by Andrea Wulf
First published 2015
Alexander von Humboldt dominated nineteenth century science like no other figure. The German naturalist conceived of nature as an interconnected web rather than a collection of resources for human exploitation. He climbed South American peaks, crossed Siberian steppes crawling with anthrax, and predicted that humans would alter Earth's climate. His ideas shaped Darwin's thinking about evolution and inspired writers from Goethe to Thoreau. Towns, mountains, and rivers across North America bear his name, yet most people today know nothing about him. Andrea Wulf reconstructs Humboldt's adventures and intellectual breakthroughs through meticulous research. She traces his friendships with Thomas Jefferson and Simón Bolívar, his influence on American conservation, and his role as the founder of modern environmental thinking. The book demonstrates how one man's vision of nature as a living system laid the groundwork for our current understanding of ecology and climate change.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, adventure, 21st-century, 19th-century, climate-change, academic, american-history
Vibes: thought-provoking
Tropes: biographical
Setting: North America, Siberia, South America
Period: 19th Century
473 pages · Hardcover · Knopf