John Muir (1) (1838–1914)

I stumbled on this book completely by accident, and feel all the better for doing so. Large parts of the text were written a century or more ago, yet Muir's writing resonates with a modernity and freshness that made this book a joy and a pleasure.

This is a nice collection of essays to read before bed or in any free moment. I knew a little bit about Muir through documentaries and visiting the national parks, but now I have read his voice and been guided through some of his experiences via his essays. Like the book's dedication says, "May his voice always be heard... and heeded".

The reason his voice should be heeded is because he reminds us of what can be perceived if we pay attention, how appreciate nature and all living things, and show more reminds us that we are all stewards of the environment in which we live. He also warns that destruction can take place in the act of creating a better world for ourselves and we must understand what we destroy as well as what we create.

All thirteen essays are worth reading, but some stood out both in their ability to convey what's mentioned above and Muir's beautiful language. In Windstorm in the Forest (p.55), he climbs a conifer to experience a windstorm from the tree's vantage and writes poetically about how the invisible winds advertise all they touch, carrying debris and fragrance. In his characteristic style, he reduces life to "tree wavings" — away and back again. In Yosemite Glaciers (p.73), he describes the importance of glaciers in forming the mountain landscape and sorrowfully describes their deaths as “calm as when they came in crystals from the sky.” In Strickeen and the Glacier (p.93), Muir tells the story about his friendship with a dog who overcomes the crossing of a deep crevasse and celebrates with jubilant emotion when he accomplishes the feat.

Yet, some of the most important essays in this collection are the final ones. Muir describes, in The Wild Parks and Forest Reservations of the West (p.119), his joy that people are rediscovering the wild, "awakening from the stupefying effects of the vice of over-industry and the deadly apathy of luxury". However, he reminds all of us who have awoken the threats that are harming forests, plants, and animals and works to inform people in an effort to preserve the wilderness.

This book at different times excites you, motivates you to climb a mountain, and makes you laugh. Muir was a prolific and remarkable person whose intelligence is clear and his love for life incomparable. I am inspired to keep learning from wilderness, especially since it affected a person like Muir so much. show less

My First Summer in the Sierra comprises John Muir's journal entries that document his journey, in the company of a herd of sheep, a shepherd, and a dog, to California's Sierra Nevada mountains during the summer of 1869. Muir records his daily experiences moving through spectacular wilderness areas that would later become Yosemite National Park. Muir presents the Sierra as a pristine ecosystem, depicts wildlife in their habitats, and observes the destructive impact of sheep grazing. He show more encounters several indigenous tribes and describes their ways of life.

The prose alternates between detailed scientific observation and rapturous descriptions of the landscape. He mentions practical concerns about animals, weather, and terrain. He also muses on humanity's relationship with nature. This region is not far from where I live so I had a personal interest in this memoir. I have visited the John Muir house in Martinez, California, and the Muir Woods in Marin County. It will appeal to fans of lyrical nature writing. I enjoyed it as a historic record written by an early proponent of conservationist thought. show less

So! Many! Superlatives! That's what the bulk of this book consists of. As rich and rewarding as Muir's prose is, I believe it might best be enjoyed in small doses rather than all in one go.
[Audiobook note: The reader was okay, but suffers greatly in comparison with the Scottish-accented actor that Ken Burns used as Muir's voice in his National Parks documentary. This reader just somehow failed to bring across the deeply spiritual tone that Muir's words call for.]