A Sand County Almanac: With Essays on Conservation

Rating:
Summary: An American Classic
Review: This is a profoundly insightful and important book that ranks among the most significant American books of the Twentieth Century. It would be a mistake to describe this book as "nature writing" per se, or of that genre. It is a series of essays in wonderful prose in which nature, outdoor settings or situations provide the backdrop. But it is not written as a naturalist droning about the wonders of some aspect of nature. It is an inspired and deeply insightful description, by a man who clearly has a deep understanding of how nature works, about the ethical dimensions of our relationship with the land and our environment generally. Despite the simple elegance of the writing style, it can be seen (and I know from biographical information) the author draws from a vast experience and knowledge far outside the confines of the wildlife management, which was his professon. The ideas expressed, and the many quotable passages are a treasure trove for anyone interested in broad ideas, not to mention readers whose professions involve recreation, wildlife, natural resources management, the environment, and the teaching of these disciplines as well as ethics, philosophy, and english literature. In sum, this is a must read for virtually anyone who wishes to be familar with important American literature, as well as those with a particular interest in the environment, environmental ethics and philosophy.

Rating:
Summary: Spectacular!
Review: This was truly a visual treat. The book was laid out with a beautiful flow of text and photographs. The photographs were awesome and really brought to life and enhanced the words of Aldo Leopold. This is a book I will joyfully share with others. A perfect Holiday Gift!

Rating:
Summary: Profound, of great importance.
Review: Though many of Leopold's essays are fifty years old (or more), his words have not lost their effect. And, though trained as a scientist, Leopold treats his subject with the love of an artist and the clarity and conciseness of a philosopher (well, some philosophers, at any rate). And, though many of his ideas have recently come under attack by proponents of "new ecology", a more focused reading of Leopold's work will reveal that these criticisms are off-base. Leopold's views on nature and ecology, in many respects, anticipate and parallel the views of "new ecology" (especially, for instance, his concession that evolution is a constant, even within ecosystems, and that conservation should not be directed towards preserving an "ideal state" of the environment). Still, Leopold reminds us that anthropogenic changes, while still natural (in the sense that humans are "biotic citizens"), operate at different temporal and spatial scales than other natural processes; thus, though human influences on the environment are not fundamentally different than natural influences, they tend to interfere with the natural processes which respond to and evolve to conform with those influences. If all Occidental philosophy is only a series of footnotes to Plato, then all environmental ethics is a series of footnotes to Leopold.

Rating:
Summary: One of the loveliest books I ever read.
Review: Thoughtful, beautiful writing. Put a log or two on the fire, start a kettle of water for tea, and cozy up to this wonderful book. Pause between each chapter to watch the snowflakes fall outside your window.

Rating:
Summary: A Treat
Review: What a treat! This book is a wonderful adventure into place and season. The prose and photos provide a vivid sense of the spirit of the country. I will keep this book close by to journey into often. It will make a great gift book as well.

Rating:
Summary: Possibly the most important book in American Conservation
Review: What does one say about a classic? Leopold obviously has his fanatic defenders, and there seems to be quite an industry these days in digging up everything that he ever wrote or said, including stuff that I imagine he would much rather have left lying. Fortunately this collection doesn't delve too deeply, and we get the best of Leopold as the conservationist/naturalist writing at the height of his powers. To be frank, the ecology of parts of Leopold's writing is very dated and in some cases simply wrong, but it is the product of a very different mind-set in which "stability" appeared to have validity, and while we may wonder at the evidence of other landscapes that Leopold ignores or skips over, we must also wonder at his skill as a writer in capturing a mood or the feel of particular places. In some ways what I find most important about Leopold -and what I point out to my "eco-fundamentalist" students- is here is someone who celebrated nature more eloquently than any other professional biologist that I have read, and yet here also is someone who never went out without his gun. In this sad age where "sportsmen" and "environmentalists" are too often on opposite sides of the same issue, it is important to reflect on an age when one could be both.

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous
Review: While Leopold's writing in A Sand County Almanac is timeless, Sewell's photograhs and Brower's introduction provide valuable context for this classic. I will be giving this gorgeous new volume to my fellow Leopold admirers as well as those friends and family I have been trying to get to read Leopold for years. It won't disappoint!