An action-packed, page-turner novel of an anarchist team that reveals its conflicted principles and actions to protect the environment by leaving a trail of aluminum beer cans across Arizona and Utah. It's too bad that Abbey appears to denigrate Native Americans and missed the opportunity to draw one into the novel as a real character. The essay by Bill McKibben, at the back of this edition, speaks of mankind's "implacable indifference" to the natural environment by our 'anthropocentric' attitude, and reminds us of Abbey's prescient caution: 'he predicts our civilization will not last a century more before an environmental crisis will force a return to a higher civilization: scattered human populations ...'. (p. 21) 'But [writing in 1988, McKibben cautions] ... the global temperature climbs with each decade [so] a radical analysis becomes at least a little plausible.' (p. 23) It is ironic that global atmospheric warming may lead to massive flash floods on the Colorado River which may achieve the goal of the four eco-terrorists of destroying the Glen Canyon Dam.

I would add this to a classics-must read before you die list. Similar to On the Road by Jack Kerouac, this book inspired and gave direction to a generation of off beat thinkers, only instead of inspiring a simple alternative lifestyle and thrifty travels, this inspired the Eco Terrorist movement, or at least part of it.
This book is criticized (and understandably so, I rolled my eyes a few times) for it's out of date portrayal of women and Indigenous peoples, and the characters are definitely hypocrites, but if you can put aside it's lack of PC-ness and embrace this rough around the edges, rag tag group of misfits then you're in for a good time. I found myself laughing lots, if not occasionally gasping at their page turning adventures.
I would highly recommend this book to anyone who isn't easily offended, enjoys reading adventure novels, dark humor, or cult classics.

First read this 30 years ago, and it is still amazing. Only now did I get the possible tie-in with The Brave Cowboy (wow!). As always I wish for a more thoughtful treatment of women and Native Americans (sigh). Still, this is classic Abbey; abrasive, tender, challenging, inspiring, sometimes cringe-worthy, funny, and incredibly prescient.

Ecology-minded Doc, Bonnie, Seldom-Seen, and Hayduke don't take kindly to seeing their beloved American Southwest canyon country privatized, subdivided, bulldozed, paved-over, strip mined, overgrazed, or otherwise defiled by land speculators and corporate energy conglomerates. No, no they don't. That much is certain. But what to do about it? Well, let's just say they have their methods. To them, it's a battle between good and evil for the environment. "Somebody has to do it!" says Bonnie. Set in southern Utah, this group of four rag-tagged eco-freaks proceed to do it. Throw a monkey wrench into the works. In a major way. But in the end, will the "Monkey Wrench Gang" or the moneyed interests prevail? Highly recommended.