The Book
The Enduring Wild: A Journey Into California's Public Lands
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A galvanizing road trip across California's immense public lands from a beloved adventurer.
It all began with a camping trip. Outdoor enthusiast Josh Jackson had never heard of "BLM land" before a casual recommendation from a friend led him to a free campsite in the desert--and the revelation that over 15 million acres of land in California are owned collectively by the people.
In The Enduring Wild, Jackson takes us on a road trip spanning thousands of miles, crisscrossing the Golden State to seek out the fifteen million acres of public land managed by the Bureau of Land Management, from the Pacific shores of the King Range down to the Mojave Desert. He tells of the Indigenous peoples who have called them home for millennia, of the extractivist threats that imperil them today, and of the grassroots organizers and political champions who have rallied to their common defense to uphold the radical mandate to protect these natural treasures for generations to come.
For the adventurers, campers, explorers, map readers, road trippers, nature enthusiasts, and public lands lovers out there, The Enduring Wild is an indispensable invitation to know these places more deeply and to embrace our common inheritance.
“Josh Jackson takes readers on an expedition across the astonishingly diverse lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management in California…Each step in this transformative journey becomes a deliberate act of noticing, cultivating a profound understanding of stewardship, resilience, and interconnectedness. 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..”
— QT LUONG, author of Treasured Lands: A Photographic Odyssey Through America’s National Parks
“Josh Jackson lives and breathes these lands. In them, it is clear he has discovered the secret heart of the West, and his approach to sharing it is full of genuine respect, enthusiastic admiration, and a love that shines like a sunrise.”
— OBI KAUFMANN, author of The California Field Atlas
“Footstep by footstep, Josh Jackson gifts a vision of the often unseen ‘leftover lands’ of California and the threats to these precious places. He seeks out, finds, and shares the subtle beauty and meaning that come from a search for understanding and a deep attachment to place. This appreciation of BLM lands invites all to find their way into the wild.”
— McKENZIE LONG, author of This Contested Land: The Storied Past and Uncertain Future of America’s National Monuments
“Jackson affirms Terry Tempest Williams’ claim that every pilgrimage to the desert is also a pilgrimage to the self […] Jackson is also a reliable guide to the earthly realities of managing these vast holdings. With its many photographs, maps, illustrations, and practical tips for exploring BLM lands, the book invites readers to move beyond what [Aldo] Leopold called American conservation’s concern with show pieces. A satisfying read and a call to adventure.”
— Kirkus
Details
Publisher
Heyday Books
Publish Date
June 24, 2025
Pages
264
Dimensions
7 X 9 inches
Language
English
Type
Paper Over Board
ISBN
978-1-59714-675-3
About the Author
Josh Jackson is a writer, photographer, and leading voice for public lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Through his evocative Forgotten Lands Project, Josh employs immersive storytelling and striking visual narratives to inspire appreciation and engagement with our least understood, least protected, and largely unknown landscapes. His advocacy work has been featured by the Los Angeles Times, SFGate, and numerous podcast episodes. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and three children. The Enduring Wild: A Journey into California's Public Lands is his first book.
