Review of The American West: A Narrative Bibliography and a Study in Regionalism” by Charles Wilkinson

For the younger scholar interested in the West, Professor Wilkinson\u27s book offers a bibliographic shortcut with a carefully selected and balanced listing of nearly 500 essential entries. The author skillfully weaves annotation of some works into a smoothly flowing text; other items are simply listed in concluding paragraphs. The book\u27s distinctive organization selectively highlights certain characteristics of the West. The initial chapter reviews the attempts to define the West geographically. The next chapter, Events, discusses works dealing with Western history, but focuses on key or illustrative conflicts and turning points. Chapter 3 addresses Peoples, which may be influential individuals, subcultures, occupations, or institutions (e.g., Weyerhaeuser Company). A review of works on natural history and resources makes up the next chapter rather inappropriately termed Terrain. The last substantial chapter lists works under the subject of Ideas, that is, basically philosophy behind policy. A bibliography of 54 pages, each entry referenced to page(s) of occurrence in narrative, concludes the book