Though Taiwan is a land of mountains, lakes, and rivers, for various historical and political reasons, most people in Taiwan live out of contact with nature, with little to no knowledge of the public institutions that guard the wilderness. This provides an opportunity to those who would plunder the island’s natural resources. The author of this book addresses this problem by describing the work of Taiwan’s mountain rangers, from environmental surveys, forest fire-fighting, and rescues, to combatting the illegal exploitation of public lands, all while faced with shortages of resources and manpower. While The Radical Ranger doesn’t romanticize this work, it nonetheless extolls a romantic embrace of the mountains themselves, a dedication to the profession, and the commitment to providing readers with an accurate picture of these mountain protectors.