The Singing Wilderness

by Sigurd F. Olson

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HTML:Acute natural perceptivity and a profound knowledge of the relationships to be found in nature combine here in vivid evocations of the sights, the sounds, the vast stillnesses, and the events of the wilderness as the seasons succeed each other. But Mr. Olson is not content merely to "describe"; he probes for meanings that will lead the listener to a different and more revealing way of looking at the out-of-doors and to a deeper sense of its eternal values. In each of the thirty-four show more chapters of The Singing Wilderness he has sought to capture an essential quality of our magnificent lake and forest heritage. He shows us what can be read from the rocks of the great Canadian Shield; he offers a delightful essay on the virtues of pine knots as fuel; he writes of the ways of a canoe, of flashing trout in the pools of the Isabella, of tamarack bogs, caribou moss, the flight of wild geese, timber wolves, and the birds of the ski trails. And much more, with something to satisfy every taste for wilderness experience.
The Singing Wilderness is a book that no lover of nature will want to be without. To anyone who contemplates a vacation in the lake country of northern Minnesota and adjoining Canada, it is the perfect vade mecum. Nonfiction. Nature.
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4 reviews
Most of the essays included in this book were written shortly before I was born (1945) or shortly thereafter. The sad part of this book is that the wilderness that he writes about is gone and it would take hundreds of year before that wilderness regenerates itself. On the other hand the author does find peace and beauty which should encourage us to work hard to protect what we have left and to go out and enjoy what we have. Definitely one that should be reread often.
A beautiful series of essays following the course of a year in what would become the Boundary Waters Canoe Area of northern Minnesota. Delightful descriptions of the flora and fauna of the wilderness.
Loved this book, the writing, the imagery, the location. Thought of it as a love letters to nature, although it isn't a book of letters. Made me want to get outside. So I think I shall!
½
As a young boo he loved the wilderness and its sounds. He talks about the loons, waterfalls, wolves howling = all a part of the singing wilderness. He feels the cities with loud noise, hurrying thru life, we miss the simple joys, the singing of the wilderness, all sounds of nature, the peace and beauty of he singing wilderness.

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Recommended Nature Writing
346 works; 180 members

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17+ Works 1,385 Members

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Common Knowledge

Canonical title
The Singing Wilderness
Original publication date
1956
Important places
Boundary Waters Canoe Area, Minnesota, USA
First words
The singing wilderness has to do with the calling of the loons, northern lights, and the great silences of a land lying northwest of Lake Superior.

Classifications

Genres
Science & Nature, Nonfiction, General Nonfiction
DDC/MDS
574.97Natural sciences & mathematicsBiology[Formerly: Physiological and Structural Biology]By LocationNorth America
LCC
QH102 .O4ScienceNatural history – BiologyNatural history (General)General
BISAC

Statistics

Members
279
Popularity
115,417
Reviews
4
Rating
(4.15)
Languages
English
Media
Paper, Ebook
ISBNs
5
ASINs
7