Lassoing the Sun: A Year in America’s National Parks

Lassoing the Sun follows journalist Mark Woods as he embarks on a year-long journey through America’s national parks during the National Park Service’s centennial celebration, all while navigating his mother’s terminal illness back home. Woods weaves together vivid descriptions of iconic landscapes, from the Grand Canyon to Acadia, with intimate reflections on family, mortality, and the healing power of nature. Rather than a straightforward travelogue, the book becomes a meditation on what these protected spaces mean to individuals and to the country as a whole, especially during moments of personal crisis. Woods explores how the parks have historically served as places of solace, inspiration, and connection, drawing parallels between the preservation of natural wonders and the preservation of memory and love. His prose is contemplative and accessible, balancing journalistic observation with deeply personal storytelling. The book speaks to anyone who has found comfort in nature during difficult times, as well as readers interested in environmental history and the legacy of America’s park system. Lassoing the Sun is ultimately a tribute to both the natural world and the people we hold closest, offering a poignant reminder of how landscapes can shape and reflect our most significant life passages.