His book is intended to help those desiring a professional outdoor career as a National Park Ranger by providing 45 short stories of his experiences as a field ranger and park superintendent in six parks and seven states. He also gives a brief history of the ranger profession, the qualifications required today to become a ranger, recommends college major courses of study that offer the best opportunity to be selected for a position, makes recommendations for future ranger qualification standards, and provides information to effectively compete and become a temporary or permanent National Park Ranger.
Ray Newton, former national director, Reader's Digest Writing Workshops said, "Cunningham's book, while filled with delightfully told anecdotes about his years of personal experiences as a park ranger and superintendent with the National Park Service, also provides genuine insights into the political, cultural and inter-personal know-how it takes to become a park ranger in America's national parks."
Mr. Cunningham is a coal miner’s son from western Pennsylvania who now lives in Wyoming after a career as a National Park Ranger in Wyoming, North Dakota, Washington and New York/New Jersey. He was also a park superintendent in Alaska and Arizona. He holds a graduate degree in wildlife natural history from Indiana University of Pennsylvania where he was honored as a Distinguished Alumnus for his achievements in conservation management.