Review of Camping Grounds

RJ Reviews · Post by **RJ Reviews** » 14 Feb 2025, 06:28

Interesting topic to write a book on! Though this topic is absolutely irrelevant to me, I am sure it has its niche of readers. Your review, as always, discusses the book thoroughly and encourages readers to pick it up. Thank you.

Post by **Omneya Shakeep** » 14 Feb 2025, 19:22

I've never camped before, but I hope one day to do it. However, I didn't even know that caping has a history in the USA; I thought it just stemmed from the American natives' old living style, and it just developed from there. I might actually give this one a try. Thanks for the recommendation, Gerry. This is an informative and well-analyzed review as always.

Elizabeth-Tush4Christ · Post by **Elizabeth-Tush4Christ** » 14 Feb 2025, 22:16

Camping has indeed become prominent, and it's good to know it has its history in American camping. I have always liked camping as a recreation and a time to get out from the busy world and interact with nature. This book seems to hold all the founding history of camping. I am interested in getting to know what more the author explored in this book on camping history. Great review as always

NetMassimo · Post by **NetMassimo** » 15 Feb 2025, 14:58

I had a simple idea about camping which concerned its recreational use. I understand the historical bit during a pioneer era but I didn't think that the history of camping had such ramifications and that makes this book interesting. Thank you for your great review!

Post by **Seetha E** » 15 Feb 2025, 20:40

The thought of camping, close to nature amazes me. Living in a forest in a tent is something I have never done, yet. This book with a research-like history of camping from the American Civil War to date sounds interesting. Extending this to a visible protest in a way is alright only until it does not disrupt civil life and emergency services.
Thank you for a great review, Gerry. I enjoyed reading it.

Creole · Post by **Creole** » 15 Feb 2025, 21:08

I have never gone camping outdoors and perhaps never will, but I realise this is a staple activity in some communities. Thanks for the informative review. This book seems to be well-researched and highly educational. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and I hope many others will.

Post by **Magdalyne chebet** » 16 Feb 2025, 09:26

"Camping Grounds" by Phoebe S. K. Young explores the history of camping in the U.S. from the Civil War to today, examining its roles in recreation, survival, and protest. This informative review highlights the book’s well-researched content, fluid writing, and historical depth. Thank you!

Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine · Post by **Yasmine Zaki Muhieddine** » 17 Feb 2025, 01:44

This book changes my perspective about camping. I find with your review that people go camping for many reasons other than the sense of adventure or enjoying nature. This book will make a good gift for someone who enjoys camping.

Arshadq · Post by **Arshadq** » 17 Feb 2025, 03:24

The book seems like an interesting read for those who love camping. Personally, I don't camp but I would be open to it. Your review gives a good overview of the book. I enjoy a bit of history myself and would love to read a book about camping. Amazing review!

Louis Donald · Post by **Louis Donald** » 17 Feb 2025, 06:35

The historical perspective on camping and its evolving role in American society sounds fascinating. It’s interesting how the book connects camping to not just recreation but also survival and protest. The research and thoroughness behind it seem like they’d make for an eye-opening read, especially for anyone who’s curious about the deeper significance of camping beyond just being outdoors.

Laney K · Post by **Laney K** » 20 Feb 2025, 08:49

While I am not a fan of camping, this book sounds perfect for those that are. It sounds like quite a wealth of knowledge of history, policy, and more.

Pearl Flourish · Post by **Pearl Flourish** » 20 Feb 2025, 09:25

I never thought about camping as more than just a recreational activity, but the historical and political angles sound fascinating. It’s interesting how something as simple as sleeping outdoors can have such deep social and cultural significance.

Pearl Flourish · Post by **Pearl Flourish** » 20 Feb 2025, 09:27

I never thought about camping as more than just a recreational activity, but the historical and political angles sound fascinating. It’s interesting how something as simple as sleeping outdoors can have such deep social and cultural significance.

Post by **Leslie coccia** » 22 Feb 2025, 09:12

Seems like a great book, when most people think of camping they probably don’t think of the history of it. It’s timely as well, and a valuable resource. Great review!

Bettny Andrade · Post by **Bettny Andrade** » 22 Feb 2025, 17:05

Gerry Steen wrote: ↑28 Jan 2025, 14:26 [Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Camping Grounds" by Phoebe S.K. Young.]

5 out of 5 stars
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Have you ever enjoyed camping as a form of recreation? Are you interested in the history of camping from the American Civil War to today? Do you believe that all citizens should have the right to camp outdoors, whether it is for recreation, survival, or visible protest? Do you believe that camping in public spaces is not a right of all citizens? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you will enjoy reading Camping Grounds by Phoebe S. K. Young.

Young used two concepts to focus on the history of camping practices in the US. Firstly, public nature was defined as "both outdoor spaces and ideas about those spaces as settings where people work out relationships to nature, nation, and each other,” and secondly, the nation’s social contract was defined as “the set of beliefs and structures that establish what citizens and the government owe to each other.”

This book examined the various forms of public nature and social contracts that have evolved from the nineteenth century to today. As the emphasis on owning farmland and being productive switched to producing industrial and consumer goods in urban settings, Americans changed their ideas about public nature. Recreational camping became a more popular way to connect with the outdoors. Camping became an activity employed by economically stable families for leisure. The military, transient workers, homeless people, and poor families used camping as a means of survival due to a lack of any other options for shelter. Military veterans used camping, in the nineteenth century, to protest government policy in a visible way. Recently, camping has been used by social movements as a visible form of protest against governments. Young examined all of these forms of camping as they have been manifested in American history from the nineteenth century to today. This information was well-researched and well-documented. The author provided hundreds of footnotes from various sources. They included the writings of Truman A. DeWeese, E. P. Meinecke, William T. Sherman, John Mead Gould, John Muir, Barrows and Barrows, John Steinbeck, Paul Petzoldt, and Daniel Yankelovich, to name a few.

I enjoyed reading this well-researched and thought-provoking book. The wealth of information about the history of camping in the United States was enlightening. I now see camping as an important activity for recreation, well-being, and visible protest. The author’s writing style was fluid and interesting. The editing was almost perfect. I noticed only one error. I could not find anything to dislike about this book.

I gave this book 5 out of 5 stars for the reasons mentioned above. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys camping and is interested in the history of camping in the USA.

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Camping Grounds
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I like books based on research. As for the subject matter of the book, I find it interesting but I'm not in the same camp. I'm not particularly a fan of any type of camping, but I like that this book is well documented. Thank you very much for your review.