This book is a cohesive and concise introduction to the American Southwest through its history, geography, and culture. Well-written and well-edited, readers are as likely to find a typo or grammar error in this book as in any other NGS publication (I have yet to find one). The beautiful photography is as comprehensive as any NGS article - from grand vistas to tight macros, landscapes, machinery, people, flowers, bombs...

The author defined the Southwest as the drainages and tributaries of the Colorado and Rio Grand Rivers. This area covers Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, and Utah and includes parts of California, Texas and Nevada.

I bought this series when it came out in the mid-90's and finally have a chance to read through it. The first book I chose wasn't quite up to par, but this is a solid book. ( )