The Last Empty Places: A Journey Through Blank Spots on the American Map

by Peter Stark

In The Last Empty Places , bestselling author Peter Stark takes the reader to four of the most remote, wild, and unpopulated areas of the United States outside of Alaska and mainly not part of protected the rivers and forests of Northern Maine; the rugged, unpopulated region of Western Pennsylvania that lies only a short distance from the East’s big cities; the haunting canyons of Central New Mexico; and the vast, arid basins of Southeast Oregon.

Stark discovers that the places he visits are only "blank" in terms of a lack of recorded history. In fact, each place holds layers of history, meaning, and intrinsic value and is far from being blank. He also finds that each region has played an important role in shaping our American idea of wilderness through the influential "natural philosophers" who visited these places and wrote about their experiences--Henry David Thoreau, William Bartram, John Muir, and Aldo Leopold. It’s a fascinating look at the value of nature, the ways humans use and approach it, and what it means to seek out empty places in today’s world.

Genres: Travel

336 pages, Paperback

Published February 7, 2023

Reviews

[Kelly - readinginthe419 · Rating 3 out of 5]

I really enjoyed the travel descriptions and history of places Stark visited - northern Maine along the St. John River, western Pennsylvania along the confluence if rivers, southeast Oregon, and finally the desert canyons of central New Mexico.

But discussions of early and influential “nature philosophers” like Henry David Thoreau, William Bertram, John Muir, and Aldo Leopold seemed a bit meandering and disconnected at times. I read this on audiobook and the somewhat dry narration may have affected my enjoyment as well.

It is a good discussion, however, of the value of nature and how humans have impacted it over the centuries.

[Rachel · Rating 2 out of 5]

Rambling and unstructured. A hodgepodge of local histories, “adventure” experiences, and naturalists which explore well-trod territory.

[John Benson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a re-issue of a book in which the author visits four areas of the US that on a night map of the country show up blank and seem deserted by people--Western Maine along the St. John River; central Pennsylvania; South Central Oregon; and Western New Mexico. In two of the trips, he goes with his family to canoe the St. John River and hike in the Gila Wilderness of New Mexico. The four long sections are divided into many short parts detailing his visits to them, the human histories of these areas and discussions of the different people from Thoreau to Aldo Leopold who developed a wilderness ethic for Americans. The book includes many detailed maps, which I loved. I found it to be a very enjoyable read that reaches far beyond his individual journeys to these four areas.

[Debbie Pearson cox · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the history of remote places in our country as well as what’s happening to those places today. I particularly enjoyed the author sharing his family adventures to reach these places. Since I live in Oregon, I especially enjoyed the section about Oregon. This is a good read for anyone who enjoys history and finding the places that are remote from modern civilization.

[Greg Bem · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great read. But I am biased, having grown up in Maine and having spent time exploring the remote wilds of Oregon and Arizona/New Mexico. This is a great book for its memoir and its history qualities. It's not perfect but it's inspiring, and that's what counts.

[A Ter · Rating 2 out of 5]

Too much history of people, not enough of places (as the title would suggest)

[Miranda · Rating 2 out of 5]

DNF: intrigued by some aspects of this book, but couldn't finish it.

[Jenny · Rating 3 out of 5]

Part history, part travelogue, and lots of nature.