This is arguably the most authentic account of cowboy life ever written, a compelling narrative that traces the events of an 1882 cattle drive, during which 3,000 longhorns traversed the Great Western Cattle Trail from Texas to the Blackfoot Indian Reservation in Montana. The author, real-life cowboy Andy Adams worked as a cattle driver on the Western trails. Although The Log of a Cowboy crackles with the energy and excitement of fiction, it is based on Adams' own true experiences. The Chicago Herald noted, "As a narrative of cowboy life, Andy Adams' book is clearly the real thing. It carries its own certificate of authentic firsthand experience on every page."

Fascinating details of day-to-day life on the trail emerge as a team of a dozen cowhands set out on the long trek. Days are marked by dangerous river crossings and buffalo stampedes as well as encounters with Indians and cattle thieves. Evenings find the crew exchanging tales around the campfire and occasionally hunkered down at saloons. This Old West classic adventure story remains a remarkable historical resource and fascinating portrait of American frontier life.