Ryan covers the nearly century-long period between 1865 to the signing of the Wilderness Act of 1964. Olmsted influenced Pinchot, who became the first head of the National Forest Service, and in turn, Pinchot hired the foresters who became the founders of The Wilderness Society and creators of the Wilderness Act itself. This fascinating history emphasizes the cast of characters (among them Theodore Roosevelt, Bob Marshall, Benton MacKaye, Aldo Leopold, and Howard Zahniser) and provides context for their decisions and the political and economic factors that contributed to the triumphs and pitfalls in the quest to protect public lands. It is of interest to note that in researching this history, Ryan traveled to the places where these crusaders lived, worked, and were inspired to take up the cause to make public lands accessible to all. Fascinating, informative, exceptional, and unreservedly recommended for inclusion in community and academic library American Environmental History collections, it should be noted for the personal reading lists of students, academia, environmental activists, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject.