Dale L. Morgan’s Jedediah Smith and the Opening of the West is a seminal biography that offers an in-depth exploration of one of the most remarkable and underappreciated figures in American frontier history. Morgan meticulously reconstructs Smith’s extensive expeditions across the American West, highlighting his pioneering roles—such as being the first to cross the Sierra Nevada and the first to travel overland from California to the Columbia River. The narrative also delves into the broader context of the fur trade, providing insights into the era's economic and cultural dynamics. While some readers note that the book occasionally shifts focus from Smith to other figures in the fur trade, this approach enriches the understanding of the period's complexities. Overall, Morgan's work stands as a definitive account of Jedediah Smith's contributions to the exploration and development of the American West.