Yesterday I reviewed the book Noah’s Garden. My purpose has been to look at stops along the way of patriarchal influence. Where did these inherited values come from? Wilderness and the American Mind is another book I read many years ago which has stayed with me. It was first published in 1967. A quick check shows that the book has been revised at least five times. I read the first revised edition in 1974.
Nash lays out his primary point in his preface where he says, “Today’s wild country enjoys widespread popularity: indeed the success of wilderness preservation is now threatened as much from a plethora of enthusiastic visitors as from economic development. Yet, for most of their history, Americans regarded wilderness as a physical and moral wasteland fit only for conquest and fructification in the name of progress, civilization, and Christianity.”
Harsh, I know, but true. This is a legacy that continues to influence our society, our minds, and our values. It could be said that this is now especially true with the current administration seeking to sell off as many national landscapes to their wealthy compatriots as possible.
Continue reading “Wilderness and the American Mind by Roderick Nash, book review by Janet Rudolph”
