Howes and others give scathing review of this work as unreliable. Drannan's wife may have actually written most of the book, based on her husband's stories. Drannan has himself as the rescuer of Olive Oatman, and a companion of Kit Carson.

Through detailed analysis of local processes of interaction between Nuba and Arabic groups it gives new light to concepts such as Islamization and Arabization. The local processes affecting the economic and cultural survival of the Lafofa are presented in the context of the wider political history of the Nuba Mountains, and the position of the Nuba in the Sudanese society.

First published in paperback by UNM Press in 1976, The Way to Rainy Mountain has sold over 200,000 copies. "The paperback edition of The Way to Rainy Mountain was first published twenty-five years ago. One should not be surprised, I suppose, that it has remained vital, and immediate, for that is the nature of story. And this is particularly true of the oral tradition, which exists in a dimension of timelessness. I was first told these stories by my father when I was a child. I do not know how long they had existed before I heard them. They seem to proceed from a place of origin as old as the earth. "The stories in The Way to Rainy Mountain are told in three voices. The first voice is the voice of my father, the ancestral voice, and the voice of the Kiowa oral tradition. The second is the voice of historical commentary. And the third is that of personal reminiscence, my own voice. There is a turning and returning of myth, history, and memoir throughout, a narrative wheel that is as sacred as language itself."--from the new Preface

Many changessome discouraging, others hopefulhave occurred in the Rocky Mountain region since the first edition of this widely acclaimed book was published. Wildlife habitat has become more fragmented, once-abundant sage grouse are now scarce, and forest fires occur more frequently. At the same time, wolves have been successfully reintroduced, and new approaches to conservation have been adopted. For this updated and expanded Second Edition, the authors provide a highly readable synthesis of research undertaken in the past two decades and address two important questions: How can ecosystems be used so that future generations benefit from them as we have? How can we anticipate and adapt to climate changes while conserving biological diversity?

In 'Flowers of Mountain and Plain' by Edith S. Clements, the book explores the beauty and diversity of wildflowers found in North America, focusing on their ecological significance and botanical characteristics. Written in a descriptive and informative style, Clements provides detailed observations and classifications of various flowering plants, making it both a scientific and poetic exploration of nature. The book also delves into the historical context of wildflower exploration, highlighting the importance of preserving these natural wonders. Edith S. Clements' work stands out for its lyrical prose and insightful analysis of the natural world, making it a valuable resource for botanists, nature enthusiasts, and anyone interested in the beauty of wildflowers. Clements' passion for botany and conservation shines through in this book, showcasing her expertise and dedication to the study of plants. 'Flowers of Mountain and Plain' is a must-read for anyone looking to deepen their appreciation for the natural world and its floral inhabitants.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author John McPhee continues his Annals of the Former World series about the geology of North America along the fortieth parallel with Rising from the Plains. This third volume presents another exciting geological excursion with an engaging account of life—past and present—in the high plains of Wyoming. Sometimes it is said of geologists that they reflect in their professional styles the sort of country in which they grew up. Nowhere could that be more true than in the life of a geologist born in the center of Wyoming and raised on an isolated ranch. This is the story of that ranch, soon after the turn of the twentieth century, and of David Love, the geologist who grew up there, at home with the composition of the high country in the way that someone growing up in a coastal harbor would be at home with the vagaries of the sea.