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Summary: To keep every cog and wheel ...
Review: I have read this book again - and it's even better the second time around. If anyone is remotely interested in the "man vs. nature" debate - this book is a must read. "The last word in ignorance is the man who says of an animal or plant: 'What good is it?' If the land mechanism as a whole is good, then every part is good, whether we understand it or not. If the biota, in the course of aeons, has built something we like but do not understand, then who but a fool would discard seemingly useless parts? To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."
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Summary: A Sand County Almanac Review
Review: I read A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold. I liked this book because it beautifully describes Leopold's extensive farm, and its plants, animals and seasons, in Sand Country, WI over 60 years ago. This book has no specific plot, rather it is like a diary that tells us about Aldo's life on the farm year-round. It is incredibly detailed, Leopold sometimes writes for several pages about one specific type of flower or tree. The fields of science that this most relates to are observational (field) ecology and biology. This is because Leopold doesn't experiment in a lab setting or set up experiments on his farm, instead he walks around and observes, and therefore draws conclusions from these observations. The characters in Leopold's book are himself, his dog, and all the hundreds and thousands of animals and plants on his farm, which he often anthropomorphizes. This book is factual, as everything he says actually happened, but it also has elements of fiction because Leopold anthropomorphizes the animals and plants he observes and often gives them personalities and tells stories about them. The book's conclusions, I think, are to enjoy nature and preserve it. Leopold loves to be outdoors, and his book recommends the same thing: to get outside, walk around, and enjoy the beauty all around you. This book also emphasizes that we need to protect and preserve nature, because if we don't care for the environment now, there will be nothing left for future generations. This is especially important to remember today, because of the world's vast global and environmental problems. This is a beautifully written, interesting book that I would recommend to anyone who likes to be outdoors.
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Summary: Holy Writ for the Land Manager
Review: If the place and the creature are textbook and teacher, Aldo Leopold is the dean of the college. Leopold never ceases to astound me with his ability to convey a sense of place in his magnificent work. A Sand County Almanac takes the reader on a vivid and thought provoking tour of what was, what is, and what might become in the Sand Counties of Wisconsin. Leopold fills the book with advice and direction to the budding naturalist on how to observe, what to do with observations, and how to properly manage land. It is a very enjoyable story that the reader will return to again and again.
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Summary: Superb and thoughtful writing by a noted conservationist
Review: If you have ever loved a wild place, or a secret place, or a place which calmed and sheltered you from the hustle of modern life, you must read Aldo Leopold's classic "A Sand County Almanac." Leopold, a noted conservationist, puts forth a sort of collection of musings, essays, arguments, and general thoughts on anything and everything having to do with nature. He covers water conservation, the migration of seeds and spores, hunting, the crumbling of a tree into loam from which another tree will eventually grow. At his very best, Leopold raises both the level of discourse and the level of writing to something that can stand with the finest literature:"Within a few weeks now, Draba, the smallest flower that blows, will sprinkle every sandy place with small blooms. He who hopes for spring with upturned eye will never see so small a thing as Draba. He who despairs of spring with downcast eye steps on it, unknowing. He who searches for spring with his knees in the mud finds it, in abundance. Draba asks, and gets, but scant allowance of warmth and comfort; it subsists on the leavings of unwanted time and space. Botany books give it two or three lines, but never a plate or portrait. Sand too poor and sun too weak for bigger, better blooms are good enough for Draba. After all, it is no spring flower, but only a postscript to a hope." When Leopold can describe a tiny nothing of a plant with such delicacy, beauty, and restraint, you know that you are reading the work of a rare and informed writer. I could quote from the book forever, as the gorgeous passages are many, but I urge you to read it yourself instead and discover an enduring voice in defense of the American wilderness.
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Summary: Nature, the best
Review: If you love the steady and incredible look of nature to your eyes, just wait until you read nature in words. Leopolds skill is amazing. You must have some concentration to read this book, but its truley takes the shap of nature, wth levels, images, surprises and lessons..
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Summary: Breathtaking Book!
Review: If you're looking for a Holiday gift, look no further! A Sand County Almanac, re-photographed by Michael Sewell, is a nature-lover's gem. I've seen earlier versions of A Sand County Almanac, both with sketches and photos (done in the 70's), and neither compares to this new edition. The photos are spectatular, and unlike earlier versions of the book, the explanations of the wildlife are captured by the photos. It's as if poetry is both literal and visual and unite to form a complete whole, giving the reader vivid clarity into Leopold's descriptions. This is a must-see for nature-lovers and Holiday shoppers alike! I know it's on my Holiday shopping list!
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Summary: Illuminated Manuscript
Review: Long considered the first book on conservation, this should be read by everyone. The author's love of land, wildlife and nature are fully expressed. Those thoughts are followed by philosophizing on conservation - ethics, practice, economics, etc. Written in the nascent stages of conservation in this country, a time when it was more thought than practice, the issues still resonate today. One sees the difficulties both in expanding environmental conservation as well as the pitfalls and errors made in the area (with all good intent) since the forties when Leopald wrote.
Portions of this were assigned when I was in college. Now, 28 years later, the entirety means much more. It should be required reading for everyone, especially lovers of the outdoors.
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Summary: A World Classic - Required Reading
Review: Long considered the first book on conservation, this should be read by everyone. The author's love of land, wildlife and nature are fully expressed. Those thoughts are followed by philosophizing on conservation - ethics, practice, economics, etc. Written in the nascent stages of conservation in this country, a time when it was more thought than practice, the issues still resonate today. One sees the difficulties both in expanding environmental conservation as well as the pitfalls and errors made in the area (with all good intent) since the forties when Leopald wrote.
Portions of this were assigned when I was in college. Now, 28 years later, the entirety means much more. It should be required reading for everyone, especially lovers of the outdoors.
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Summary: You know the type
Review: Overwrought, pedantic, and embarassingly smug at times. Otherwise, a unique, carefully crafted and historically pertinent piece of work. I recommend prospective naturalists, etc., invest in 'The Norton Book of Nature Writing' instead, to gain a broader view of the genre.
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Summary: Stunning
Review: Photographer Michael Sewell brings Leopold's words to life and captures the stunning natural beauty of Wisconsin for readers everywhere. This is a must have for all Leopold enthusiasts and a great way to introduce new readers to his insights and inspiration.
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