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“My particular dread--the vivid possibility that left me staring at tree shadows on the bedroom ceiling night after night--was having to lie in a small tent, alone in an inky wilderness, listening to a foraging bear outside and wondering what its intentions were. I was especially riveted by an amateur photograph in Herrero's book, taken late at night by a camper with a flash at a campground out West. The photograph caught four black bears as they puzzled over a suspended food bag. The bears were clearly startled but not remotely alarmed by the flash. It was not the size or demeanor of the bears that troubled me--they looked almost comically nonaggressive, like four guys who had gotten a Frisbee caught up a tree--but their numbers. Up to that moment it had not occurred to me that bears might prowl in parties. What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die, of course. Literally shit myself lifeless. I would blow my sphincter out my backside like one of those unrolling paper streamers you get at children's parties--I daresay it would even give a merry toot--and bleed to a messy death in my sleeping bag.”
― Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

syaigh wrote:ONe of my favorites:

“My particular dread--the vivid possibility that left me staring at tree shadows on the bedroom ceiling night after night--was having to lie in a small tent, alone in an inky wilderness, listening to a foraging bear outside and wondering what its intentions were. I was especially riveted by an amateur photograph in Herrero's book, taken late at night by a camper with a flash at a campground out West. The photograph caught four black bears as they puzzled over a suspended food bag. The bears were clearly startled but not remotely alarmed by the flash. It was not the size or demeanor of the bears that troubled me--they looked almost comically nonaggressive, like four guys who had gotten a Frisbee caught up a tree--but their numbers. Up to that moment it had not occurred to me that bears might prowl in parties. What on earth would I do if four bears came into my camp? Why, I would die, of course. Literally shit myself lifeless. I would blow my sphincter out my backside like one of those unrolling paper streamers you get at children's parties--I daresay it would even give a merry toot--and bleed to a messy death in my sleeping bag.”
― Bill Bryson, A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail

Fat Cat wrote: How is it in terms of actually characterizing the area and its history? I'm not too into the travel-writing-as-buffoonery admixture of humor...but if it is really a great book and also includes some humor, I'll add it to my list. Your thoughts?

seeahill wrote:Lawrence Millman, Last Places.



For a start. I have plenty of others. You might not know it, but this is sorta my field.

Tirofijo wrote:

Fat Cat wrote: How is it in terms of actually characterizing the area and its history? I'm not too into the travel-writing-as-buffoonery admixture of humor...but if it is really a great book and also includes some humor, I'll add it to my list. Your thoughts?

You want stuff like Kaplan's Balkan Ghosts? Nothing about wolverines gnawing legs or getting lost in the jungle with misanthropes and idiots?

You might consider the following:

Ian Frazier's Great Plains (Excellent.)

William Least Heat Moon's PrairyErth for a deep look into one county in Kansas.

Tirofijo wrote:

seeahill wrote:Lawrence Millman, Last Places.



For a start. I have plenty of others. You might not know it, but this is sorta my field.

I'm interested. I've always thought of you as a thinking man's Randy Wayne White, though not as funny.

seeahill wrote:

seeahill wrote:Since you asked,
All about me:
Review
“Cahill [writes in such a way] that you’re more than happy he enjoys putting himself in harm’s way.” –The New York Times Books Review

nafod wrote:Sailing Alone Around the World by Joshua Slocum. First guy to do it, and good storyteller. Book is free too!

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/6317/6317-h/6317-h.htm