Mixed Media

Nightstand

Jacob Neiheisel, assistant professor of political science

“Fire on the Mountain,” by Edward Abbey.

“A sometime darling of the environmentalist movement, Edward Abbey [1927-1989] is known for his vivid depictions of the American West. Set against a picturesque backdrop, this 1962 novel tells the story of a confrontation over land between an elderly rancher and the U.S. government. Although it offers no simple lessons for the reader, the book does urge us to consider our obligations to one another and to the public good.”