Summary

In "Coming into the Country," John McPhee masterfully chronicles Alaska, a land of immense wilderness and unique characters, painting a vivid portrait of its diverse landscapes and the people who choose to call it home. The book is divided into three distinct parts, each offering a different lens through which to view this extraordinary territory. McPhee explores not only the physical vastness of Alaska but also the philosophical and emotional distances that separate its inhabitants.

The first section, "The Encircled River," immerses the reader in the stark beauty and demanding realities of the Brooks Range, following a team of government officials as they assess the suitability of the Salmon River for wild river status. This journey becomes a meditation on wilderness, its value, and the challenges of preserving it in the face of human ambition. The characters encountered reflect a spectrum of perspectives, from passionate environmentalists to pragmatic resource managers, each grappling with the question of how to balance preservation with the needs and desires of a growing population.

"What They Were Hunting For," the second part, shifts focus to urban Alaska, specifically Anchorage, a city grappling with its identity amidst rapid growth and economic pressures. McPhee introduces figures like Bill Ray and Robert Atwood, who embody the conflicting forces shaping the region's future. The section delves into the political and economic tensions surrounding the proposed relocation of the state capital, exploring the deep-seated rivalries between Anchorage and Juneau and the broader debate over Alaska's destiny. The narrative thread is the discussion around this topic of moving the capital and all the economic and human implications of that choice.

Finally, "Coming into the Country," the third and most extensive section, takes readers into the Alaskan bush, to the remote settlements and isolated homesteads where individuals seek a life defined by self-reliance and connection to the land. McPhee introduces a cast of unforgettable characters, including trappers, miners, and river people, each drawn to the Alaskan wilderness for their own reasons. He tells the stories of the Gelvins, the Voglers, the Wallers, and others, painting a nuanced portrait of a community forged by both hardship and freedom. It is a life in the wild, in the bush, where the individual is challenged in ways that highlight just what the human can endure.