A modern day classic and still capable of stirring up people on both sides of the issue. Provocative,descriptive,sarcastic, humorous, engrossing and angry are just a few of the words that come to mind when describing Edward Abbey's most well known book. I do not consider myself a radical or hardcore environmentalist. I'm too much a product of the modern era for that. I ,and those I love, have benefited from the modern world and "evil" technology (modern medicine, computers and so on). However I also believe that we don't need to grow and develop for it's own sake and I do think attitudes have changed (somewhat) since Abbey wrote this novel. Be that as it may the message of the book is just as important today as it was in 1975, but there are a few weak points in the self-righteous armor that covers this issue.
I find it interesting that Edward Abbey (1927-1989) resided in a town and owned both vehicles and firearms. So while he wanted nature preserved he wasn't going to go back to animal skins and stone knives (neither am I). One could also point out that Abbey owed his living to the modern world. Books (dead trees anyone?), electricity (printing pressed aren't operated by hand anymore) trucks to deliver his books to bookstores (many in shopping malls surrounded by concrete) and on and on. Tying into this I remember getting great amusement when I watched "An Inconvenient Truth". There was footage of Al Gore being driven to his lecture in a gas guzzling vehicle. Then there is Al speaking to a large audience (all wearing clothing produced in factories) in a modern auditorium which was happily burning fossil fuels while Al terrified us........with the assistance of hi-tech communication devices made of plastic and using electricity. Doesn't anybody find the humor in this? Whatever side of the environmental issue you are on you have to admit the irony is amusing.
Okay enough snarkiness. "The Money Wrench Gang" is actually a very enjoyable read. It has a cheerful anarchistic tone that I liked. There is anger, but it never grows out of control and I never felt like Abbey was bludgeoning me with a scree. Authority figures don't come off very well, but sometimes those in positions of authority are pompous and heavy-handed. Abbey is critical of our consumer economy even though his characters have no trouble using it's products. However Mr. Abbey keeps the book moving along at a rapid-fire pace so that his readers don't really have time to think about such things. I believe it's only with the benefit of hindsight (forty years now since it was published!) that such inconsistency is more apparent. The book really takes off when describing the beauty and details of the Southwestern desert. Abbey loved nature and it comes through in the book. At times he goes on a little too long ,a la Henry David Thoreau, when describing nature and the universe, but not to the detriment of the story.
"The Monkey Wrench Gang" is a good novel. Both fun and provocative,it has aged very well. Credited with being one of the touchstones of the modern radical environmental movement I recommend it. It might make you angry, but I don't think you'll be bored.
I find it interesting that Edward Abbey (1927-1989) resided in a town and owned both vehicles and firearms. So while he wanted nature preserved he wasn't going to go back to animal skins and stone knives (neither am I). One could also point out that Abbey owed his living to the modern world. Books (dead trees anyone?), electricity (printing pressed aren't operated by hand anymore) trucks to deliver his books to bookstores (many in shopping malls surrounded by concrete) and on and on. Tying into this I remember getting great amusement when I watched "An Inconvenient Truth". There was footage of Al Gore being driven to his lecture in a gas guzzling vehicle. Then there is Al speaking to a large audience (all wearing clothing produced in factories) in a modern auditorium which was happily burning fossil fuels while Al terrified us........with the assistance of hi-tech communication devices made of plastic and using electricity. Doesn't anybody find the humor in this? Whatever side of the environmental issue you are on you have to admit the irony is amusing.
Okay enough snarkiness. "The Money Wrench Gang" is actually a very enjoyable read. It has a cheerful anarchistic tone that I liked. There is anger, but it never grows out of control and I never felt like Abbey was bludgeoning me with a scree. Authority figures don't come off very well, but sometimes those in positions of authority are pompous and heavy-handed. Abbey is critical of our consumer economy even though his characters have no trouble using it's products. However Mr. Abbey keeps the book moving along at a rapid-fire pace so that his readers don't really have time to think about such things. I believe it's only with the benefit of hindsight (forty years now since it was published!) that such inconsistency is more apparent. The book really takes off when describing the beauty and details of the Southwestern desert. Abbey loved nature and it comes through in the book. At times he goes on a little too long ,a la Henry David Thoreau, when describing nature and the universe, but not to the detriment of the story.
"The Monkey Wrench Gang" is a good novel. Both fun and provocative,it has aged very well. Credited with being one of the touchstones of the modern radical environmental movement I recommend it. It might make you angry, but I don't think you'll be bored.