Edward Abbey was something else. He wrote about the red rocks of the desert. He wrote about the beauty of wild rivers. He also wrote about his anger at bulldozers and bad ideas. Did you laugh at his cranky humor? Did his love for wild places resonate with you?
Did you admire his independent way of thinking? If so, you may want to discover authors with similar passions. Think of moments in 'Desert Solitaire', like when he describes sleeping under the stars. Or remember the wild schemes in 'The Monkey Wrench Gang'.
If you enjoyed those books, and want to read writers with a comparable spirit, here are some authors you might like.
Wallace Stegner was an American novelist known for his deep connection to nature and the American West, themes readers of Edward Abbey often appreciate.
In his book “Angle of Repose,” Stegner explores family, memory, and the hardships of frontier life through the lens of historian Lyman Ward.
Ward researches and reconstructs his grandparents’ past, uncovering their struggles in developing the American frontier and the fractures hidden within their marriage.
The rich characters and vivid depictions of the western landscape make this novel resonate with fans of Abbey’s storytelling.
John McPhee shares Edward Abbey’s talent for exploring nature and human relationships with vivid detail and insightful storytelling.
In his book “Encounters with the Archdruid,” McPhee joins environmentalist David Brower on outdoor trips that put Brower face-to-face with his fiercest opponents.
Each trip brings heated debates set against spectacular wilderness backdrops—from exploring remote rivers with a pro-dam engineer to hiking mountains with a mining advocate.
McPhee captures the drama and personalities involved, raising thought-provoking questions about conservation and development.
For readers fascinated by Abbey’s reflections on wilderness and human impact, McPhee offers an equally engaging journey through some of America’s most contested natural spaces.
Barry Lopez is an author known for his thoughtful reflections on nature and humanity’s relationship with the environment. If you appreciate Edward Abbey’s writings on the American wilderness, you might enjoy Lopez’s book “Arctic Dreams.”
Lopez details his encounters with wildlife, indigenous cultures, and stunning landscapes in the Arctic, offering both personal experiences and broader insights into the environment.
Throughout the book, Lopez brings to life the Arctic’s charm and starkness, illustrating its beauty and its fragility. Anyone drawn to Abbey’s deep connection to the wilderness will find similar appeal in Lopez’s vivid journeys across stark northern territories.
Terry Tempest Williams is an American author known for powerful essays about environmentalism and the American West. If Edward Abbey’s style speaks to you, Williams’ “Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place” might resonate as well.
In this memoir, Williams reflects on the rise of Utah’s Great Salt Lake in the 1980s, which flooded bird habitats in the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge. At the same time, her mother battled ovarian cancer—a disease that also affected several women in her family.
Williams blends personal grief, environmental issues, and thoughtful views on the landscapes of the West. Her approach invites readers into vivid descriptions of nature while offering a deep reflection on loss, identity, and survival.
Rick Bass is an author known for vivid storytelling and deep connections to wilderness and conservation, themes that resonate with readers drawn to Edward Abbey’s rugged landscapes and outspoken environmental views.
Bass’s book “Winter: Notes from Montana” documents his move from urban Texas to a secluded cabin in Montana’s remote Yaak Valley. The book is filled with striking descriptions of harsh winters, raw natural beauty, and insights into living simply and purposefully.
Bass’s reflections on wilderness and solitude echo Abbey’s passion for nature, yet he carves out his own distinct voice and vision. For fans of Abbey’s direct approach to environmental storytelling, “Winter” offers new landscapes and perspectives to explore.
If you enjoy Edward Abbey’s vivid portrayals of wilderness and honest reflections on human nature, you might appreciate the works of Jim Harrison. Harrison brings readers deep into the landscapes of rural America with simple prose and memorable characters.
In his novella collection “Legends of the Fall,” Harrison combines three powerful stories about family, loss, and wildness.
The title novella follows three brothers from Montana whose lives are marked by tragedy, love, and adventure against the backdrop of World War I and the vast Western landscape.
Harrison’s storytelling echoes Abbey’s love for wild places and the complexities of human relationships.
Craig Childs is a writer and naturalist known for his vivid storytelling about wilderness and the American Southwest. Fans of Edward Abbey’s desert adventures and sharp-eyed observations would feel at home in Childs’ work.
His book “The Secret Knowledge of Water” explores the deserts of the Southwest and the unexpected presence of water in these dry landscapes.
Through fascinating tales about hidden waterholes, flash floods, and ancient water routes, Childs brings readers into a world few have experienced. His writing captures the beauty and harsh realities of desert life and invites readers into the wilderness to see for themselves.
If you enjoy Edward Abbey’s honest reflections on wilderness and our relationship to nature, you’ll appreciate Aldo Leopold. Leopold was a conservationist and writer whose book, “A Sand County Almanac,” remains a classic.
The book combines personal essays, thoughtful observations, and a month-by-month exploration of life on Leopold’s farm in Wisconsin.
Through vivid anecdotes like tracking animals in winter snow or observing migrating geese each spring, Leopold conveys his deep respect for wildlife and ecosystems.
He also introduces readers to his concept of a “land ethic,” a thoughtful consideration of human responsibility toward nature. Leopold’s writing is down-to-earth, insightful, and timeless.
Annie Dillard is an American author known for insightful reflections on nature, humanity, and our intricate place in the world. Readers who enjoy Edward Abbey’s vivid portrayals of wilderness might appreciate Dillard’s book, “Pilgrim at Tinker Creek.”
This nonfiction narrative follows her observant, solitary year in rural Virginia. Dillard looks closely at nature’s beauty, violence, and mysteries, and blends science with philosophy and poetic precision.
Her writing style invites readers into hushed moments of discovery and reflection, often revealing unexpected insights about both nature and ourselves.
Wendell Berry is an American author known for his thoughtful reflections on nature, rural life, and community—topics readers of Edward Abbey will immediately appreciate.
In “Jayber Crow,” Berry tells the story of a small-town barber named Jayber who settles in the fictional Kentucky town of Port William. Through Jayber’s eyes, readers meet vivid, relatable characters and experience the joys, struggles, and quiet rhythms that shape rural life.
Berry explores how progress and change affect communities and landscapes, themes Edward Abbey readers might recognize from Abbey’s own works. Berry offers readers a close, sensitive look at the land and its people, told through authentic storytelling.
Cormac McCarthy is an American novelist known for his vivid portrayal of landscapes and stark observations on humanity and nature. If you appreciate the raw wilderness depicted by Edward Abbey in books like “Desert Solitaire,” you might connect with McCarthy’s novel “The Road.”
This story follows a man and his young son as they journey across a bleak, post-apocalyptic America. Civilization has collapsed, and survival becomes an everyday struggle. McCarthy portrays both the harshness and fragile hope of their trek through desolate terrain.
His powerful storytelling captures the quiet strength between father and son in a world nearly devoid of humanity.
If you enjoy Edward Abbey’s vivid descriptions of the natural world and sharp examination of human relationships with the environment, Peter Matthiessen might resonate with you.
Matthiessen was a naturalist and adventurer whose books blend personal experience with environmental consciousness. His work “The Snow Leopard” recounts his journey deep into the Himalayas.
He travels through Nepal in pursuit of a rare snow leopard, a creature seldom seen by anyone. As Matthiessen explores remote mountain landscapes, he faces difficult physical challenges and reflects on deeper questions of loss, meaning, and spiritual awareness.
This book draws you in with beautiful descriptions of nature and offers insight into the author’s personal quest and inner journey.
Readers who enjoy the rugged landscapes and honest characters of Edward Abbey may also appreciate Ivan Doig. Doig was an American author celebrated for vivid portrayals of Montana life and beautifully drawn characters facing life’s challenges head-on.
His novel “The Whistling Season” captures the small-town experience of early 20th-century Montana through the eyes of Paul Milliron, a boy whose family hires an unconventional housekeeper after his mother’s death.
Mystery and humor blend effortlessly as the local one-room schoolhouse becomes the center of unexpected friendships, secrets, and surprises.
Doig combines warmth and depth in a story that feels both personal and authentic, offering readers meaningful moments in a beautifully rendered setting.
Readers who enjoy Edward Abbey’s detailed sense of nature and thoughtful storytelling may also appreciate Norman Maclean. Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It” is a semi-autobiographical novella set in early 20th-century Montana.
It follows two brothers who grow up under their father’s strict yet compassionate guidance amid the rivers and mountains they love. Fly fishing becomes both a shared passion and a central symbol in the story, connecting family, spirituality, and the wilderness.
Maclean’s prose is both vivid and simple, capturing the beauty of nature and the complexities of family bonds.
If you enjoy Edward Abbey’s vivid storytelling and deep appreciation for wilderness, you might also connect with the writing of David James Duncan. His novel “The River Why” follows Gus Orviston, a passionate young fisherman who seeks meaning beyond catching fish.
Gus leaves his argumentative parents behind and settles into a secluded cabin by a river, determined to create the perfect fishing lifestyle. But as he explores solitude, nature, and personal philosophy, unexpected friendships and experiences challenge his initial vision.
Duncan blends humor, environmental insight, and thoughtful reflection on life’s purpose into a story that stays with you.