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Andrea Wulf paints an appealing picture of the brilliant Alexander von Humboldt, an Enlightenment titan who climbed the highest mountains he could find with heavy instruments to make precise measurements, not just air pressure, but he had some kind of cyanograph to measure just how blue the sky was at different altitudes. He discussed science with Thomas Jefferson, whom he admired on one level, but AvH was firmly opposed to any form of slavery. He admired the indigenous peoples he met while expl
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Dec 12, 2015
Elizabeth
marked it as to-read
Aug 24, 2018
Kris
marked it as to-read
