What do you think?
Rate this book
The National Parks: America's Best Idea
The companion volume to the twelve-hour PBS series from the acclaimed filmmaker behind The Civil War, Baseball, and The War.
America’s national parks spring from an idea as radical as the Declaration of Independence: that the nation’s most magnificent and sacred places should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. In this evocative and lavishly illustrated narrative, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea, from the first sighting by white men in 1851 of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world’s first national park at Yellowstone in 1872, through the most recent additions to a system that now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.
The authors recount the adventures, mythmaking, and intense political battles behind the evolution of the park system, and the enduring ideals that fostered its growth. They capture the importance and splendors of the individual parks: from Haleakala in Hawaii to Acadia in Maine, from Denali in Alaska to the Everglades in Florida, from Glacier in Montana to Big Bend in Texas. And they introduce us to a diverse cast of compelling characters—both unsung heroes and famous figures such as John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ansel Adams—who have been transformed by these special places and committed themselves to saving them from destruction so that the rest of us could be transformed as well.
The National Parks is a glorious celebration of an essential expression of American democracy.
America’s national parks spring from an idea as radical as the Declaration of Independence: that the nation’s most magnificent and sacred places should be preserved, not for royalty or the rich, but for everyone. In this evocative and lavishly illustrated narrative, Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan delve into the history of the park idea, from the first sighting by white men in 1851 of the valley that would become Yosemite and the creation of the world’s first national park at Yellowstone in 1872, through the most recent additions to a system that now encompasses nearly four hundred sites and 84 million acres.
The authors recount the adventures, mythmaking, and intense political battles behind the evolution of the park system, and the enduring ideals that fostered its growth. They capture the importance and splendors of the individual parks: from Haleakala in Hawaii to Acadia in Maine, from Denali in Alaska to the Everglades in Florida, from Glacier in Montana to Big Bend in Texas. And they introduce us to a diverse cast of compelling characters—both unsung heroes and famous figures such as John Muir, Theodore Roosevelt, and Ansel Adams—who have been transformed by these special places and committed themselves to saving them from destruction so that the rest of us could be transformed as well.
The National Parks is a glorious celebration of an essential expression of American democracy.
432 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2009
79 people are currently reading
1926 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews
June 25, 2014
The glories of nature versus the all mighty dollar, this is the story of America. This is story of The National Parks: America's Best Idea.
Having just read a book by John Muir, seen as the savior of Yosemite, and having an ingrained love of nature, I was naturally driven towards The National Parks. I've always wanted to see them for myself, but lately I've developed a desire to know their history. I was thrilled to find this book in audio format at my local library.
This is the book form of Ken Burns' 2009 documentary. In fact, Burns narrates the bulk of this audiobook. While not possessing the most commanding of voices, Burns is nonetheless effective. He makes documentaries on subjects that have great meaning to him and in turn he conveys his love to his viewers, and in this case, his readers.
That the U.S. was the first nation to preserve land as national parks is a point of pride. It's heartening to hear of humans doing the right thing for the good of our planet. It's disheartening to hear of the many humans willing to pave over all of nature in order to make a fast buck in the moment without regard to others or the future. The battle, who waged it and how it was won or lost gives the reader a greater appreciation for the struggle.
Each park has an Interesting story. The book starts off with Yosemite and John Muir, the Scotsman who was so instrumental in kicking off the preservation moment in America.
It then moves on to Yellowstone...
Denali...
Acadia...
The Everglades...
Zion...
The Grand Canyon...
The Grand Canyon did not immediately become a National Park at first opportunity. Arizonans didn't want it. Some of them wanted to profit from the Canyon via mining, grazing, and putting up their own houses and hotels on the rim to leech off the rise in tourism as roads and rail plowed their way right up to the edge of the precipice.
That is the story of so many of our national parks. Today we sometimes take them for granted, forgetting that their existence was at one recent time very much so in the balance. The National Parks is an excellent reminder of the struggle for preservation and a great way to verbally experience the parks vicariously.
Having just read a book by John Muir, seen as the savior of Yosemite, and having an ingrained love of nature, I was naturally driven towards The National Parks. I've always wanted to see them for myself, but lately I've developed a desire to know their history. I was thrilled to find this book in audio format at my local library.
This is the book form of Ken Burns' 2009 documentary. In fact, Burns narrates the bulk of this audiobook. While not possessing the most commanding of voices, Burns is nonetheless effective. He makes documentaries on subjects that have great meaning to him and in turn he conveys his love to his viewers, and in this case, his readers.
That the U.S. was the first nation to preserve land as national parks is a point of pride. It's heartening to hear of humans doing the right thing for the good of our planet. It's disheartening to hear of the many humans willing to pave over all of nature in order to make a fast buck in the moment without regard to others or the future. The battle, who waged it and how it was won or lost gives the reader a greater appreciation for the struggle.
Each park has an Interesting story. The book starts off with Yosemite and John Muir, the Scotsman who was so instrumental in kicking off the preservation moment in America.
It then moves on to Yellowstone...
Denali...
Acadia...
The Everglades...
Zion...
The Grand Canyon...
The Grand Canyon did not immediately become a National Park at first opportunity. Arizonans didn't want it. Some of them wanted to profit from the Canyon via mining, grazing, and putting up their own houses and hotels on the rim to leech off the rise in tourism as roads and rail plowed their way right up to the edge of the precipice.
That is the story of so many of our national parks. Today we sometimes take them for granted, forgetting that their existence was at one recent time very much so in the balance. The National Parks is an excellent reminder of the struggle for preservation and a great way to verbally experience the parks vicariously.
September 3, 2013
This may appear to be just a "coffee table" book, but it's much more than that. This is a comprehensive history of our national parks, from the first molecule of an idea right up to the present.
I learned about many of the key figures here and there in my university degree program. This book pulled it all together for me chronologically, so I could appreciate each person's sacrifices and contributions within the context of the emerging national park system.
I've been a user and a lover of our national parks since early childhood. I've visited nearly all of the parks and monuments in the Western U.S. and worked a few summers in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. So I'm going to get sappy and mushy here (fair warning!) and say that my heart really did swell with gratitude as I read about the tireless determination of these men and women. Amid great opposition, they worked to set aside our national treasures.
You've heard the names: John Muir, Stephen Mather, Horace Albright, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Laurence Rockefeller, Olaus, Adolph, and Mardy Murie, and too many others too mention. Mather and the Rockefellers spent millions of their own dollars buying up property to donate, anticipating national park status for those lands. What a legacy!
The history also includes some of the more colorful characters who studied, visited, or tried to scam a profit from the national parks. These stories are sometimes entertaining, sometimes sad, and sometimes just plain hard to fathom with our 21st-Century mentality.
Of course, the book is full of stunning scenic photos and artwork, as well as a wealth of historical photos. I'm very passionate about what's left of our wild lands, so I'll be revisiting this book in the future.
**The book springs from a PBS special, for which there is a set of six DVDs. If you're too lazy to read the book, view the program and absorb some important history.
I learned about many of the key figures here and there in my university degree program. This book pulled it all together for me chronologically, so I could appreciate each person's sacrifices and contributions within the context of the emerging national park system.
I've been a user and a lover of our national parks since early childhood. I've visited nearly all of the parks and monuments in the Western U.S. and worked a few summers in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. So I'm going to get sappy and mushy here (fair warning!) and say that my heart really did swell with gratitude as I read about the tireless determination of these men and women. Amid great opposition, they worked to set aside our national treasures.
You've heard the names: John Muir, Stephen Mather, Horace Albright, Teddy Roosevelt, FDR, John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Laurence Rockefeller, Olaus, Adolph, and Mardy Murie, and too many others too mention. Mather and the Rockefellers spent millions of their own dollars buying up property to donate, anticipating national park status for those lands. What a legacy!
The history also includes some of the more colorful characters who studied, visited, or tried to scam a profit from the national parks. These stories are sometimes entertaining, sometimes sad, and sometimes just plain hard to fathom with our 21st-Century mentality.
Of course, the book is full of stunning scenic photos and artwork, as well as a wealth of historical photos. I'm very passionate about what's left of our wild lands, so I'll be revisiting this book in the future.
**The book springs from a PBS special, for which there is a set of six DVDs. If you're too lazy to read the book, view the program and absorb some important history.
July 28, 2022
One learns that the world, though made, is yet being made; that this is still the morning of creation...
—John Muir
One of my favorite things about coming home is being near the Rockefeller State Park Preserve, a beautiful wooded area laced together with carriage roads. Having easy, ready access to nature is something I dearly miss overseas. For all of the pleasures and charms of a big city—the great restaurants, the nightlife, the museums, the concerts—there is a kind of inner need that can only be satisfied in the wild—a peacefulness, a mental quietude, which is difficult to feel anywhere else. I came to this documentary as a way of celebrating the natural beauty of my country.
It is surprising to learn how long it took Europeans to begin to appreciate natural beauty. A glance at the history of Western art reveals this: the landscape as a genre is a relative latecomer, only really coming into its own in the 17th century. A philosopher as late as Hegel famously found nothing to admire in the Swiss Alps. All this is a way of saying that the idea of setting aside land merely to be and remain beautiful was a radical idea, and I think it is no coincidence that it emerged in the United States first. After all, this was the country of Emerson, Thoreau, and the Hudson River school of landscape painters—all of whom espoused a quasi-religion of nature worship.
In Ken Burns’s telling, the story of the establishment of the various national parks always seems to follow the same pattern: An individual or a small group of individuals decide that a certain tract of land is special and worth preserving, and work to enlist the help of the federal government. Meanwhile, an array of local business interests—loggers, miners, builders of dams—always seems hellbent on stopping them. These avaricious interests are often enough to stall Congressional action, but the Antiquities Act (passed under Teddy Roosevelt) gives the president the authority to unilaterally declare an area a “national monument,” which has saved many a cultural and natural treasure—including the Grand Canyon itself. This gives Congress time to catch up.
I was surprised—and moved—at how emotional parts of this documentary could be. Clearly, the national parks are not just scenic backdrops for family picnics, at least not for many visitors. For some, the parks are full of family memories; and for others, the parks have a transcendental, even a spiritual value, which has inspired some devotees to go to enormous lengths to protect them. The documentary ends with a man in tears as he tells of the day he saw mountain goats with his son. Another episode features the diary entries of a woman whose greatest joy in life was to visit the parks with her husband, and ends with the emptiness she feels after visiting a park as a widow. I was perhaps most affected by the story of George Masa, a Japanese immigrant who worked tirelessly—and at considerable personal expense—for the establishment of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park—a man who died almost penniless, and whose funeral had to be organized and paid for by a local hiking club.
Indeed, it may seem strange for an American to say so, but this documentary was something of a revelation to me. You see, my family does not have the tradition of visiting national parks, so I have never seen Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Grand Canyon, the Everglades, Acadia, or any of the many other beautiful parks. By now, I am convinced that, if not necessarily “America’s best idea” (I vote for the cheeseburger), these parks are likely the most spectacular places to visit in the country. I don’t know when I’ll go, but I’m sure I will one day.
(I also wanted to mention that I was pleased to find out that John D. Rockefeller, Jr.—who helped to make the park behind my house—was instrumental in the development of many of our finest national parks. In fact, Acadia National Park has carriage roads and stone bridges remarkably similar to those in the Rockefeller State Park Preserve. It is a worthy use for oil money.)
March 30, 2011
There are two ways to read this book. The first would be a quick scan through, like a coffee table book to browse the beautiful photography and maybe read the short bios and interviews scattered throughout the book. Or, you can read the book in it's entirety and learn the history of how our national parks came to be, and who the pivotal people were who made it happen. Either way, I would give it a 5 star rating. I come from a family who has a great appreciation for the national parks. My grandparents both spent summers in their college years working in Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons, and passed their love of it down through the decades. I also inherited their love of the outdoors, and understand the need that humans have to get close to nature sometimes. How thankful I am for the far sighted Americans and immigrants who made it possible for these beautiful scenes to be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
December 6, 2021
It has been and honor and one of my greatest joys to camp every summer and spend 4 weeks touring our National Parks. It's made such a lasting mark that I continue to share them with my children. Yellowstone is my favorite, and learning the history, and the tone it set for future National Parks only added another layer of enjoyment. The only drawback to this is that now I want to jump in a minivan and see them all again (right now ;)
February 3, 2019
*reads book*
*Quits day job*
*Goes out to become a park ranger*
*Rides a bison across the wilderness while bald eagles screech overhead*
*Quits day job*
*Goes out to become a park ranger*
*Rides a bison across the wilderness while bald eagles screech overhead*
January 2, 2020
What a wonderful addition to my national parks education! I read this via audio, which always challenges me to keep the story straight. As Dayton Duncan said at the end of the book, this is a story about the individuals who and ideas that helped form our national parks.
Many, if not most, times, movies result as adaptations of a book. Interestingly in this case, the book was a result of the Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea. I have saved watching the video series until I'd read the book, so now on to viewing.
John Muir was a prominent figure throughout the book, and rightly so. A succinct, but good, account of Muir is given early on and has impressed me to learn more about him. Somewhere in the last part of the book the term "Muir Moments" was used, and all those "Muir Moments" thereafter were special.
I get a special little thrill when a book I'm reading surprisingly mentions a person I've recently "met" in my reading life. Such was the case here. The man Adolf Murie was foremost in a chapter, and I wondered, with a hopeful expectation, that he was somehow related to Olaus and Mardy Murie, of whom I had read about last year in her book, Two in the Far North. Not only that, but on a recent trip to the Grand Tetons, I saw on a park map an area marked as "Murie Ranch." To me, since "Murie" is not a common last name, I wondered Olaus and Mardy were crossing my path again. When I got to the visitor center, I asked one of the park rangers about the Murie Ranch. Sure enough, it was the home of Olaus and Mardy for over thirty years after their time in Alaska, and a place where Adolf visited often. That thrilled me. Also, in this book, Olaus' simple response to a graduate student intern asking how he could help to which Olaus replied, "Wear out a pair of hiking boots." That, I think, is how we can help perpetuate our national parks.
Almost at the end of the book, Dayton Duncan recounts his story of how a particular visit to a national park affected him as a youngster and then how that same visit affected his Duncan's son. It was beautiful and would bring a bit of touching tears to the eyes.
This book has helped forge my own desire to travel and explore America's protected natural areas while I still am able. I particularly enjoyed the audio edition.
Many, if not most, times, movies result as adaptations of a book. Interestingly in this case, the book was a result of the Ken Burns' The National Parks: America's Best Idea. I have saved watching the video series until I'd read the book, so now on to viewing.
John Muir was a prominent figure throughout the book, and rightly so. A succinct, but good, account of Muir is given early on and has impressed me to learn more about him. Somewhere in the last part of the book the term "Muir Moments" was used, and all those "Muir Moments" thereafter were special.
I get a special little thrill when a book I'm reading surprisingly mentions a person I've recently "met" in my reading life. Such was the case here. The man Adolf Murie was foremost in a chapter, and I wondered, with a hopeful expectation, that he was somehow related to Olaus and Mardy Murie, of whom I had read about last year in her book, Two in the Far North. Not only that, but on a recent trip to the Grand Tetons, I saw on a park map an area marked as "Murie Ranch." To me, since "Murie" is not a common last name, I wondered Olaus and Mardy were crossing my path again. When I got to the visitor center, I asked one of the park rangers about the Murie Ranch. Sure enough, it was the home of Olaus and Mardy for over thirty years after their time in Alaska, and a place where Adolf visited often. That thrilled me. Also, in this book, Olaus' simple response to a graduate student intern asking how he could help to which Olaus replied, "Wear out a pair of hiking boots." That, I think, is how we can help perpetuate our national parks.
Almost at the end of the book, Dayton Duncan recounts his story of how a particular visit to a national park affected him as a youngster and then how that same visit affected his Duncan's son. It was beautiful and would bring a bit of touching tears to the eyes.
This book has helped forge my own desire to travel and explore America's protected natural areas while I still am able. I particularly enjoyed the audio edition.
March 19, 2021
I love national parks, Ken Burns, and cheesy Americana, so it is hard not to love the story of the US national park system, told in coffee table format packed with beautiful images.
The story of the national parks and the National Park Service forces you to reflect on the rapid pace of North American development over the last 200 years. It makes you deeply appreciate of the people that had the foresight to set aside these huge swathes of land for preservation and enjoyment, AND ensure they were resourced appropriately to be preserved.
One can argue if building roads, trails and hotels in parks is preservation, but the perverse alternative is what happened to Niagara Falls: one of the world's wonders plastered with commercialism, hotels and casinos.
This book really made we want to travel and get out in nature.
Maybe closer to 4.5 stars. The writing was a bit dry at times, 150 years of history difficult to weave into a common narrative, and the most of the focus went to some of the largest and oldest parks: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, and Grand Canyon.
The story of the national parks and the National Park Service forces you to reflect on the rapid pace of North American development over the last 200 years. It makes you deeply appreciate of the people that had the foresight to set aside these huge swathes of land for preservation and enjoyment, AND ensure they were resourced appropriately to be preserved.
One can argue if building roads, trails and hotels in parks is preservation, but the perverse alternative is what happened to Niagara Falls: one of the world's wonders plastered with commercialism, hotels and casinos.
This book really made we want to travel and get out in nature.
Maybe closer to 4.5 stars. The writing was a bit dry at times, 150 years of history difficult to weave into a common narrative, and the most of the focus went to some of the largest and oldest parks: Yellowstone, Yosemite, Glacier, and Grand Canyon.
January 31, 2010
“For the first time in human history, land--great sections of our natural landscape--was set aside, not for kings or noblemen or the very rich, but for everyone, for all time.” -Ken Burns
At the risk of offending Ken Burns' fans, I found the PBS narrative to be a bit tedious (sorry, Ken Burns!), AND despite his wonderful intro (quoted above). However, this companion book to his documentary about our National Parks is a GEM. I liked the fact that I could take my time and choose the images and text I was most excited about. I took it to work with me and read from it to coworkers and exclaimed over the fascinating people (characters) we meet along the way. I even welled up in parts. sniff.
I give it ten stars. Yes, ten.
At the risk of offending Ken Burns' fans, I found the PBS narrative to be a bit tedious (sorry, Ken Burns!), AND despite his wonderful intro (quoted above). However, this companion book to his documentary about our National Parks is a GEM. I liked the fact that I could take my time and choose the images and text I was most excited about. I took it to work with me and read from it to coworkers and exclaimed over the fascinating people (characters) we meet along the way. I even welled up in parts. sniff.
I give it ten stars. Yes, ten.
January 29, 2020
This was a wonderful history of the national park system, featuring some of my old friends, John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt. I'm particularly grateful for recent visits to Yosemite and Yellowstone, which made the stories all that more accessible. And I look forward to park visits in my future.
I knocked a star off for the pantheism of later episodes and, frankly, for wolves. In my part of the world wolves are a clear and present danger.
The downfall of the audio edition is missing the vibrant visual splendor. Having invested 15 hours in listening to the audio, I don't want to get sucked into 15 hours of viewing. But the print book is on its way to my library, so I can peruse and enjoy the photographs.
I knocked a star off for the pantheism of later episodes and, frankly, for wolves. In my part of the world wolves are a clear and present danger.
The downfall of the audio edition is missing the vibrant visual splendor. Having invested 15 hours in listening to the audio, I don't want to get sucked into 15 hours of viewing. But the print book is on its way to my library, so I can peruse and enjoy the photographs.
August 27, 2019
We’ve got the DVD, we watch the DVD every other year as the boys get older & now we’ve got the book. It was Steven Mathers great mind as well in 1916 to invent the National Park System. A man who had serious trouble with being bi polar on any spectrum long before we had a name for it, created a wonderful gift with Teddy Roosevelt.
We are truly blessed.
Recommend
We are truly blessed.
Recommend
February 11, 2019
This book is based on a film by Ken Burns and gave me a ton of insight into the history of the national parks. As I march my family to see all 59 parks (but not necessarily the monuments, historical sites, etc.), the book told tons of stories about the characters and process behind several parks and the system itself, from the first (Yosemite) to the federal law creating 5/6 in Alaska at the end of the Carter Administration. This included the fact that the second Roosevelt Administration integrated the Shenandoah NP despite Virginia’s Jim Crow Laws. And the story of Lancelot Jones, the son of a former slave who sold more than 200 acres of land to the Federal government to create the Biscayne Bay NP. In return, he asked only for a key lime pie. Behind every national park is a single person or a few people who advocated for its creation. As one reporter described in the book, national parks give us breathing room and moments of transcendence. At this point, my family has only visited 11. This book reinforces my desire to see many more.
March 23, 2016
Fascinating stories of the amazing men and women who, at crucial times in American history, were able to fend off private individuals and and big interests determined to destroy our country's beautiful and remarkable forests, canyons, mountains and rivers. The haphazard story of how our National Parks came into existence involves perseverance, courage, sacrifice, wit, good writing and media connections, enforcement, politicking and intense personal experience with the great outdoors. It started with John Muir and never would have become a reality if it weren't for the many individuals in subsequent generations who took up the cause. Visiting the National Parks has always been top on my list but after listening to this book on CD, my subsequent visits will be more meaningful knowing the struggle it took to create them and will include a silent grateful prayer for those who dedicated their lives to preserve these amazing landscapes.
May 23, 2017
This book speaks to the blessing of libraries. I wouldn't have listed national parks among my most pressing interests, but in looking to the institutions that impact the culture more subtly than presidents and wars, national parks qualify as an alternative whisper of what we really value.
Granted, the presidents and millionaires who get their ink in traditional history are the ones at the forefront of the fight for and against national parks, but their struggle for something that isn't obviously political is interesting. As a Christian listening to this fight from the reading sidelines, I found the language particularly compelling because the biblical idiom was so often invoked in the fight to preserve Creation for its own sake.
Granted, the presidents and millionaires who get their ink in traditional history are the ones at the forefront of the fight for and against national parks, but their struggle for something that isn't obviously political is interesting. As a Christian listening to this fight from the reading sidelines, I found the language particularly compelling because the biblical idiom was so often invoked in the fight to preserve Creation for its own sake.
July 1, 2021
Stopped reading hardcover on page 207 and switched to the audiobook. Loved skimming thru the photographs in the print edition!
The tendency nowadays to wander in wilderness is delightful to see. Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home; that wildness is a necessity; and that mountain parks and reservations are useful not only as fountains of timber and irrigating rivers, but as fountains of life.
-John Muir, 1901
There must be places for human beings to satisfy their souls. Food and drink is not all. There is the spiritual.
-John Muir
June 17, 2014
First off -- BEAUTIFUL photos (a mix of scenic and historical). This book explores the founding of our national parks. Fun and interesting details about the well-knowns, like Muir and Roosevelt, but the author also does a great job of highlighting the unsung heroes and stories no one's heard before.
Even if you just flip thru the book and look at a few photos and read a paragraph or two, I bet you'll want to jump in your car and scoot over to the nearest National Park!
(And I recommend the Ken Burns documentary as well.)
-- Victoria
Even if you just flip thru the book and look at a few photos and read a paragraph or two, I bet you'll want to jump in your car and scoot over to the nearest National Park!
(And I recommend the Ken Burns documentary as well.)
-- Victoria
April 16, 2017
For all the American history I have read, nothing has taught me more about democracy, illustrated how American democracy operates, or personalized the values underlying our democracy more than a book about National Parks. No book on the Founding Fathers, no book about military engagements, no book on civil rights. National Parks. Go figure. This was an enlightening and as touching a book as I've ever read.
November 13, 2022
This is a history of the national park system in this country. It is not really clear what this book is from the cover, but is it a really well done history book. The impression I had was that it would be a little juvenile, but this is the book to read on this subject.
I was familiar with John Muir, but this book is a minor biography of him as well, and I learned a ton about his importance to the idea of national parks. The book covers the history of pretty much all of the major parks, going particularly in depth on Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Acadia, Smokey Mountains, Everglades, and more, so come to think of it, in depth on most of them. Each park had a fairly organic movement that lead to it becoming a national park - a different champion for each of them. But beyond John Muir, the person most responsible for the national park system was Stephen Mather, along with his assistant Horace Albright.
Stephen Mather made a fortune in the boron mining business, and used his own money on many occasions to help launch national parks. It was Mather's vision that made the parks what they are today. John D. Rockefeller Jr. spent a fortune as well to help launch different national parks, including Teton and Acadia. But different people were vital to different parks, like George Masa for the Smokies.
I was particularly moved by the story of Chiura Obata, a Japanese artist who found particular solace in Yosemite and made some amazing art drawings of Yosemite. His "Glorious Struggle", which shows a sequoia in a snowstorm, metaphorical for his own struggle in an internment camp during WW2, really moved me: "In such times I heard the gentle but strong whisper of the Sequoia gigantean: 'Hear me, you poor man. I've stood here more than three thousand and seven hundred years in rain, snow, storm, and even mountain fire still keeping my thankful attitude strongly with nature-do not cry, do not spend your time and energy worrying. You have children following. Keep up your unity; come with me'."
The afterword also moved me, thinking of the times I've spent with my family in national parks and will in the future, and how we've had perhaps our best days in some of these amazing places. If places like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon were in foreign countries, we would still try our best to visit these places - how lucky we are that some of the most amazing places in the world are nearby in this country. And how lucky we are that certain people like Muir and Mather had the foresight and ability to get this nation to set some of these places aside for everyone to see in perpetuity.
I was familiar with John Muir, but this book is a minor biography of him as well, and I learned a ton about his importance to the idea of national parks. The book covers the history of pretty much all of the major parks, going particularly in depth on Yellowstone, Yosemite, Mesa Verde, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Acadia, Smokey Mountains, Everglades, and more, so come to think of it, in depth on most of them. Each park had a fairly organic movement that lead to it becoming a national park - a different champion for each of them. But beyond John Muir, the person most responsible for the national park system was Stephen Mather, along with his assistant Horace Albright.
Stephen Mather made a fortune in the boron mining business, and used his own money on many occasions to help launch national parks. It was Mather's vision that made the parks what they are today. John D. Rockefeller Jr. spent a fortune as well to help launch different national parks, including Teton and Acadia. But different people were vital to different parks, like George Masa for the Smokies.
I was particularly moved by the story of Chiura Obata, a Japanese artist who found particular solace in Yosemite and made some amazing art drawings of Yosemite. His "Glorious Struggle", which shows a sequoia in a snowstorm, metaphorical for his own struggle in an internment camp during WW2, really moved me: "In such times I heard the gentle but strong whisper of the Sequoia gigantean: 'Hear me, you poor man. I've stood here more than three thousand and seven hundred years in rain, snow, storm, and even mountain fire still keeping my thankful attitude strongly with nature-do not cry, do not spend your time and energy worrying. You have children following. Keep up your unity; come with me'."
The afterword also moved me, thinking of the times I've spent with my family in national parks and will in the future, and how we've had perhaps our best days in some of these amazing places. If places like Yosemite, Yellowstone and the Grand Canyon were in foreign countries, we would still try our best to visit these places - how lucky we are that some of the most amazing places in the world are nearby in this country. And how lucky we are that certain people like Muir and Mather had the foresight and ability to get this nation to set some of these places aside for everyone to see in perpetuity.
April 23, 2022
How does Ken Burns and his collaborators do it? There must be an army of them. This beautiful, comprehensive, well written, story exploding, vignette compelling, quotable, image rich, hefty coffee table book is also good for weight lifting. Jokes aside, it is an amazing accomplishment and important contribution to history (plus it weighs in at 7 pounds).
I treasure nature. As an avid hiker and lover of wildlife and the outdoors, this was a tremendous gift from my stepson. To be honest, I have not fully digested it nor am I reading it chronologically. It reminds me of growing up and leafing through the two sets of encyclopedias in our home. I had no particular destination, I was exploring.
This too, is a reference guide. I am picking and choosing bits based on interest or just flipping to a section much like we used to spin a globe and stab our finger at a place to fantasize about a trip to parts unknown.
I like that I am going through this tactile tome before seeing the documentary series. I watched Burns’ Civil War series several times and then bought the book. I hardly ever cracked it. The same thing happened with his series, The Vietnam War. So, there is a big insight. Book first, screens later.
Now to content insights. Well, one big insight. Burns subtitled the series and book, “America’s Best Idea”. Absolutely right. When the country began setting aside these gorgeous lands, the U.S. was vast and had a low population. Protecting the land was not super controversial. Now with more people, real estate development, mineral exploration, fossil fuel dependency and general greed, these lands are a battle ground.
America’s last president wanted to rape them. I remember an editorial cartoon depicting him on the tee-off box of a golf hole. Midway down the fairway was an above ground oil pipeline bisecting the fairway. The message being, you would propose to ruin a pristine piece of nature but never allow a manufactured indulgence to be impacted.
Enough of that. The point being, these parks are sacrosanct. Hands off but feet on. Hike them, explore them. Yet, leave no trace. Give thanks to those who had vision to set them aside. In time, they will seem prehistoric. Those who live in concrete and towers will enter them with reverence. We saw that in the pandemic. Urbanites entered parks around the world in record numbers.
I believe this short passage from the book sums it nicely, “The story is, a man came up to Yosemite and the ranger was sitting at the front gate and the man said, "I've only got one hour to see Yosemite. If you only had one hour to see Yosemite, what would you do?" And the ranger said, "Well, I'd go right over there, and I'd sit on that rock, and I'd cry."
I treasure nature. As an avid hiker and lover of wildlife and the outdoors, this was a tremendous gift from my stepson. To be honest, I have not fully digested it nor am I reading it chronologically. It reminds me of growing up and leafing through the two sets of encyclopedias in our home. I had no particular destination, I was exploring.
This too, is a reference guide. I am picking and choosing bits based on interest or just flipping to a section much like we used to spin a globe and stab our finger at a place to fantasize about a trip to parts unknown.
I like that I am going through this tactile tome before seeing the documentary series. I watched Burns’ Civil War series several times and then bought the book. I hardly ever cracked it. The same thing happened with his series, The Vietnam War. So, there is a big insight. Book first, screens later.
Now to content insights. Well, one big insight. Burns subtitled the series and book, “America’s Best Idea”. Absolutely right. When the country began setting aside these gorgeous lands, the U.S. was vast and had a low population. Protecting the land was not super controversial. Now with more people, real estate development, mineral exploration, fossil fuel dependency and general greed, these lands are a battle ground.
America’s last president wanted to rape them. I remember an editorial cartoon depicting him on the tee-off box of a golf hole. Midway down the fairway was an above ground oil pipeline bisecting the fairway. The message being, you would propose to ruin a pristine piece of nature but never allow a manufactured indulgence to be impacted.
Enough of that. The point being, these parks are sacrosanct. Hands off but feet on. Hike them, explore them. Yet, leave no trace. Give thanks to those who had vision to set them aside. In time, they will seem prehistoric. Those who live in concrete and towers will enter them with reverence. We saw that in the pandemic. Urbanites entered parks around the world in record numbers.
I believe this short passage from the book sums it nicely, “The story is, a man came up to Yosemite and the ranger was sitting at the front gate and the man said, "I've only got one hour to see Yosemite. If you only had one hour to see Yosemite, what would you do?" And the ranger said, "Well, I'd go right over there, and I'd sit on that rock, and I'd cry."
May 27, 2025
This book discusses how the United States became the first modern nation to institutionalize a process for publicly protecting natural spaces for posterity's sake.
The early success of the Parks required the work of naturalists like John Muir, politicians like Theodore Roosevelt, artists like Ansel Adams and Chiura Obata, administrators like Charles Young and Stephen Mather, and advocates such as the women's groups who helped expand the definition of what a National Park could be by leading the fight to save Mesa Verde and the Everglades.
The process of building the Parks was not without controversy. They were opposed by many: industrialists who felt the Parks sought to protect too much, naturalists who felt they protected too little, federal agencies like the Forest Service with a fundamentally different vision of what "conservation" actually meant.
Further, establishing some parks involved the displacement of both indigenous and settler communities that historically called those lands home.
Like this nation, the Park Service put has effort into evolving— today it doesn't just preserve natural wonders and sensitive habitats, but also historical heritage: places that reflect our nation's greatest triumphs and our most mortifying mistakes. The modern Park Service consults and cooperates with communities who have cultural ties to the places protected by the Parks, and the Park Service continues to work toward balancing its two unique missions of preserving habitats and heritage while making them accessible to all Americans.
I believe the National Park Service represents the United States at our best. We should feel a sense of gratitude when visiting these places and treat them with the respect they deserve.
The early success of the Parks required the work of naturalists like John Muir, politicians like Theodore Roosevelt, artists like Ansel Adams and Chiura Obata, administrators like Charles Young and Stephen Mather, and advocates such as the women's groups who helped expand the definition of what a National Park could be by leading the fight to save Mesa Verde and the Everglades.
The process of building the Parks was not without controversy. They were opposed by many: industrialists who felt the Parks sought to protect too much, naturalists who felt they protected too little, federal agencies like the Forest Service with a fundamentally different vision of what "conservation" actually meant.
Further, establishing some parks involved the displacement of both indigenous and settler communities that historically called those lands home.
Like this nation, the Park Service put has effort into evolving— today it doesn't just preserve natural wonders and sensitive habitats, but also historical heritage: places that reflect our nation's greatest triumphs and our most mortifying mistakes. The modern Park Service consults and cooperates with communities who have cultural ties to the places protected by the Parks, and the Park Service continues to work toward balancing its two unique missions of preserving habitats and heritage while making them accessible to all Americans.
I believe the National Park Service represents the United States at our best. We should feel a sense of gratitude when visiting these places and treat them with the respect they deserve.
January 18, 2025
cool book! i’ve been to 22 of americas national parks, along with some national monuments and state parks, so i really ate this up.
it was super neat to learn more about how each park formed, the essential people involved in this process, the history of america at that time, how each park grew and transformed into what we see today, and how the national park system as a whole came to be.
i wish there was a bit more info on how the creation of the park system effected indigenous peoples and nations in the past and present, along with why the land is significant to them, the use of the land before it became a park, and some of the oral teachings for those regions. while there were some sections regarding this, they were often limited and sporadic. luckily, visiting the parks and talking to locals has given me some insight on these topics!
all in all, lots of cool facts throughout this book that i didn’t know before and will be sharing with others. i love nature <3 this book really reminded me just how beautiful north america is. next on my to-do list is to watch the PBS series on americas national parks associated with this book
it was super neat to learn more about how each park formed, the essential people involved in this process, the history of america at that time, how each park grew and transformed into what we see today, and how the national park system as a whole came to be.
i wish there was a bit more info on how the creation of the park system effected indigenous peoples and nations in the past and present, along with why the land is significant to them, the use of the land before it became a park, and some of the oral teachings for those regions. while there were some sections regarding this, they were often limited and sporadic. luckily, visiting the parks and talking to locals has given me some insight on these topics!
all in all, lots of cool facts throughout this book that i didn’t know before and will be sharing with others. i love nature <3 this book really reminded me just how beautiful north america is. next on my to-do list is to watch the PBS series on americas national parks associated with this book
August 1, 2021
4.5/5
This was an easy 4 stars from the get go, and honestly, probably already before I picked up the book. I am a fan of Ken Burns (and I think I saw this series years ago, but cannot completely remember), and a huge fan of the National Parks. Some of my favorite places on Earth are in the National Parks, and I miss them. This was a great reminder to find time to visit as soon as practical.
The extra half star was due to the emotions this book brought me, especially near the end, where I started thinking about the trips I will take with my family in the future, the memories we can make, and especially the memories I will never make with my youngest child - and how much I wish I could have introduced her so some of my favorite places.
This was an easy 4 stars from the get go, and honestly, probably already before I picked up the book. I am a fan of Ken Burns (and I think I saw this series years ago, but cannot completely remember), and a huge fan of the National Parks. Some of my favorite places on Earth are in the National Parks, and I miss them. This was a great reminder to find time to visit as soon as practical.
The extra half star was due to the emotions this book brought me, especially near the end, where I started thinking about the trips I will take with my family in the future, the memories we can make, and especially the memories I will never make with my youngest child - and how much I wish I could have introduced her so some of my favorite places.
June 6, 2019
I've always appreciated the idea of National Parks, even if I never felt too much of an inclination to go and see them all. But having read this book and heard the firsthand testimonies of so many of those who dedicated their lives to the philosophy that birthed that national park movement, I can honestly say that I have been moved, and filled with a desire to experience these wonders for myself. Duncan's in-depth exploration of the park's history and its founding ideologies was incredible to engage with and experience, and was told so vividly, complete with extended excerpts from journals, and interviews with contemporary embodiments of the spirit that led to the founding and expansion of the national parks. In the end, the book was a beautiful testament to the power that these lands have on individuals and on America, such that the book's subtitle, "America's Best Idea," was proven to be significantly true by the book's end.
September 3, 2020
Companion book to the 10 hour documentary series by Ken Burns. I’m not a big media consumer, yet I binge watched that series! Covering not only the sublime beauty and expanse of national parks, but telling a deeply intimate history of how they came to be, the series is a compelling mix of nature, politics and history. John Muir’s spiritual reverence, Stephen Mather’s marketing genius, Roosevelt’s vision, Albright’s tenaciousness - the stories of people, rich and poor from all backgrounds who fought to save these lands from the greed of rampaging industrialisation is inspiring. It makes you angry to hear of the people that opposed them and the myopic, selfish basis for that opposition - guess there are always dickheads that need to be fended off.
In addition to the awe inspiring photos and archives, the intro by Ken Burns alone is worth buying the book for. His writing shines just as brightly as his film making.
In addition to the awe inspiring photos and archives, the intro by Ken Burns alone is worth buying the book for. His writing shines just as brightly as his film making.
February 2, 2017
Highly recommend. This book offers a comprehensive history of the National Park Service and full profiles and accounts of the efforts of the giants of Park history -- Muir, Mather, Albright, McFarland, Yard, Wirth, Roosevelt, FDR, and more. The text is rich with powerful scenic descriptions and engaging anecdotes. Substantial information, beautifully presented.
I have not watched the Ken Burns series, so this could be redundant for those who have.
I listened to the Random House audiobook, which I thought was very well done.
I have not watched the Ken Burns series, so this could be redundant for those who have.
I listened to the Random House audiobook, which I thought was very well done.
July 10, 2023
4.5 because - This book is enormous. It is lengthy, yes. But, it is more like a coffee table book and annoyingly unwieldy. I like to carry my books with me to read when moments allow and this one was a chore to carry around.
I enjoyed reading it from start to finish. I am passionate about National Parks. I love the magic that comes from simply entering the parks. This book made me nostalgic for places I have never been. It has always been a goal of mine to see as many National Parks as possible. This has just cemented that desire.
I loved the history, the tidbits, the hope, the evolution of these parks for over 150 years to become what they are today. I know I could have watched the documentary but reading was more memorable. Thanks for the recommendation. (You know who you are.)
I enjoyed reading it from start to finish. I am passionate about National Parks. I love the magic that comes from simply entering the parks. This book made me nostalgic for places I have never been. It has always been a goal of mine to see as many National Parks as possible. This has just cemented that desire.
I loved the history, the tidbits, the hope, the evolution of these parks for over 150 years to become what they are today. I know I could have watched the documentary but reading was more memorable. Thanks for the recommendation. (You know who you are.)
March 24, 2022
The National Parks: American Best Idea is the companion book to the great Ken Burns series on National Parks. It is a wonderful book about the history of National Parks. It has beautiful pictures to go with it. It is a great reference source.
This source contains history of the major people and events that created and formed our parks to become what they are today. It gives information to understand and appreciate why National Parks are important for our legacy concisely. If you appreciate National Parks in the US, this is a must have book. Burns did phenomenal job with stories, pictures, and history.
This source contains history of the major people and events that created and formed our parks to become what they are today. It gives information to understand and appreciate why National Parks are important for our legacy concisely. If you appreciate National Parks in the US, this is a must have book. Burns did phenomenal job with stories, pictures, and history.
August 29, 2017
Wonderful history, we all need to embrace and cherish our parks, had great fun researching videos and additional images. Really enjoyed, just ordered the DVD series that mirrors the book.
December 29, 2019
This reads like a documentary, because it is based on a documentary. But there is lots of interesting information and it is pretty engaging. A great place to start for NPS history.
January 22, 2020
It was very interesting to see the creation and evolution of the national parks.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 246 reviews