Reviews tagging 'Death'

Leave Only Footprints : My Acadia-to-Zion Journey Through Every National Park by Conor Knighton

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laurenleigh's review against another edition

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adventurous funny informative lighthearted reflective medium-paced

5.0

I am learning I really enjoy this style of nonfiction, where you’re constantly learning interesting little tidbits, but these facts are spread out inside an overarching story, with pieces of the author’s personal life peppered in. I felt like I got to vicariously travel to so many beautiful national parks! I also feel like I know Conor Knighton quite well now lol. I appreciated his vulnerability! One thing that’s really sticking with me is his trip to American Samoa. I knew people in Guam and Puerto Rico can’t vote in our elections (neither can Samoans for that matter). But while people born in Guam or PR are US citizens, did you know people born in American Samoa are only considered US Nationals, not citizens? Our country basically asks for their allegiance, but then gives none of that back in return. These territories don’t even get a vote in Congress! I find this all totally fascinating and wildly unreasonable. I also appreciated his chapter on how white our National Parks are and why that is. I didn’t realize there used to be “colored sections” of the parks. Between that racist history; the fact that most of our national parks are in predominantly white states, far from urban cities; and the economic burden of getting to, staying near, and entering a park, we can see where the problems lie. Knighton does a good job too of reminding us that when a white dude “discovered” something, he was just the first to write it down. Indigenous populations were there first. Anyway, if you want to read about the outdoors and learn some cool things, I recommend this one!
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