Revolution on the Range: The Rise of a New Ranch in the American West

by Courtney White

In the final decade of the twentieth century, the American West was at war. Battle lines had hardened, with environmentalists squarely on one side of the fence, and ranchers on the other. By the mid-1990s, debates over the region’s damaged land had devolved into political wrangling, bitter lawsuits, and even death-threats. Conventional wisdom told us those who wanted to work the land and those who wanted to protect it had fundamentally different—and irreconcilable—values.
 
In Revolution on the Range, Courtney White challenges that truism, heralding stories from a new American West where cattle and conservation go hand in hand. He argues that ranchers and environmentalists have more in common than they’ve typically a love of wildlife, a deep respect for nature, and a strong allergic reaction to suburbanization. The real conflict has not been over ethics, but approaches. Today, a new brand of ranching is bridging the divide by mimicking nature while still turning a profit.
 
Westerners are literally reinventing the ranch by confronting their own assumptions about nature, profitability, and each other. Ranchers are learning that new ideas can actually help preserve traditional lifestyles. Environmentalists are learning that protected landscapes aren’t always healthier than working ones. White, a self-proclaimed middle-class city boy, has learned there’s more to ranching than grit and cowboy boots.
 
The author’s own transformation from conflict-oriented environmentalist to radical centrist mirrors the change sweeping the region. As ranchers and environmentalists find common cause, they’re discovering new ways to live on—and preserve—the land they both love. Revolution on the Range is the story of that journey, and a heartening vision of the new American West.

Genres: Nonfiction, Environment, Nature

248 pages, Hardcover

First published May 23, 2008

Reviews

[Steven · Rating 5 out of 5]

From reading the reviews I guess I'm one of the few who really enjoyed this book. I must say this is the first book in a long time that really changed the way I thought about the environment. As an unapologetic "tree hugger" I definitely fell into the old dichotomy of enviros v. ranchers. This book demolished many of my old assumptions and made me realize that I'd always accepted the old attitudes without really questioning them. I had seen Allan Savory's TED talk on the subject before reading the book, but White explain's Savory's theory very well. The theory itself makes a lot of sense, as all of the Great Plains co-evolved with Bison and Elk, it's only logical that a grazing style that mimics natural patterns would benefit the land. I'm disappointed that this book hasn't garnered more interest, as it offers a very important lesson for our modern society. White may have done a better job if he'd compared feedlots/CAFO's whatever else you want to call 'conventional' grain-fed beef to that of the grass-fed, rotational grazing he's advocating in this book. Raising beef one way is incredibly harmful and raising it another seems to be very beneficial. As Americans eat around 200 pounds of meat a year, how we raise it has enormous consequences on the planet. Holistic, quality management seems too sensible to ignore. I highly recommend this to anyone who eats beef, cares about the environment or simply enjoys contrarian opinions.

[Rock · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is good, though maybe a bit too "wide ranging" (har har), introduction to ecologically sound grazing practices. The author isn't going to blow anyone's mind with his articulation of concepts or the beauty of his prose, but he introduces his subjects and tells their stories in a way that feels true to life and is easy to read. To me, it felt like a balanced portrayal of a politically fraught topic, although maybe he mentions a few too many times how hard he's trying to be balanced.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a gutsy, honest, informative book that has me rethinking some of what I thought I knew about land use in the west.

Although I wanted more evidence in places, the personal essay genre doesn't lend itself to presenting data, and much of the information I want is available from Quivira, the organization that White directs.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has certainly got me thinking. Reading books like this make me remember my initial interest and education in rangeland ecology. And I especially love that my old advisor is featured. I also liked that the book was readable not full of scientific jargon.

[Rose Ann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Snore. The author has an axe to grind and does so in a completely predictable and irritating way.

[Tattered Cover Book Store]

Author Teresa Jordan recommended this as part of the Rocky Mountain Land Library's "A Reading List For the President Elect: A Western Primer for the Next Administration".

[Jen · Rating 1 out of 5]

bleurgh.