Despite the Mexican Revolution and ensuing agrarian reforms, private ranchers continue to play key roles in the ecology and economy of northern Mexico. Through his examination of management techniques, labor expenditures, gender roles, and decision-making at 17 ranches in the state of Sonora, Perramond (Southwest Studies and Environmental Science, Colorado College) suggests that ranches have endured there because of their reliance on extended kinship networks and on all members of the household, and because of ranchers' close ties to local politics. The author finds hope for ranching's future in the novel ways in which ranchers have adapted to economic and ecological changes, including opening their ranches for wild-game hunting and establishing small businesses that subsidize their lifestyles and livelihoods. Annotation ©2010 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)