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The invention of nature : Alexander von Humboldt's new world / Andrea Wulf.

By: Publisher: New York : Alfred A. Knopf, 2015Edition: First American editionDescription: xix, 473 pages : illustrations (some color), maps ; 25 cmContent type:
  • text
Media type:
  • unmediated
Carrier type:
  • volume
ISBN:
  • 9780385350662
  • 038535066X
  • 9780345806291
  • 0345806298
Subject(s): Genre/Form: DDC classification:
  • 509.2 B 23
LOC classification:
  • Q143.H9 W85 2015
Other classification:
  • K835.165.89
Online resources: Awards:
  • Royal Society Science Book Prize, 2016
  • James Wright Award for Nature Writing, 2016
  • Costa Biography Award, 2015
  • Finalist, Cundill Prize in Historical Literature, 2016.
Summary: " ... Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age ... Now Andrea Wulf brings the man and his achievements back into focus: his daring expeditions and investigation of wild environments around the world and his discoveries of similarities between climate and vegetation zones on different continents. She also discusses 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 Sim�on Bol�ivar and Thomas Jefferson. Wulf examines how Humboldt's writings inspired other naturalists and poets such as Darwin, Wordsworth, and Goethe, and she makes the case that it was Humboldt's influence that led John Muir to his ideas of natural preservation and that shaped Thoreau's Walden ..."--Jacket.
Holdings
Item type Current library Call number Copy number Status Date due Barcode Item holds
BOOK BOOK NCAR Library Mesa Lab Q143 .H9 .W85 2015 1 Checked out 07/01/2024 50583020008540
Total holds: 0

"THIS IS A BORZOI BOOK"--Title page verso.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 345-455) and index.

" ... Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) was an intrepid explorer and the most famous scientist of his age ... Now Andrea Wulf brings the man and his achievements back into focus: his daring expeditions and investigation of wild environments around the world and his discoveries of similarities between climate and vegetation zones on different continents. She also discusses 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 Sim�on Bol�ivar and Thomas Jefferson. Wulf examines how Humboldt's writings inspired other naturalists and poets such as Darwin, Wordsworth, and Goethe, and she makes the case that it was Humboldt's influence that led John Muir to his ideas of natural preservation and that shaped Thoreau's Walden ..."--Jacket.

Royal Society Science Book Prize, 2016

James Wright Award for Nature Writing, 2016

Costa Biography Award, 2015

Finalist, Cundill Prize in Historical Literature, 2016.

Questions? Email library@ucar.edu.

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