logo

53 pages 1 hour read

Roderick Nash

Wilderness and the American Mind

Roderick NashNonfiction | Book | Adult | Published in 1967

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Important Quotes

Quotation Mark Icon

“One man’s wilderness may be another’s roadside picnic ground. The Yukon trapper would consider a trip to northern Minnesota a return to civilization while for the vacationer from Chicago it is a wilderness adventure indeed.”


(Prologue, Page 1)

In this juxtaposition of ideas, Nash demonstrates how wilderness as a concept can differ depending on one’s vantage point. In addition, it hints at the difficulty in finding a universal definition for wilderness.

Quotation Mark Icon

“The value system of primitive man was structured in terms of survival. He appreciated what contributed to his well-being and feared what he did not control or understand.


(Chapter 1, Page 8)

Nash presents a basic evolutionary explanation for why humans came to view wilderness as a threat. The legacy of this thinking existed well into the founding of the US.

Quotation Mark Icon

“Wilderness had no place in the paradise myth.”


(Chapter 1, Page 9)

Nash is referring to the Garden of Eden story from Genesis in the Old Testament. Wilderness, because of the uncertainty it contained and the apparent chaos it represented, contrasted with the vision of a garden that sheltered and protected humanity.

blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
blurred text
Unlock IconUnlock all 53 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App
+ Printable PDF
+ Literary AI Tools