Wow, no, this just isn't for me. I love nature writing, and poetry and prose about places and phenomena, but Canyon and Cosmos was pretentious and long-winded and ye gods dull. I didn't know you could make these topics dull. I know I'm in the minority here, based on other NetGalley reviews, but I just did not enjoy this. With a good, strong editor, and a better sense of objectives and meaning on the author's part, this would be a better book, but as is, I struggled to get through it. There are some passages that are more interesting and less full of hyperbole and such, so it gets 2 stars instead of just 1 .

Don Lago wrote a beautiful letter to the Grand Canyon, I was invested in what was going on and thought everything worked overall. It does a fantastic job in bringing the history and magnificent element to the Grand Canyon.

“If the greatest tribute humans could offer to their creation stories was to turn them into stone, cavernous spaces, stained-glass colors, and god-voice echoes, then consider the Grand Canyon’s far grander stone and spaces and colors and river voice. The Egyptian pyramids would be dwarfed by the canyon butte called Cheops Pyramid.”

I am so happy that I was able to read this book! The author tapped into something that I hadn't realized I had lost, that being the almost mystical feelings that one can feel in certain places. Places that make you realize that life is much deeper than you can get from a news story, a tweet, or a talking head. For the author, that place is the Grand Canyon. For me, I have experienced it several times, but none more awesome than I had happen on a deer hunting adventure in South Dakota. Having harvested a deer just before dark, we found ourselves several miles from the truck. My friend agreed to go get the atv to drag out the deer, and I would stay behind and wait so the coyotes wouldn't eat it. He took my gun with him, so we wouldn't be breaking any laws carrying guns on an atv. So there I was, sitting in the dark, in a "bowl", surrounded by higher ground all around me. Then I heard the first coyote sing. Sounded like it was right behind me. Then another, and another, until the coyotes were singing all around me. It was so eerie! Add to that experience with a completely clear night sky, full of more stars than you have ever seen. Far from being afraid, or nervous, I felt a sense of calm come over me. I felt like I was part of the fabric of the universe, not just a bystander. I wondered how many times this scenario had played out before, only with the indigenous people who came before me?
I feel that the author has tapped well into that story. Despite having to explain something that most people would never witness, he manages to bring the readers along. He's a very good writer, and has written an excellent book. Try reading it in an outdoor setting, away from people, and you may be able to experience the wonder yourself!

I haven't delved much into nature writing before, but I certainly will be doing now.

This book was the definition of a mood read that I requested on a whim, and those usually always turn out to be some of my favourites. Let's just say I have a strong gut, and I trust where it leads me! This time, it led me to this gorgeous piece of writing, and what a treat it was.

This book not only made me want to visit the Grand Canyon, but it made me appreciate nature in general more than I ever have before. The writing is beautiful, poetic and philosophical in all the ways I hoped. What an educational and inspiring read.

I've never been to the Grand Canyon, but after reading Canyon and Cosmos, it's officially jumped to the top of my bucket list. Don Lago masterfully brings the canyon to life, weaving together its ancient geological history with profound reflections on human existence. He makes you feel the weight of deep time while asking those big, existential questions that stick with you long after you finish reading.

What I loved most is that it’s not just science-heavy facts or poetic musings—it’s a seamless blend of both, grounded in years of the author hiking and kayaking through the canyon’s wild beauty. If you love nature writing with a philosophical edge that makes you feel small and awe-struck, this one belongs on your TBR.

Special thank you to the University of Nevada Press and NetGalley for the ARC.