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NPT Reviews of Books and other Material

A collection of book reviews to help you pick the perfect read for your national park escape

Yosemite In The Fifties

Personalities, towering granite walls, and historic photographs for added perspective -- some amazing perspective at times -- are the heart and soul of Yosemite In The Fifties, a 176-page book that captures what the authors refer to as the Iron Age of climbing in Yosemite National Park.

59 Illustrated National Parks: Celebrating 100 Years Of Wilderness And Wonder

Whether captured in words, photographs, or illustrations, national parks are wondrous places, vibrant and breathtaking in their scenery and history. To drive that point home, Joel Anderson and his son, Nathan, of the Anderson Design Group have just released a book that displays the 59 "national parks" in unique posters.

Allies Of The Earth - Railroads And The Soul Of Preservation

When I mentioned in a Traveler comment a few weeks ago that I was reading Dr. Runte’s book, Kurt asked if I would write a review. Since then, there have been a couple of articles batting some of Alfred’s ideas back and forth. When I took a look at Traveler the other morning, I found a rebuttal by Dr. Runte regarding one of those articles. Now I sit at my keyboard wondering if I am qualified – or even want to – wade into the middle of all this.

Are Women Better Conservationists? Revisiting National Parks And The Woman’s Voice

Perhaps few people today remember Nancy Ayers, but I will never forget her. Certainly, on being informed of her death last winter, a flood of memories came rushing back. In her honor, I decided to reread Polly Welts Kaufman's National Parks and the Woman’s Voice. Although I recalled no woman in the book quite like Nancy, I owed it to her to reflect on our friendship. A book reminiscent of her qualities seemed the perfect touch.

Speaking Of Bears, The Bear Crisis And A Tale Of Rewilding From Yosemite, Sequoia And Other National Parks

Even before the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, wildlife issues involving predators swirled about the national parks. Grizzly bears and wolves were apex predators that preyed on deer, elk, moose, and bison. As such, they were viewed as evil, rapacious carnivores that should be exterminated.

Photographing National Parks: A Guide For Scouting And Shooting America's Most Cherished Lands

While there are countless books on the market specializing in national park photography, Photographing National Parks - A Guide For Scouting And Shooting America's Most Cherished Lands by Chris Nicholson is a new and worthy addition filled with helpful tips and suggestions that merit more than a passing glance at the title.

The Carry Home, Lessons From The American Wilderness

Gary Ferguson’s latest book is a love story, and a bittersweet and poignant one at that. He regales us with his long, loving marriage to a woman who came to share his kindred spirit for the wilderness, bares his soul through the painful loss of her on a wilderness river in Canada, and takes us on a healing journey back into the wilderness.

The Rapids And The Roar: A Boating History Of The Colorado River And Grand Canyon

At first glance, this looks like just another book about rafting in the Grand Canyon and its rapids. It can be, after all, a life-changing experience and people just feel compelled to write about it. But Gaylord Stavely was not only one of the first people to raft the river; he was there when the entire river-running industry was born, knows all of the history behind the places, and the eccentric people who yearned for the freedom of the river.

The Essential RVing Guide

The Essential RVing Guide to the National Parks

The National Parks RVing Guide, aka the Essential RVing Guide To The National Parks, is the definitive guide for RVers seeking information on campgrounds in the National Park System where they can park their rigs. It's available for free for both iPhones and Android models.

This app is packed with RVing specific details on more than 250 campgrounds in more than 70 parks.

You'll also find stories about RVing in the parks, some tips if you've just recently turned into an RVer, and some planning suggestions. A bonus that wasn't in the previous eBook or PDF versions of this guide are feeds of Traveler content: you'll find our latest stories as well as our most recent podcasts just a click away.

So whether you have an iPhone or an Android, download this app and start exploring the campgrounds in the National Park System where you can park your rig.