Perspective

Terry Tempest Williams is an American author, conservationist, academic and fifth generation Mormon. Williams was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah, a fact that the author claims has shaped both her life and writing career. Living in the desert has propelled Williams to learn about and protect the land. Her passion for the earth has prompted Williams to write several books about her work as a conservationist and activist.

In addition to Williams' devotion to the land, the author also devotes a great deal of time and energy speaking on health issues, cancer in particular. Williams believes that extensive nuclear testing in the Nevada desert has been responsible for the extremely high number of incidents involving cancer that have plagued her family. In "Refuge: An Unnatural History of Family and Place" Williams addresses various environmental issues in addition to stories about her mother's battle with ovarian...