The invention of nature: the adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, the lost hero of science,

摘要

To look back on a handful of explorers who saw lands for 'the first time' and shaped Western understanding of nature gives a sense of discovery that is largely lost in our contemporary world. These explorers were the beneficiaries of well-established colonial powers who sought to know, categorise and control the New World. However, Andrea Wulf's portrayal of Alexander von Humboldt places him apart, as a pioneer for how we should live in tolerance and appreciation of human and natural wonders.