Going to Extremes
“Going to Extremes” by Joe McGinniss, published by Epicenter Press in 2010, is a fourth edition featuring a new prologue and spans 303 pages. This book explores the impact of the trans-Alaska pipeline construction during the late 1970s, as McGinniss investigates the complexities of life in Alaska, often referred to as the “last frontier.” Through his journalistic lens, he reveals the stark contrasts between the region’s breathtaking natural beauty and the darker aspects of its boom culture, including greed, waste, and social issues.
Readers will find a rich tapestry of narratives from various individuals, including bush pilots, teachers, and Alaskan Natives, each contributing to the multifaceted story of Alaska during a transformative period. McGinniss’s work serves as both a personal memoir and a historical account, capturing the essence of a time when significant changes were reshaping the state. The book delves into themes of travel and personal experiences, offering insights into the lives of those affected by the oil boom and the influx of outsiders seeking fortune.
Official synopsis Publisher
When construction of the trans-Alaska pipeline created an oil boom in the late 1970s, journalist Joe McGinniss headed north to find out what if anything was left of the “last frontier.” He discovered, as one reader put it, “mind-bending contradictions” – greed, waste, addictions, and racism, all of which contrasted with the vast, untamed natural beauty and the honest, open, and independent spirit of the people.
McGinniss looked at the underbelly of Alaska’s boom culture. He tells a sometimes shocking, often moving story of turmoil through the perspectives of a lively assortment of bush pilots, boomers, park rangers, bartendesr, teachers, journalists, waitresses, politicians, Alaskan Natives, and an advancing legion of outsiders looking to get rich quick. “Going to Extremes” is an entertaining yet historically important book that stands as a journalistic time capsule from a time three decades ago when overwhelming changes were sweeping over Alaska.
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