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	Learn more about our featured books: Native American Perspectives Historical Reader		The story of the West combines a geographic region and an historical process that are both central to American identity. The beautiful, harsh landscapes of the region-vast grasslands, towering mountains, stark deserts-present wilderness at its most impressive and have been a potent influence on the American imagination. The process of the exploration and settlement of an ever-receding frontier has been one of the most influential factors in shaping American society and culture. The goal of The American West is to present text and visuals that strikingly portray both the region and the process. The story of the West also involves a varied cast of vivid characters-Indians, explorers, trappers, settlers, miners, ranchers, farmers, loggers, railroad workers. In the past, however, the roles of women and minority groups in the story of the West have too frequently been ignored or distorted. The American West will try to present a more balanced, inclusive account of the story. In keeping with contemporary concerns about the environment, there is a section in the text dealing with the significance of the wilderness and the importance of its preservation. Finally, to help students appreciate how cultural perspectives on the past shift over time, there is a section presenting varied interpretations the West by historians and artists over the past century.