University Libraries Promotion and Tenure Recognition

Dr. Nathan B. Piekielek Geospatial Librarian and Associate Professor of Geography

Book Title: The Fool’s Progress: An Honest Novel

Author: Edward Abbey

Selection Statement:

This book is over 30 years old and I read it over 20 years ago. It has not aged particularly well, but the protagonist (it is semi-autobiographical of Edward Abbey) remains a good reminder for me of a number of things that I would like to embrace in my life and some things that I would like to make sure to avoid. Just the beginning of the title alone, “The fool’s progress,” is something that I replay in my head with regularity to help keep me balanced in life. So much of what we hold up as “progress” in today’s society is a fool’s game.


Year: 2020