In his book "Angle of Repose," Wallace Stegner critiques the common perception of the American West as a land defined by rugged individualism and unrestrained freedom. This ideal often portrays settlers as fiercely independent, yet Stegner challenges this notion by highlighting the significant influence of external power. He argues that much of the West was not truly self-sufficient but was instead dominated by Eastern investors and foreign interests that exerted strict control over the region.

Stegner's insights reveal the complexity of the early West, where the romanticized image of self-reliant pioneers clashes with the reality of corporate and economic control. Rather than a chaotic environment of absolute liberty, significant swathes of the West operated under the authority of powerful figures who shaped the landscape to serve their interests. This perspective invites a reevaluation of how the history of the West is understood and underscores the contradictions within its narrative.