prcizmadia's review against another edition
5.0
Deeply engaging read, and hopefully not just because I can relate to the writers' central quest. It's not so much a search for Abbey's personal grave, but using the deep exploration of his roots and life as a means to explore what's important to him, and where to go in his life. Maybe it struck a chord in me, and maybe that's why I rate it so high. Your mileage may vary. But his non-flowery prose, full of openness and honesty, is something I appreciated, as that somehow captured the beauty and power of the desert.
misandrywitch's review against another edition
2.0
worth reading for the interviews with abbey's friends, not so much for the rest. if I wanted to read a dissatisfied white guy languish on about the real meaning of nature I would... well, read ed abbey. there's a lot of space to think about what it means to wrestle with ed's legacy but this book doesn't do anything new for me. oh well.
freethefreckle's review against another edition
3.0
Could have benefited from more descriptions of the environment, rather than simply naming off canyons and cacti across the west. I also think we missed out on not getting more focus on the author and his relationship with his best friend, to coincide with the stories we hear from Abbey and his closest friends. A good story for someone stuck in a big city and missing the west during this pandemic.
cisko's review
4.0
A contemplative and personal account of Prentiss’ search for the environmental activist and anarchist. Prentiss searches not just for Abbey’s secret, illegal grave in the desert, but also for explanations of Abbey’s life and character, and even for insight into his own life and yearnings. Beginning in Abbey’s hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania, Prentiss visits Abbey’s stops across the US, leading always to the desert southwest and Abbey’s fame and true love in the trackless desert. He examines Abbey’s charisma and flaws in equal measure, but the exploration is centered on Abbey’s discontent with civilization and love for the wilderness. The book is more meditation than biography, as Prentiss relates his love for Abbey to his own search for home and belonging. It may be too personal for those who are only seeking more information on Abbey, but it’s strongly written, and will resonate with anyone who is on their own search for meaning and belonging.
More...