Although a captivating, intriguing and fascinating account of life on the western frontier from the 1830's through 1870's, one has to question how much of this is fabrication for his own self esteem. While describing his life as a trapper, trader, Indian fighter, scout, guide, freighter, road builder, stagestop operator, etc., Wootton portrays himself somewhat as a braggart and egotistical individual. He does not hesitate to tell his readers how he "could find water better than anyone else"; "shoot better than anyone else"; one of the first to take sheep from New Mexico to California; first to put through a toll road in Colorado; had the first two story building in Denver; the list goes on. If half of what he said is true, so be it. Wootton's book is very good reading and it does depict life extremely well for those days, but at the same time, he seems to be desirous of being the main, most important character for the times represented.