The Invention of Nature

Alexander von Humboldt's New World

De: Andrea Wulf

Narrado por: David Drummond

Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age. His restless life was packed with adventure and discovery, whether climbing the highest volcanoes in the world or racing through anthrax-infested Siberia. He came up with a radical vision of nature, that it was a complex and interconnected global force and did not exist for man's use alone. Ironically, his ideas have become so accepted and widespread that he has been nearly forgotten.

Now Andrea Wulf brings the man and his achievements back into focus: his investigation of wild environments around the world; his discoveries of similarities between climate zones on different continents; his prediction of human-induced climate change; his remarkable ability to fashion poetic narrative out of scientific observation; and his relationships with iconic figures such as Simón Bolívar and Thomas Jefferson. Wulf examines how his writings inspired other naturalists and poets such as Wordsworth, Darwin, and Goethe, and she makes the compelling case that it was Humboldt's influence on John Muir that led him to his ideas of preservation and that shaped Thoreau's Walden.

Humboldt was the most interdisciplinary of scientists and is the forgotten father of environmentalism. With this brilliantly researched and compellingly written audiobook, she makes clear the myriad, fundamental ways that Humboldt created our understanding of the natural world.

©2015 Andrea Wulf. Recorded by arrangement with Doubleday, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC. (P)2015 HighBridge, a division of Recorded Books

Engrossing Biography

Wulf’s award winning book is a bit different from the average biography in that it is about a history of Alexander von Humboldt’s (1769-1859) ideas as much as it is about the man. Humboldt was a naturalist, geographer, polymath, explorer and the first environmentalist who at one time was the most famous man in Europe.

Wulf reveals Humboldt’s discoveries of similarities between climate and vegetation zone on different continents (climate zones). The author discusses Humboldt’s prediction of human induced climate change. Humboldt wrote his scientific observations in the poetic narrative of the times as did Darwin. Wulf discusses Humboldt’s friendship with Thomas Jefferson, Simon Bolivar and Goethe.

Wulf is a lucid and intellectual writer. The book is a work of scholarship. Wulf allows the complex personality of Humboldt and his wide scope of interests to come through in the writing. Wulf did meticulous research of Humboldt’s diaries, letters and writings. The author quoted from some of the letters which added to the work. Wulf was born in India, raised in German and now lives in London where she writes.

David Drummond does an excellent job narrating the book. Drummond is an actor and winner of numerous Audiofile Earphone Awards for audiobook narration.

I enjoyed reading this book and learned much about Alexander von Humboldt. Years ago when I was in school I was fascinated by Humboldt. I wish I had this book to read at that time with its wide range of knowledge of Humboldt. If you are interested in biographies, science or nature you will enjoy this book.

Extremely influential to say the least

What did you like best about this story?

Humboldt had a fascinating life. He met almost everyone of consequent in his age. Nature is an important part of life and it's great to prioritize it in this golden age of technology. He was a true polymath in every sense of the word.

Would you be willing to try another one of David Drummond’s performances?

No, this was the main negative about the audio book. His style is very robotic which is the opposite of what this book needs.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

Mostly that Anti-German sentiment has largely removed him from English speaking history lessons. I hope that people rediscover Alexander von Humboldt and his contributions to many fields of science.

Incredible

I heard an interview with the author on Science Friday in NPR, but the book was truly the most amazing piece of work I've ever heard. The connections to time, place, and other notable scientists and ideas was outstanding. It's amazing that von Humboldt's name and work were so readily forgotten in the 20th & 21st centuries. Hopefully he will be restored to his place in scientific achievement and inspiration with this book.

An excellent story about a somewhat forgotten historical figure, but…

The thesis is that Humboldt was the grandfather of what we think of as environmentalism in the 19th and 20th centuries. That’s correct, I think, and Wulf makes a great case. What’s missing is consideration of the meaning of the movements inspired by Humboldt’s writing. Yes, he inspired Muir to protect Yosemite, but Muir also did so in part out of an anti-indigenous animus. What in Humboldt inspired that, or why did Muir miss that part of Humboldt’s ethos? There are other examples of elisions from the legacy part of the thesis, but I think Muir’s case is most salient example.

It’s a great book and the biography of Humboldt is well-done. I just think Wulf had one or two more steps to take when considering what the legacy of Humboldtian philosophy really has been. Listen to it yourself and decide if you agree.

How come I had never heard of this man?

Seriously one of the most amazing people ever to have lived. Utterly inspiring story, well told, about the man who was the taproot for the entire environmental movement!

THE MOST FASCINATING MAN YOU NEVER HEARD ABOUT

Humbolt was 200 years ahead of his time even though he was a powerful inspiration to his contemporaries (Goethe, Thomas Jefferson, Simon Bolivar, Charles Darwin etc.) His all embracing world view is a delight to revisit... or visit for the first time.
THOMAS

Excellent look at a somewhat forgotten but immensely important historical figure in science.

I’ve always been a fan of Alexander von Humboldt, but until now I had not read a biography quite as entertaining and current as this one. It did a magnificent job making Humboldts achievements relevant too many issues we face today, while also satisfyingly covering his incredibly adventuresome and important life. I particularly liked the chapters on his influence on Darwin, Bolivar, Ernst Haeckel and Muir. I was never bored.

Extraordinary

I had not known of Von Humboldt and now Wulf's accounts of his life will never leave me.

Eye opener!

Amazing and beautiful, what a story! What a man! The foundation of everything we know today!

Great book, brought down by narration

This is a fascinating story. Alexander von Humboldt was inspired by or inspired many of the great scientists of the Victorian age. He went everywhere with his insatiable curiosity.

Unfortunately, the book is narrated in a robotic voice. About half of it actually sounds like text to voice narration. The rest lacks the enthusiasm and energy the book deserves. Rerecord with a new narrator and I may even listen again.