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78th out of 332 books
—
201 voters
The Tree Where Man Was Born (The African Trilogy #1)
The idea for this book was to engage a writer and a photographer with the combined talents to create a book unlike any other on the human and natural history of East Africa-one of the world's last splendors and the greatest wildlife spectacle in the world. Usually working apart, and with no attempt to cover exactly the same terrain, Matthiessen and Porter roamed the ancien...more
Paperback, 448 pages
Published
April 1st 1995
by Penguin Books
(first published 1972)
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I purchased this book in anticipation of a journey to Africa. This chronicle is nonfiction, but it reads with the depth and intensity of poetry. Even though this book was written about the author’s experience and impressions of Africa on a series of trips in the 1960’s his insights remain timeless. The politics of Africa are convulsive and the boundaries of countries dynamic, but much of Tanzania and Kenya lands have been preserved and remain essentially the same as when Matthiessen visited 50 y...more
Jun 20, 2012
Bill Moore
added it
Matthiessen's writing, as always, is clear and sharp as a knife. His use of language is accurate and passionate, and he uses it here to bring us Africa as it was, as it still was in the early sixties, and no longer is. There's a lot one could say about this book. It's a travel book, a nature book, a reflection on the loss of a way of life, of a whole piece of humanity, and an investigation of the history of human-king in Africa. he presents the tribal people he met without sentinemtality, racism...more
An excellent read on the writer's journeys through East Africa in the 1960's. The writer gives a unique description of the nature, wildlife and tribal cultures of the region. The descriptions of the various tribes was particularly interesting due to the writer's ability to visit and gain insight into the various traditions of different tribes including Maasai, Hadza, Bantu and many others. Wildlife is also well described as are the animals, including very clear descriptions of predators hunting....more
The Tree Where Man Was Born is a series of belle lettres essays on various aspects of natural history and anthropology in northern Tanzania (with a bit of Ethiopia, Sudan, and Kenya thrown in). It is good for its time, but it was Peter Matthiessen's blessing and curse to live in a time before Barry Lopez, who surpassed him in every possible way (blessing, because his star was not outshined, but cursed, because he was never able to enjoy the master's works).
Unlike Lopez's works, I felt that this...more
Unlike Lopez's works, I felt that this...more
I have often heard Peter Matthiessen described as one of the all-time best nature writers, but my first experience with his work (The Cloud Forest) didn't do as much for me as I had expected it to. This one though? This one got me.
While reading The Cloud Forest, I mostly had the impression that Matthiessen didn't really much enjoy his time in South America, and I felt that in many of his descriptions of the people, he seemed to be looking down on them, which, you know, made me not really like h...more
While reading The Cloud Forest, I mostly had the impression that Matthiessen didn't really much enjoy his time in South America, and I felt that in many of his descriptions of the people, he seemed to be looking down on them, which, you know, made me not really like h...more
I bought this book before I knew who Peter Matthiessen was, namely, one of the greatest nature writers of all time. Because of the book's title, I thought the author would tie present day East Africa to a by-gone era when man was primitive and evolving and nature ruled. I read the first one-hundred fifty pages and put it down for five years before returning to it. At that time, I was lost in my passion for the life and times of early man and not so interested in anything that rhymed with 'presen...more
Matthiessen's writing about Africa is always interesting, but not always really easy to follow. He visits the same places many times in his work as a biologist, and mixes up the visits, so the time sequence is sometimes confusing. The time sequences aren't important, but the confusion bothers me a little. He has written about numerous wildlife surveys and studies he has been involved in in both east and west Africa. This one is mostly Kenya-Tanzania, the Serengeti area.
Lovely prose, absolutely gorgeous words. Why did I have to stumble over this? Why did no one ever say to me, "Hey, you read all that nature stuff, there's this guy you positively have to read!" I listened to the audio version and was mostly entranced. There were some truly gory passages, of course- but in this context one expects this.
A description of the land and peoples of East Africa based on a series of journeys made in the 1960's. Unless you have been their and am somewhat familiar with the geography it will be difficult to follow. The area today is quite different from when he was there so its interesting to see how much has changed in 40 years.
May 07, 2013
Lisa Houlihan
added it
Recommends it for:
Patricia Murphy
Recommended to Lisa by:
Wendy Burton
I saw this title in my goodreads feed because a goodsreads-only acquaintance added it her to-read list without commentary. I immediately requested it from the library.
Most of the books I read before my trip were about climbing Kilimanjaro and wasted my time, and then I tried a book Rich was reading that, he claimed, was about Africa. I started it but I couldn't get past the author's justification for hunting.
This, in contrast, is gorgeous. The prose is lovely, the landscape and peoples he descri...more
Most of the books I read before my trip were about climbing Kilimanjaro and wasted my time, and then I tried a book Rich was reading that, he claimed, was about Africa. I started it but I couldn't get past the author's justification for hunting.
This, in contrast, is gorgeous. The prose is lovely, the landscape and peoples he descri...more
Interesting. I may be biased in that Matthiessen's "Snow Leopard" was so incredible that I've wanted him to reach that height again and so far I haven't found a book of his that has. This is still a fine read.
I had a tough time getting into this book, but I'm very glad i stuck it out. Matthiessen's adventures are interesting and it's always fun to hear about old friends such as Richard Leaky and George Adamson. Since this was written in 1969/70, it would be interesting to read something now that is about the same areas recently.
One of the most inspiring books I've ever read. Peter Matthiessen captures the beauty and essence of the African savannah from the start, a place that is dear to me and where I grew up. thanks.
I always enjoy what I read by Peter Matthiessen, this one especially because I love Africa. Great book.
wonderful book about Africa. Despite PM's pretentiousness and mild racism I love his writing.
The finest book ever written about East Africa.
One of the best ever books I have read.
Sheer poetry.
Jan 15, 2008
L.J.
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
nature, science readers
Shelves:
belongs-on-my-shelf
A great book on East African primate studies and the complexities of fossil records and human development. Well written and based on extensive firsthand experience in the field the book is a literary guide to anthropological studies from this area. Important book for anyone studying the subject but it is older and not sure how well the science holds up as there have been newer findings and research; but still a very good and readable book.
I have never read a Peter Matthiessen book I haven't liked. This book was written in 1972 and describes his many extended trips to east africa. It is beautifully written and full of sadness for the changing life for the wild animals and for the older peoples, the hunter/gatherers who are being pushed aside, worse being forced into living in villages where they are looked down on. And did I saw how beautiful the writing is?
Apr 09, 2008
Dennis
rated it
5 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
Anyone who has been on Safari or is planning one.
Shelves:
africa
A well written, thoughtful meditation on the land, people and animals of Kenya and Tanzania. It's a must read for anyone who has been on safari. The descriptions will make you feel that you are back in the Serengeti. It is very helpful in understanding the people of the bush and what has happened to them. While it was based on his travels in the 1960's, it is still very relevant to today.
"Stunning�.The Africa [Matthiessen] evokes is finally timeless, majestic, throbbing with life, indivisible."�Saturday Review
Listen to The Tree Where Man Was Born on your iPhone, desktop, or smartphone.
Listen to The Tree Where Man Was Born on your iPhone, desktop, or smartphone.
I listened to this book and it was like listening to a beautiful painting of Africa
I read this when it first came out - over thirty years ago - and I'm inspired to read it again along with Matthiessen's Snow Leopard. This has absolutely gorgeous photos by Eliot Porter, of Sierra Club calendar fame.
2 likes · like · see review
I loaned this book to a friend who was heading to Africa on safari. She found it very good preparatory reading.
I liked it very much myself, but there isn't a word this man has written that isn't engaging.
I liked it very much myself, but there isn't a word this man has written that isn't engaging.
Descriptions beautiful. Attitudes towards Africans probably typical for the time, but hard to accept today
Great Read!
May 22, 2013
Becky
marked it as to-read
May 18, 2013
Suzanne
marked it as to-read
May 16, 2013
Amy
marked it as to-read
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Peter Matthiessen was born in New York City in 1927 and had already begun his writing career by the time he graduated from Yale University in 1950. The following year, he was a founder of The Paris Review. Besides At Play in the Fields of the Lord, which was nominated for the National Book Award, he has published six other works of fiction, including Far Tortuga and Raditzer. Mr. Matthiessen's...more
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“Of all African animals, the elephant is the most difficult for man to live with, yet its passing - if this must come - seems the most tragic of all. I can watch elephants (and elephants alone) for hours at a time, for sooner or later the elephant will do something very strange such as mow grass with its toenails or draw the tusks from the rotted carcass of another elephant and carry them off into the bush. There is mystery behind that masked gray visage, and ancient life force, delicate and mighty, awesome and enchanted, commanding the silence ordinarily reserved for mountain peaks, great fires, and the sea.”
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5 people liked it
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Apr 18, 2012 08:19am