Yosemite and has a long family history of park involvement. The photographs are stunning.

[Jennie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not what I was expecting, this is pretty pictures and essays, not vacation tips.

[Roxanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book years ago when I lived in the Colorado high country and was in the National Geographic book of the month club. I loved and still love this book. It's not like a travelogue, but more like reading about treasure. You get the sense that Yosemite is this living, breathing "being" allowing you to visit and share.

I wrote to Ken Brower, who wrote BACK. I have his letter pasted in the back of the book...his father was in the 10th Mountain Division training near Minturn and Ken thought he himself might have almost been conceived in Glenwood Springs. HA!
I love that letter...cracked me up.
I bought another of his books directly from him...The Spaceship and the Canoe, I think...such interesting people.

When Ken Brower's Dad died, I sent him a note...and again he wrote back, even whilst grieving.

Read this book if you want to get to know Yosemite as a lover might know it.

Thanks, Ken

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just came home from Yosemite last month. Saw it the park for the first time when I was 13 on one of those National Lampoonish cross country vacations. 28 years later, I had a totally different appreciation for the park and reached for this book that has been sitting on the shelf for years.

Brower provides the reader with a lot of facts about the park that are interesting and important. But what he does so masterfully - and maybe even more importantly - is describe the emotions the park evokes in you. You don't visit Yosemite - you fall in love with it. And as Brower tells the story of his love of the park that started as a child, you find yourself saying, "I know EXACTLY what you mean!"

I was sad when I finished the book - because I felt like I was saying good-bye to the park again. I actually fell asleep that night with my hand on the book beside my pillow.

[Nerissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting history of a beautiful park. Makes me want to visit again.

[Erinp · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. I learned a lot about a national park I've never been to. Pictures were beautiful, and made me really want to visit the park.