A Voice Crying in the Wilderness (Vox Clamantis in Deserto): Notes from a… (1989)

The best sayings of Edward Abbey - and some that weren't so good - collected together in a short, readable book that can serve as a valuable reference for anyone who wants something pithy to answer the next time they're confronted with an anti-environmental heckler. ( )

With sketches by Oracle's own Andy Rush, this Abbey book is the most closely related to Oracle itself, though not geographical in content. It's Abbey's "Notes from a secret journal."

It is time for America to rediscover Edward Abbey. If you only know him from The Monkey Wrench Gang, and you liked it, the little collection of his sayings, A Voice Crying in the Wilderness, will give you an insight to Abbey’s inner workings. While he does not have the body of work left by Mark Twain, some of the sayings are just as pity as anything Twain penned.

Since it is a collection of sayings, you don’t need to read it in a linear order. In fact, it may be better not to. It is often enjoyable to just open to any page at random and read whatever your eye falls on. You could almost develop a cult based on daily readings from this book. Not quite Mao’s Red Book, but you get the idea.

This book is best enjoyed sitting in the shade of your front porch, or under a shady tree, with a cold one in one hand and some good company by your other hand. If you’re easily offended, too late: you shouldn’t have even read this review. ( )