In this solo episode, I share five books that fundamentally shaped my understanding of conservation, public lands, water, ranching, and the American West. These are the books that helped transform me from a ranch broker with a growing curiosity about conservation into someone who eventually devoted much of his career – and this podcast – to exploring the people and ideas shaping the landscapes of the West.
Along the way, I discuss Theodore Roosevelt, wildfire policy, regenerative grazing, Western water, and the history of conservation, while highlighting conversations from the Mountain & Prairie archive that connect to each book. Whether you’re new to these topics or looking to deepen your understanding on anything from water to ranching to history, these books provide an excellent foundation. Enjoy!!
THE BOOKS:
- Losing Eden: An Environmental History of the American West by Sara Dant
- The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire That Saved America by Timothy Egan
- For the Love of Land: Global Case Studies of Grazing in Nature’s Image by Jim Howell
- Downriver: Into the Future of Water in the West by Heather Hansman
- The Wilderness Warrior: Theodore Roosevelt and the Crusade for America by Douglas Brinkley
THE RELATED EPISODES:
- Sara Dant – First and Second
- Rob Addington
- Good Fire, Bad Fire
- Jim Howell – First and Second
- Heather Hansman – First and Second
- Douglas Brinkley
Photos courtesy of Dillon Osleger
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A HEARTFELT THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS:
RESOURCES:
Topics Discussed:
- 00:00 – Introduction & why these books matter
- 03:05 – Losing Eden by Sarah Dant
- 09:25 – The Big Burn by Timothy Egan
- 16:05 – For the Love of Land by Jim Howell
- 23:35 – Downriver by Heather Hansman
- 29:05 – The Wilderness Warrior by Douglas Brinkley
- 35:25 – Final thoughts & closing remarks
Enjoy this episode? Then you might like these too:
- Our 10 Favorite Adventure Books, with Mark Kenyon
- 10 Must-Read Books about the American West, with Mark Kenyon
- Sebastian Junger – On Meaning, Mortality, and Belonging
- Rebecca Clarren – “The Cost of Free Land”
- Nick Offerman – Empathy, Nuance, & Good Hard Work
- Hampton Sides Returns: The Wild and Tragic Tale of Captain James Cook
Visit the podcast page for a full list of episodes where you can filter episodes by topic and guests’ vocations.
M&P IS LISTENER-SUPPORTED VIA PATREON
