Review: Above the Falls by John Harris

Today, in January Magazine’s non-fiction section, Cherie Thiessen reviews Above the Falls by John Harris. Contributing editor Thiessen advises us to read the book for:

... historical perspective. What the back cover does accurately tell us about the book is that it paints a vivid picture of a now-vanished lifestyle. It portrays trappers living off the land, shooting and drying their meat when they need a fresh supply, catching their fish, sleeping rough, living in small cabins and tents. It reminds us of the frontier mindset -- when the belief that everything in nature was there just for us and just for the taking -- was common. The naïve idea that nature would always provide, no matter how much we took, was prevalent not so long ago. Many of us can still remember a time when a crab trap would yield crabs, when a fishing line would bring up a cod if not a salmon, when shellfish abounded for the taking and when hunting was many of our fathers’ favorite ways of relaxing and filling the freezer. Depending on their points of view, readers may feel nostalgic, or nauseated.

The full review is here.