Adam M. Sowards

Cannot tell you how depressing it is to read that people are simply refusing to read nonfiction after you’ve worked really hard to write a nonfiction book you believe in, in case anyone is wondering why I’m posting so much about my book which comes out in a few weeks #BookSky

Anyone in Prague want to hire me to give a talk about Drafting the Past to their university at the end of April?
Can't quite justify the cost of tagging along on my partner's work trip, but if it were also my work trip... 🤷‍♀️

Boise in May would be nice. If you can a way to get into the mountains, take advantage of the opportunity.

I'm a fan of Grizzly West (Dax)--after your era. ID is a peculiar state with distinct pockets that has evolved a lot, though it often doesn't seem to. It makes generalizations difficult. Finding some classic self- or locally-published memoirs of people who lived in the backcountry would be valuable.

Cool project; good luck! That nexus is a bit outside what I know best. Wired Wilderness (Benson) seems like it'd be useful. A homegrown history would add context if you recognize the book for what it is (and its limits): Defending Idaho's Natural Heritage (Robison).

Yes, the details of the stories would differ, but the commitment from so many of those professors had toward us astounds me--especially knowing better now all that that entailed.

Legacy of a Professor Thoughts on the passing of a mentor

In December, my undergraduate advisor died. Sunday I went to his memorial service, which prompted me to write about him and what he meant to me. It was good to think about how teachers influence their students.

www.adamsowards.net/legacy-of-a-...

This Wednesday at 8:00 PM @samahill.bsky.social joins #ParkChat (again) as our special guest host. He’ll be examining “The Future of the National Parks”. This will be a timely and fascinating topic. Please join us! @naturetechfam.bsky.social @camarowrx.bsky.social
@laurendanner.bsky.social

interesting to think that revolutionary era americans understood themselves as making a break with the “old world” and establishing a new civilization. and crucially, this new civilization rested on republican self-government, not “sovereignty.”

Seattle Public Library intercepts Boston readers after Super Bowl bet The real winners of Super Bowl LX are the Boston readers who will now be exposed to some Seattle culture.

The Boston Public Library unwisely made a wager with the Seattle Public Library over the results of Super Bowl LX. Now, thanks to the Seahawks’ win over the New England Patriots, Boston readers are getting a dose of Seattle culture.

Was driving my kids to school and the first thing on the radio was reporting about Trump's video depicting the Obamas as apes and I think many people still don't fully appreciate what it means to have to raise Black children in a country where the president is so brazenly and consistently racist

This one was SO good, beginning to end.

MOUNT VERNON TO PHILADELPHIA: A Path to Freedom-For Some The nine enslaved men and women of the President's House were chosen by Washington to accompany him to Philadelphia. They were separated from their families back in Mount Vernon and rotated out of state regularly to prevent them from gaining freedom under Pennsylvania law. CHARACTERS Christopher Sheels, enslaved attendant to Washington Hercules. enslaved cook Richmond, Hercules' enslaved son Giles, enslaved stable hand Oney Judge, enslaved maid and seamstress to Martha Austin, Ona's enslaved half brother, house servant Paris. enslaved stable hand Moll, enslaved maid to Martha Joe Richardson, enslaved postillion for the presidential coach [Floor plan] SERVANTS' EATING HALL

Here's one of the panels that Trump just removed from the President's House site in Philadelphia. (I took this picture of it last March. A couple of weeks later I led a walking tour that included the site.) Does this information "disparage" the United States?

One day, if we are lucky, the erasure of American history will itself be remembered as a shameful chapter in American history

I know I don't have a ton of media followers, but I'll put this out there anyway: if you need someone to comment/offer context on the removal of the slavery exhibit at the President's House site in Philly, get in touch. I just finished an entire book on Americans' fight over Washington and slavery.

The slavery exhibits at the President’s House have been removed following Trump administration push President Donald Trump and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum ordered content at national parks that “inappropriately disparage” the U.S. to be reviewed and potentially removed.

The full story from my colleagues:

www.inquirer.com/politics/nat...

Want to Explore National Parks for Free on MLK Day? Sorry, Not Today. - Mountain Journal Historically a federal day of service with free entry to national parks, Martin Luther King Jr. Day is no longer a free-access day. Oh, and neither is Juneteenth.

After 15 years of fee-free entrance days to national parks on MLK Day, this federal holiday has been removed from the list of free access days starting today. Trump’s birthday has been added as a new free-access day. Racism can manifest in various forms.

mountainjournal.org/want-to-expl...

10 Books to Shape Your Sense of Place · Blog Post · 49th Shelf A recommended reading list by the author of Meltdown: The Making and Breaking of a Field Scientist (The University of Alberta Press). 

Check out my book list at @49thshelf.bsky.social, featuring Canadian literature that feeds our sense of place. 49thshelf.com/Blog/2026/01...

Three women on a raft move across a body of water in front of green, yellow, and brown mountains; white text announces the title of the book: THE WESTERNERS: MYTHMAKING AND BELONGING ON THE AMERICAN FRONTIER; a narrow strip at left bears four images: Jim Beckwourth, Sacajawea, Ovando Hollister, and Polly Bemis.

Blueskis, studies have shown that when folks see or hear about a book more than five times, they are likely to check it out, and buy it.

So in the spirit of creating buzz, here is the gorgeous cover of THE WESTERNERS, which will be published on March 31!

Here’s some things that can be done by a party out of power

- file impeachment articles every day in the House

- withhold unanimous consent in the senate and filibuster every nominee

- be everywhere with comms saying this is lawless and impeachable

We wish to acquire Greenland.
Lincoln: “No man is good enough to govern another man without that other’s consent. I say this is the leading principle... of American republicanism.”
Ogles: "We are the dominant predator force in the Western Hemisphere."

We have descended to history's trash pit.

Nice to be part of the light that is this group on an otherwise dark day. Thank you all. #ParkChat

I can't wait to get to this one. On my shelf. #ParkChat

I'd buy them. #ParkChat

5 more %! The end is in sight. #ParkChat

Parkography is a new one to me. Thanks for the recommendation. #ParkChat

Exactly! #ParkChat

I can't wait to read everyone's books they've described. #ParkChat

Q10: How about other types of media? Are there podcasts or art exhibits or photography or newsletters/blogs or other media forms that are must-haves for understanding and enjoying the parks for you? #ParkChat