John Clayton tells the story of two men, John Muir and Gifford Pinchot, major players in decisions about which parts of the American geography would be retained by the people and for what common good. Most accounts of the conservation movement describe a rivalry between the two that shaped the movement. Clayton summarizes the common perception of their positions: “The romantic Muir is preservation: leaving nature alone so as to benefit from its holistic wonder. The practical Pinchot is conservation: using natural resources sustainably to serve what Pinchot called the ‘greatest good for the greatest number in the long run.’”