John Muir: Nature's Visionary
"Everybody needs beauty as well as bread," wrote Muir, who walked away from the hubbub of humanity and immersed himself in the wild until an "evangelistic urge" induced him to come down from his beloved Sierras and share his belief in the sanctity of wilderness. Muir fought to protect Yosemite and other natural wonders more than a century ago, and though so much has been lost since, the damage would be far more horrific without Muir's poetic and pioneering writings and passionate conservationist efforts. Ehrlich, herself an astute and eloquent nature writer, adroitly chronicles Muir's wholly admirable life--from his self-education as a boy in Scotland and Wisconsin to his solitary cross-country treks, fruitful mountain hermitage, and cofounding of the Sierra Club--with empathy and respect. By focusing on Muir's "unquenchable" appetite for life and learning and quoting with great discernment from his works, including unpublished journals, Ehrlich beautifully captures Muir's essence and clearly defines the ongoing significance of his accomplishments. Lynn Johnson's gorgeous landscape photography and a wealth of wonderful archival images provide the perfect accompaniment.Donna SeamanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved