Andy Adams 
The Log of a Cowboy 

The American Old West is brought to life in The Log of a Cowboy in a significant but fleeting way. Here is where the cowboy gained his notoriety and admiration, and it is via the story's protagonist Tommy Moore that we are made aware of some of the difficulties encountered during the fabled cattle drive. Run-ins with Indian tribes, cattle rustlers, shootouts, and the allure of "good whiskey and bad women" are just a few of the difficulties Moore encounters, all of which are described with that traditional cowboy swagger. The Log of a Cowboy is frequently regarded as a narrative of Andy Adams' own life after twelve years in the saddle, and even though some liberties were taken, it still ranks as one of the most accurate accounts ever written, contributing to the popularization of the lawless and revered Wild West. Through Moore, we discover the inherent intuition of these frontiersmen, the perils of stampedes, and cowboy slang terms like "drifting" and "cutting." Anyone who enjoys the Old West should read this. Shanghai Pierce, a legendary cattleman, is introduced into this fictional universe via Adams' skillful weaving of stories inside stories. The cattle drives are still an integral part of American society, much like the Pony Express.