MOST NORTH AMERICANS give little thought to the land on which they live, or to the natural and historical forces that shape their lives. Sid Marty, poet, conservationist, and author of Leaning on the Wind: Under the Spell of The Great Chinook (HarperCollins, 320 pages, $27 cloth) is a notable exception. He has translated his love for the prairie and foothills of southern Alberta into a fascinating book that is equal parts history, science, autobiography, and journalism.

A third generation Albertan, Marty knows that life in his part of the country is about more than just oil executives and right-wing politicians. In fact, the greatest force in the region, and the one which most fascinates the author, is the fabled Chinook, a warm Pacific wind so intense it has derailed trains and caused temperatures to climb upwards of forty degrees in minutes. Marty's pursuit of the "Snow Eater," at once meticulously researched and highly personal, gives Leaning on the Wind an impressive thematic unity.

Whether he's exploring Native history and legend, attempting to understand the science behind the Chinook by sailplaning in it, hunting elk to feed his family, or railing against the developers and politicians whose greed threatens the land he loves, Marty's prose remains lively, well-paced and intimate.

Indeed, his deep emotional involvement with the material and the authenticity of his voice make Leaning on the Wind both a real page-turner, and an invaluable addition to our understanding of western Canada.