Tracing Time

Seasons of Rock Art on the Colorado Plateau

By: Craig Childs

Narrated by: Craig Childs

"An engaging glimpse into a world both fascinating and fundamentally unknowable to those who aren't born into it."—R. E. BURRILLO, author of Behind the Bears Ears

Craig Childs bears witness to rock art of the Colorado Plateau—bighorn sheep pecked behind boulders, tiny spirals in stone, human figures with upraised arms shifting with the desert light, each one a portal to the open mouth of time. With a spirit of generosity, humility, and love of the arid, intricate landscapes of the desert Southwest, Childs sets these ancient communications in context, inviting listeners to look and listen deeply.

©2022 Craig Childs (P)2023 Tantor

Great way to prepare to visit

I will be in this area a few months from now. The friend who will be my guide has traveled these places for more than 50 years, introducing the young to its mysteries. For him it is a place of solace, his chosen therapy from the memories of our generations war. Listening to Childs work has increased my desire to be among the signs of “the Old ones.”

The ancestors of this land come more alive for me with every word!

Craig Childs has the most incredible ability to transport me to the place he describes. His awe flows through his words into me, and I am there. I am there with him, seeing this rock art and imagining the stories he and his companions share. The ancestors of this land feel more alive with every word of Tracing Time, and my love of this landscape grows too.

Presence cubed

Childs makes you feel not just that he has been there, but also most poignantly that you have too, as he reveals the lights and darknesses.

A personal history

I’m an avid fan of Craig Childs. His novels always take me to my favorite place which is among the Pueblo people. This last book is truly amazing. Not only takes me to that spot and get the feel for what these people felt but it also marks the Covid outbreak here in the United States, and will always remind me of what I was doing and where I was at this time in history. Thank you Craig keep up the excellent work!

Excellent!

A constructive overview of rock art in the Southwest US, structured by themes which serve as a lens for Childs to reflect on the art and find that reflection mirrored in arc of meaning in the events of his life. A fantastic piece of writing on the philosophy of time and space, framed by a narrative about nature and the human search for higher meaning and purpose. Highly recommended!