Square one of our constant debates over public lands is whether we should even have any, outside of military bases and transportation facilities.
Count John Leshy down for a firm YES. He is an attorney well-versed in the history and use of public lands, and he points out that they have often united Americans, instead of dividing them.
His deep knowledge and his stints with the federal Interior Department inform his latest book, Our Common Ground: A History of America's Public Lands.
From the Louisiana Purchase to the takeover at the Malheur National Wildlife refuge, there's a lot to talk about. The author sums up his book in a chat on the JX.