Questions About The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World

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Answered Questions (5)

does this lend inself to a good bookclub discussion? any controversy or deeper meanings?

Stefan this question can only be answered by yourself, considering the audience of your club. humboldt wrote about the abolition of slavery, the disastrous c…morethis question can only be answered by yourself, considering the audience of your club. humboldt wrote about the abolition of slavery, the disastrous consequences of reckless colonialism and the toil man is taking out on mother nature with his short-sightedness and wont for profit. he influenced people like darwin, goethe, jefferson, thoreau and muir, so his touch points spread over a plethora of fields. from religion, to literature and science, politics and being-human. in my opinion immense food for thought neatly woven around the life of a great person.(less)

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I really enjoyed this book. I loved learning about this incredible scientist, but also about how his life fit into history. I also loved how I learned a bit about the people he inspired (i.e. Darwin, Thoreau). Are there any other biographies like this that you would recommend? I am new to reading these types of books (I usually read historical fiction or fantasy), so you suggestions would really help.

Amanda Weaver This isn't a biography but I think you find this book interesting, too. I loved it. American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obessession in the Wes…moreThis isn't a biography but I think you find this book interesting, too. I loved it. American Wolf: A True Story of Survival and Obessession in the West by Nate Blakeslee(less)

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How is this book different than Aaron Sachs' -The Humboldt Current-?

aleph3 This is a biography of Humboldt himself, with digressions into his influence on others (such as Charles Darwin, Thoreau, and John Muir), while _The Hu…moreThis is a biography of Humboldt himself, with digressions into his influence on others (such as Charles Darwin, Thoreau, and John Muir), while _The Humboldt Current_ is entirely devoted to tracing Humboldt's effect on 18th-century American explorers and thinkers.

Both are excellent though!(less)

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Is this book illustrated?