A passion for nature: the life of John Muir

摘要

Worster's biography of John Muir, the much heralded conservationist and first president of the Sierra Club, seeks to understand what made Muir such an ardent supporter of nature and to outline the nuances (and complexities) of his beliefs. The book traces his journey as a child in Dunbar, growing up in newly colonised rural Wisconsin, to his long walks into Canada, down to Florida, trips across to California (living many years in Yosemite), into Alaska, and eventually around the world. Given that Muir was such a restless traveller (or perhaps more accurately, wanderer), much of the book is concerned with tracing his explorations and detailing those he met along the way. This is done using his extensive notebooks, sketches and articles. In doing so, Worster brings to life the encounters, emotions, and challenges that shaped Muir's passion for nature.