This is a seriously out-of-date travel sketch of the North American deserts. Since it was published in 1972 much has changed in the American Southwest, economically, demographically, environmentally. The population has increased greatly. And attitudes have changed, especially about resource usage. Even in 1972, this author's approach was behind the times, being more typical of the 1950's, with its admiring emphasis on harnessing nature for industry, resource extraction, urbanization, and motorized recreation. The photographs are very good, but they follow the text in illustrating the wonders of industrial civilization about equally with the wonders of nature. If the book were titled The Southwest this approach would be more expected than in a book about deserts as such.

The emphasis is on the United States, giving fairly little attention to Mexico, except for Baja California. Many lovers of Baja might deplore the modernization that Findley celebrates. Truly a blast from the past. ( )