The Sagebrush State: Nevada's History, Government, and Politics

Wilbur S. Shepperson Series in Nevada History

by Michael W. Bowers

Since its publication in 1996, The Sagebrush State has served as the text for the Nevada Constitution component required for graduation from all Nevada colleges and universities. The second edition of this authoritative work is updated through 2001 to include recent changes in the Nevada Supreme Court, term limits, legislative oversight of the executive branch, and limited legislative sessions. The full text of the state constitution is provided for reference in an appendix and includes extensive annotations that note and explain amendments and other changes made to the original 1864 document.

Genres: History, Textbooks, Nonfiction

241 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1996

Reviews

[Felisha]

Dull and informative. I imagine it’s used as a textbook because there aren’t many books written on Nevada.

[Ashley]

Strangely entertaining for an accepted textbook. I appreciated the effort to keep me interested but I wasn't able to reference it during class discussion because the tone was so close to a story.

[Kirsta]

The beginning about Nevada's political history was the most interesting to me. The rest was useful.

[Nicole]

Read for class.

[Anonymous Johnson]

The driest book I’ve read this year

[Sierra]

Finally…. Hopefully I pass the final worth 75 % of my grade :D

[Brian Flint]

Mr. Bowers is clearly a talented researcher. I never felt that the raw facts were questionable as the references were either readily cited or contained within the manuscript. I came away feeling I have learned the essentials regarding Nevada's history and political system. Mr. Bowers has a talent of making a text book readable and interesting, a feat difficult when writing academic manuscripts. While his B.A. in History certain helped in the very brief history portion of this book, his advanced degrees in Political Science clearly shine in his more extensive treatment of the political systems at work in Nevada. As a historian, I was hoping for greater attention on the history. My only criticism of this introduction to the Sagebrush State is Mr. Bowers clear bias in the treatment of events and consequences in the state's history. Specifically, he can easily judge European-American actions as they pertain to minorities without contextualizing this actions. Furthermore, he paints the minorities as victims, only mentioning what was done to them without mentioning ways in which they contributed. It is our job as historians to present the events without applying modern morality. This does not completely detract from the usefulness of this book. I would assign this book in my classroom along with other books to provide a balanced view of the history of Nevada.

[Dustin Tatman]

Way out in the land of the setting sun,
Where the wind blows wild and free,
There's a lovely spot, just the only one
That means home sweet home to me.
If you follow the old Kit Carson trail,
Until desert meets the hills,
Oh you certainly will agree with me,
It's the place of a thousand thrills.

Home means Nevada
Home means the hills,
Home means the sage and the pine.
Out by the Truckee, silvery rills,
Out where the sun always shines,
Here is the land which I love the best,
Fairer than all I can see.
Deep in the heart of the golden west
Home means Nevada to me.

Whenever the sun at the close of day,
Colors all the western sky,
Oh my heart returns to the desert grey
And the mountains tow'ring high.
Where the moon beams play in shadowed glen,
With the spotted fawn and doe,
All the live long night until morning light,
Is the loveliest place I know.

Home means Nevada
Home means the hills,
Home means the sage and the pines.
Out by the Truckee's silvery rills,
Out where the sun always shines,
There is the land that I love the best,
Fairer than all I can see.
Right in the heart of the golden west
Home means Nevada to me.

[Edwin]

This book is a solid intro to Nevada constitutional and state history. The chapter on Civil Liberties and Rights was my favorite. The second half of the book is quite dry, starting with the chapter on the "Nevada Legislature." Despite this obstacle, the book offers glimpses into why Nevada is truly a unique state in our country.

[Paula]

This was the textbook for a class I had to take for my teaching certificate. I didn't expect to enjoy it, but I loved it. It's very comprehensive and gives a well rounded history into Nevada and it's constitution. I enjoyed it very much and ended up with an A in the class!

[Julie Hendrix]

I found the history of Nevada intriguing and I enjoyed the political aspects of the book as well.

[Delanie Slattery]

This was the textbook for a class. It was a pretty good read.

[Anna]

I enjoyed this book so very much that I bought myself a copy for my personal library.