Reviews

The Bears Ears: A Human History of America's Most Endangered Wilderness by David Roberts

notanaardvark's review against another edition

adventurous informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

3.75

liberrydude's review

4.0

I’ve read several of Roberts’ books and enjoyed his mix of personal exploration and historical research. This one is special. It’s a homage to his favorite place. Being a non-believer he would be loathe to label it a sacred place but it is.

One can’t help but wonder if it’s his last book. I hope not. I’ve been following him on FB for the past two years and knew of his health issues with cancer. What I did not know was that it wasn’t recent. He’s been at war with it since 2015. During that time he’s still found the energy to write three books.

A good look at the history and cultural forces shaping the debate on The Bears Ears. We meet many characters that personify the myth of the West. Glad I bought it. I drove through Bluff, Utah in 2007 on my way to visit Mesa Verde. I need to return now. Thanks David Roberts for planting the seed.

burdasnest's review against another edition

informative reflective slow-paced

2.0

DNF, but stuck it out for about 20%. Maybe a meandering nonfiction that mixes history and personal experience is your style. It can be mine, but also consider that Roberts falls into his own critiques of other authors, historians, and white explorers. I understand this was a very special place to the author, but try as he might, he can’t escape the pitfalls of colonialism.

TLDR: read a native person’s take on the Bears Ears, not this one.

raehink's review

adventurous dark informative reflective sad medium-paced

joannema7's review

informative reflective medium-paced

3.75