Author and outdoor enthusiast Josh Jackson will discuss his new book about California’s public lands at Vroman’s Bookstore on Tuesday evening.
Jackson will speak about “The Enduring Wild: A Journey Into California’s Public Lands” from 7 to 8 p.m. at the store at 695 E. Colorado Blvd. Jaclyn Cosgrove will join him in conversation, and he will sign books after the event.
The book chronicles Jackson’s road trip across thousands of miles of California wilderness. He explores every parcel of public land managed by the federal Bureau of Land Management in the state.
Jackson’s journey began with a camping trip when a friend recommended a free campsite in the desert. He had never heard of “BLM land” before that recommendation led to his discovery that over 15 million acres in California are owned collectively by the people.
The book covers terrain from the Pacific shores of the King Range to the Mojave Desert. Jackson travels over mountains, across prairies and through sagebrush to tell the stories of these lands.
He writes about the Indigenous peoples who have called these places home for millennia. The book also addresses extractivist threats that imperil the lands today and the grassroots organizers and political champions who defend them.
“’The Enduring Wild’ is a call to look beyond the surface, embrace the deep connections that tie us to our public lands, and commit to safeguarding them for future generations,” wrote QT Luong, author of “Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey Through America’s National Parks.”
Jackson describes his book as an invitation for adventurers, campers, explorers and nature enthusiasts to know these places more deeply. The book includes illustrations by Rebekah Nolan.
The event is part of Vroman’s regular author series featuring discussions about new releases.
