The Practice of the Wild: Essays

From the git-go, I've got to tell you: this is a difficult, challenging book. Not because of the thought or content, but because of the loose and sometimes pedantic writing style. Gary Snyder the poet is a different critter than Gary Snyder the essayist. The syntax is awkward - Snyder asks that you jump across the chasms of comprehension with him. So, you make the disconcerting leap, and your comprehension is left hanging, with nothing to really hang on to.Gary Snyder is in the role of prophet, as he talks about a "culture of wilderness". But he never elucidates on this - I have not a clue what he means by this term, since he doesn't elaborate on this notion. He talks about a return to the "commons" of historical times - and there is a cogent discussion of this in the essay "The Place, the Regions, and the Commons". "Good, Wild, Sacred" and "Ancient Forests of the Far West" are the other two essays that are fairly lucid.Yet, I've got to say, the other six essays are pedantic and almost incoherent. It is very hard to follow the discursive twists and turns in this writing. Is Snyder trying to impress his fellow professors at UC Davis with his acumen? We have to be lectured at on the etymologies of many words to the point where the narrative momentum gets slack.The thoughts and content seem legitimate; but the writing style is certainly not. His observations are valid; but with non-sequiturs abounding, with generalizations of human history and philosophy tucked into tangents running off to the horizon, the poor reader is left in the quicksands of incomprehension.In all fairness, you might consider taking a pass on this one. I rarely review a 3 star book, prefering to stay on the positive side of things. This one is one of those rarities.Extracts: A Field Guide for IconoclastsThe Cloud Reckoner

This book (a series of nine essays) moves a bit slow, but the pacing is perfect for the style of writing. The essays were on nature, the definition and impact of nature, and instead of vitriolic bashing of human's interaction with nature, Snyder shows that we could live in harmony with our sacred places. I reccommend you read the essays one at a time, and take your time with them. They really make you think about how each culture interacts with the region they are in, and how sometimes we do take our relationship to the wild the wrong way. It is both poetic, and scientific, the perfect education.

I use the essays in The Practice of the Wild in some of the classes I teach. Gary Snyder has a profound sense of place, the wilds, and keen heartfelt vision for the possibilities of our human place in the nature of things. His writings inspires us to deepen our own relationship to self, community, and place... especially in the terrain of the wilds. Like his essays in Turtle Island these essays will stand the test of time.

Few books about nature excite me; most leave me bored. Snyder's mastery of language and depth of thought create a riveting exploration. I have recommended this book to many people, and all who have read it treasure it.

to find our way back from complete devastation will require that we listen to those who have known the way home a long time - gary snyder introduces us to that knowledge in these essays - this book will be read as long as there are people who read books as we know them - may that be a very long time.

In spite of my passion for this conserving wild places I couldn't finish this book. I didn't feel like I learned much or was exposed to new perspectives. The strident style of the author's prose made it feel like I was being machine gunned by his opinions. Further, I look for writing on this subject to have some sense of poetry and to be less self absorbed. I was disappointed.