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The American wilderness: Essays
American Wilderness, The by Muir, John
223 pages, Hardcover
First published November 15, 1990
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435 people want to read
About the author
John Muir
603 books1,424 followersJohn Muir (1838 – 1914) was a Scottish-American naturalist, author, and early advocate of preservation of wilderness in the United States. His letters, essays, and books telling of his adventures in nature, especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains of California, have been read by millions. His activism helped to preserve the Yosemite Valley, Sequoia National Park and other wilderness areas. The Sierra Club, which he founded, is now one of the most important conservation organizations in the United States. One of the best-known hiking trails in the U.S., the 211-mile (340 km) John Muir Trail, was named in his honor. Other such places include Muir Woods National Monument, Muir Beach, John Muir College, Mount Muir, Camp Muir and Muir Glacier.
In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. He is today referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the National Park Service has produced a short documentary about his life.
Muir's biographer, Steven J. Holmes, believes that Muir has become "one of the patron saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity," both political and recreational. As a result, his writings are commonly discussed in books and journals, and he is often quoted by nature photographers such as Ansel Adams. "Muir has profoundly shaped the very categories through which Americans understand and envision their relationships with the natural world," writes Holmes. Muir was noted for being an ecological thinker, political spokesman, and religious prophet, whose writings became a personal guide into nature for countless individuals, making his name "almost ubiquitous" in the modern environmental consciousness. According to author William Anderson, Muir exemplified "the archetype of our oneness with the earth".
Muir was extremely fond of Henry David Thoreau and was probably influenced more by him than even Ralph Waldo Emerson. Muir often referred to himself as a "disciple" of Thoreau. He was also heavily influenced by fellow naturalist John Burroughs.
During his lifetime John Muir published over 300 articles and 12 books. He co-founded the Sierra Club, which helped establish a number of national parks after he died and today has over 1.3 million members. Author Gretel Ehrlich states that as a "dreamer and activist, his eloquent words changed the way Americans saw their mountains, forests, seashores, and deserts." He not only led the efforts to protect forest areas and have some designated as national parks, but his writings gave readers a conception of the relationship between "human culture and wild nature as one of humility and respect for all life," writes author Thurman Wilkins.
His philosophy exalted wild nature over human culture and civilization. Turner describes him as "a man who in his singular way rediscovered America. . . . an American pioneer, an American hero." Wilkins adds that a primary aim of Muir’s nature philosophy was to challenge mankind’s "enormous conceit," and in so doing, he moved beyond the Transcendentalism of Emerson and Thoreau to a "biocentric perspective on the world."
In the months after his death, many who knew Muir closely wrote about his influences.
In his later life, Muir devoted most of his time to the preservation of the Western forests. He petitioned the U.S. Congress for the National Park bill that was passed in 1890, establishing Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks. The spiritual quality and enthusiasm toward nature expressed in his writings inspired readers, including presidents and congressmen, to take action to help preserve large nature areas. He is today referred to as the "Father of the National Parks" and the National Park Service has produced a short documentary about his life.
Muir's biographer, Steven J. Holmes, believes that Muir has become "one of the patron saints of twentieth-century American environmental activity," both political and recreational. As a result, his writings are commonly discussed in books and journals, and he is often quoted by nature photographers such as Ansel Adams. "Muir has profoundly shaped the very categories through which Americans understand and envision their relationships with the natural world," writes Holmes. Muir was noted for being an ecological thinker, political spokesman, and religious prophet, whose writings became a personal guide into nature for countless individuals, making his name "almost ubiquitous" in the modern environmental consciousness. According to author William Anderson, Muir exemplified "the archetype of our oneness with the earth".
Muir was extremely fond of Henry David Thoreau and was probably influenced more by him than even Ralph Waldo Emerson. Muir often referred to himself as a "disciple" of Thoreau. He was also heavily influenced by fellow naturalist John Burroughs.
During his lifetime John Muir published over 300 articles and 12 books. He co-founded the Sierra Club, which helped establish a number of national parks after he died and today has over 1.3 million members. Author Gretel Ehrlich states that as a "dreamer and activist, his eloquent words changed the way Americans saw their mountains, forests, seashores, and deserts." He not only led the efforts to protect forest areas and have some designated as national parks, but his writings gave readers a conception of the relationship between "human culture and wild nature as one of humility and respect for all life," writes author Thurman Wilkins.
His philosophy exalted wild nature over human culture and civilization. Turner describes him as "a man who in his singular way rediscovered America. . . . an American pioneer, an American hero." Wilkins adds that a primary aim of Muir’s nature philosophy was to challenge mankind’s "enormous conceit," and in so doing, he moved beyond the Transcendentalism of Emerson and Thoreau to a "biocentric perspective on the world."
In the months after his death, many who knew Muir closely wrote about his influences.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
February 15, 2014
In this age of digital cameras and photoshop, youTube and social networking, it would seem a waste of time to purchase, let alone browse, an oversized book of black and white landscape photographs. I doubt any of the children of the digital age would give it a glance. Those who know beauty, however, would do as I have and snap this book up and admire it often. These are no ordinary photographs. Ansel Adams was no ordinary photographer. Each photo is a carefully crafted composition, beginning with location. He would set up his camera (after backpacking it for miles across untracked wilderness) and reposition it ceaselessly until he found the right spot to make a photograph. Then it was time to wait for the proper light. He had to choose the correct exposure and film. Finally, for a few moments, everything was sublime and an exposure was made. Yet the composition was only beginning. Adams processed his own film and created his own enlargements in the darkroom, spending days working with a negative to bring forth the beauty of the image he had witnessed when he took the photo.
All of the images are black and white. By removing color, the eye (and the mind) of the viewer becomes aware of the significance of the varying degrees of light. Structural details you wouldn't notice in color become clear when viewed in black and white. Most important of all, and this is due to Adams' diligence in the darkroom, is the balance of light and dark in his compositions. It is a difficult concept to convey in words, but looking at the photos one can see the visual harmony of light and shadow from picture to picture. There is a conversation taking place in the eye, with Adams silently pointing out the light, guiding us to see what he's saying. This communication is art at it's best, and any creative person - writer, photographer, painter, poet - can learn a lot about conveying their ideas by spending a few quiet moments meditating on these images. This is art that transcends time and genre. Soak it in; it will serve you well.
All of the images are black and white. By removing color, the eye (and the mind) of the viewer becomes aware of the significance of the varying degrees of light. Structural details you wouldn't notice in color become clear when viewed in black and white. Most important of all, and this is due to Adams' diligence in the darkroom, is the balance of light and dark in his compositions. It is a difficult concept to convey in words, but looking at the photos one can see the visual harmony of light and shadow from picture to picture. There is a conversation taking place in the eye, with Adams silently pointing out the light, guiding us to see what he's saying. This communication is art at it's best, and any creative person - writer, photographer, painter, poet - can learn a lot about conveying their ideas by spending a few quiet moments meditating on these images. This is art that transcends time and genre. Soak it in; it will serve you well.
July 27, 2017
I expected to really like this book. I figured that Adams' photos and Muir's writing would be a perfect match but somehow it failed to touch me. Something about the black and white imagery just didn't connect me to the natural beauty. I think I need the natural color to feel that connection. And I guess I feel that nature can't be touched with words. I think I'm so in awe of nature that it's a nonverbal experience and words about it seem doomed to fall short of coming close to nature's majesty....
September 19, 2020
I've had this sitting around for a while now, and I have gazed through the photos. I do wish that each picture had a caption of what was pictured rather than have a credit/index for this at the end. There were countless times where I would think a view was familiar (RMNP) to have to look at the book to verify if I was correct or not.However, I decided to actually read John Muir's words today to find inspiration to go outside, and to just be overwhelmed with the beauty our country has, and hopefully, will continue to have despite the forest fires raging in the West currently.
April 5, 2020
A fantastic selection of quotes from Muir to accompany Adams’ photographs. I had not seen many of them and was glad to experience something new from him. I especially like them because they were taken before his move to grander, colder landscapes.
My only complaint is the lack of citations for Muir’s quotes. Full credits are provided for the photos. We are told, in general, which books the quotes were drawn from, but the quotes themselves are not linked to any specific volume.
My only complaint is the lack of citations for Muir’s quotes. Full credits are provided for the photos. We are told, in general, which books the quotes were drawn from, but the quotes themselves are not linked to any specific volume.
October 30, 2020
Hard to review a book thats just short but brilliant excerpts from John Muirs writings next to incredible photos by my favorite photographer... so, I'll just write that its hard to review that type of book instead.
February 23, 2018
Beautiful book. Enjoyed every moment.
December 5, 2018
Ansel. Adams. Photographs. What's not to love here people?!
February 14, 2019
An exquisite verbal and visual exhibition. Naturally.
July 19, 2020
This coffee table book is an amazing collaboration between two great Americans who stand for the priceless natural heritage of the U.S.A.
February 7, 2017
Breath taking images awaken the spirit, even in black and white, with beautiful musings by John Muir. A beautiful book to spend some intimate time with and enjoy with loved ones.
August 13, 2015
Muir's texts can result dull and monotonous, apart from cheesy. Maybe is the result of the editor having chosen the most poetic-like texts by him, but they totally fail to support or complement the pictures. In m y case, they distract more than add anything interesting. The pictures, on the other hand, are the gold standard of b&w landscape photography. Period. Hence the 4 stars.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews