September-October Book Club Selection: “The Emerald Mile” by Kevin Fedarko
At the end of each podcast episode, I ask the guest to name his or her favorite book about the American West. The books mentioned have been as varied as the guests’ careers and backgrounds—non-fiction and fiction, biography and philosophy, academic texts and poetry. But one specific title continues to pop up time and again. This book touches on many important aspects of the West—its history, settlement by Europeans, and the all-important issue of water resources.
But unlike many dry texts about western history and water issues, this story is built around an epic, real-life adventure through the depths of the Grand Canyon. It’s one of those books that is so well written and action packed, you’ll have a hard time putting it down. But when you’re finished, you’ll realize that you learned an unbelievable amount about could-be boring subjects such as the Bureau of Reclamation, water rights, hydrology, and the government’s role in regulating water supplies. It’s almost as if the author figured out a way to trick his readers into understanding and caring about the plight of the Colorado River.
If you’re a regular podcast listener, you know exactly what book I’m talking about. The September-October book club selection is:
The Emerald Mile: The Epic Story of the Fastest Ride in History Through the Heart of the Grand Canyon by Kevin Fedarko
Everyone I know who has read this book has loved it, no exceptions. In my recent podcast episode with Pete McBride, he named The Emerald Mile as one of two books that are mandatory for those wanting to understand water in the West (and Pete knows a thing or two about the Colorado River). But even if you care nothing about water or the history of the West, it’s still a damn good read—wild adventure, crazy characters, all in an extreme, unforgiving landscape. This is a perfect book for Mountain & Prairie Podcast listeners.
I’ll be excited to hear your thoughts on the book and the issues it raises about us humans’ impact on the American West, as well as solutions for moving forward in a responsible, sustainable manner.
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Grab a copy of The Emerald Mile—purchase it from Amazon or your local bookseller, or check it out from your local library. Start reading.
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Head over to our Goodreads Group. Create an account, then join in the conversation in the online discussion forum. As you read, give your feedback on the book, pose questions to the group, and share your thoughts as you plow through the adventure.
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The only way this works is with lots of participation from lots of people, so the more the better. DON’T BE SHY!
