Synopses & Reviews
The classic, best-loved book by the founding father of modern conservation
In the summer of 1869, John Muir set out from California's Central Valley with a flock of sheep and trekked into the foothills of the Sierra Nevadas. His journals describe the summer he spent in what would become Yosemite National Park. Celebrating the Sierra's lizards and mountain lions, tall trees and waterfalls, fierce thunderstorms and bears, Muir introduces a spiritual dimension to our awareness of nature. John Muir is internationally acknowledged as one of the founding fathers of modern conservation and his vision, passion, and integrity continue to inspire readers today.
Review
"An inspirational figure for modern environmentalism . . . his enthusiasm and heart-felt love of nature is immensely impressive. Thankfully the wilderness blooms again in Muir's evocative prose." —Guardian
Synopsis
The famous conservationist's lyrical, exuberant observations of the awe-inspiring beauty of the Sierra Nevada. Introduction by Gretel Ehrlich. Penguin Nature Library.
About the Author
John Muir (1838-1914) was born in Scotland. In 1849 he emigrated with his family to the United States, where he later enrolled in courses in chemistry, geology, and botany at the University of Wisconsin. Muir made extended journeys throughout America, observing both scientifically and enthusiastically the beauties of the wilderness. The Mountains of California, his first book, was published in 1894. He eventually settled in California, where he became an impassioned leader of the forest conservation movement. His writings include Our National Parks (1901), My First Summer in the Sierra (1911), The Yosemite (1912), Travels in Alaska (1915), A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf (1916), and Steep Trails (1918).