John Muir, is sometimes called the Father of the National Parks. His idealistic belief in the spiritual benefits of holistic natural systems led him to a philosophy of preserving wilderness unimpaired. Gifford Pinchot founded the U.S. Forest Service. Pinchot's pragmatic belief in professional management led him to a philosophy of sustainably conserving natural resources. When these rivaling perspectives meet, what happens? Natural Rivals examines a time of environmental threat and political dysfunction and reveals the complex dynamic that gave birth to America's rich public lands legacy.