In his unique homespun cowboy vernacular, Jack Brainard traces the development and history of the American Cowboy. Jack begins by explaining the western expansion of America that followed the Louisiana Purchase. Acknowledging that the existence of the cowboy is due to the grass of the Great Plains, longhorn cattle and the mustang, he takes us from the great trail drives of the mid-1800s to the life of the modern day cowboy. In between, he chronicles the origins and development of the longhorn and mustang, the big spreads, the men who built them and the cowboys who worked on them. Never before has the history of the cowboy been better defined.

From the Texas cowboy to the California vaquero to the buckaroo, we learn of their equipment, clothes, horses, habits, and abilities to adapt to a changing environment.

Throughout the book, Jack shares with us his personal experiences and encounters with men who helped make "Cowboying" a "way of life". In his own masterful way, he combines history with a little bit of story telling that makes for easy reading.

This book is for anyone who has ever pulled on a pair of boots, is or wants to be a Cowboy, and for all who cherish this life style. It is a remarkable tribute to an icon of American culture, the Cowboy.

Larry Kasten, Professor
Department of Animal and Food Science
University of Wisconsin - River Falls