[A Sand County Almanac (Outdoor Essays & Reflections)] [By: Leopold, Aldo] [December, 1986]

by Aldo Leopold

Written by Aldo Leopold, this book is a set of informal essays during his long years of observation and returning to the land and the nature. His beautiful words keep down different scenery at his farm in each month of a year, and states of earth and nature in several other states. Description of some local stories is also included. His opinion of land ethic is summarized too. The book has rich and interesting content, and would make readers realize interdependence between people and land.

Genres: Nature, Nonfiction, Science, Ecology, Conservation, Audiobook, Environment

Mass Market Paperback

Published December 12, 1986

About the author

A Sand County Almanac , published posthumously in 1949, of American writer and naturalist Aldo Leopold celebrates the beauty of the world and advocates the conscious protection of wild places.

His effect on resource management and policy lasted in the early to mid-twentieth century, and since his death, his influence continued to expand. Through his observation, experience, and reflection at his river farm in Wisconsin, he honed the concepts of land health and a land ethic that since his death ever influenced in the years. Despite more than five hundred articles and three books during the course of his geographically widespread career, time at his shack and farm in Wisconsin inspired most of the disarmingly simple essays that so many persons found so thought-provoking.

Life story of Aldo Leopold, the development of his career as a conservationist, scientist, and philosopher, and his open-mindedness, his vision, and the evolution of his thinking throughout his life inspire other persons to start or to further their own intellectual journey of discovery. A closer engagement with his story, his inspiration, and his family helps persons better to understand the contours of environmental history and the role in culture and to reflect on their own in the complex weave of the way in which our society relates to land. His vision of a society that cares about the connections between people and land provides a starting point for thinking about modern-day cultures, economies, ecosystems, and communities.

Starker Leopold, Luna Leopold, Nina Leopold, Carl Leopold, and Estella Leopold—children of Aldo—founded the Aldo Leopold foundation in 1982. People respected all members of the Leopold family as scientists and conservationists in their own right. They recognized the shack and farm as a focal point for legacy of their father for generations to come and for this primary reason established the foundation. This public charity owns and manages the Leopold center, including the Leopold shack and 264 surrounding acres in addition to several other parcels and also manages much of the adjoining 1,800-acre Leopold memorial reserve, which neighboring landowners established as an early trust in 1967. It acts as the executor of literary estate of Leopold, encourages scholarship on Leopold, and serves as a clearinghouse for information regarding Leopold, his work, and his ideas. It provides interpretive resources and tours for five thousand visitors annually, cooperates with partners on education and other programming off site, and maintains a robust website and numerous print resources. The Aldo Leopold foundation manages this Goodreads page.

Reviews

[Alex Jiles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The first half is delicious descriptions of otherwise unnoticed little dramas of flora and fauna that play out in a year on the farm. And the second is common sense plain language on the land and conservation ethics we as a species should aim for. Such a pleasurable read if only for its inspiration to look deeper and longer and spend more time outside.

[Lorraine McCleary · Rating 3 out of 5]

I know this is a classic environmental read, but I had a hard time understanding the author's call for caring for all biotica when about half of the book was his tales of hunting and fishing. He rants about only taking pictures or doing field studies to protect wildlife, but he cannot see his own faults. Although he mourns the destruction of extensive species like mega fauna or the passenger pigeons, he rails against the use of high velocity arms and trophy hunters, even though man with simple stone weapons or even the gun he uses caused massive extinctions. Sad that we can't just give animals their own space.

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think if you handed this book to a group of people, most would find the lengthy descriptions of plants and animals as boring, but a certain subset would read it and become radicalized. I fall into that subset. It's only 92 pages, and evidences that man's urge to purge the world of natural spaces remains unchanged in the last century. Having said all that, maybe half the essay is about hunting birds that are now federally protected, so maybe Aldo wasn't the defender of nature that he thought himself to be.

"Few grieved when the last buffalo left Wisconsin, and few will grieve when the last Silphium follows him to lush prairies of the never-never land."

[mayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

We kind of skipped around the essays portion, but I really enjoyed the almanac section!

[AvidReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is the type of flowery, verbose prose that irritate me to no end. Specifically the descriptions of nature. The descriptions feel like they’re designed for someone who grew up in a stainless steel cube in space and don’t understand the concept of grass. Taking a 10 minute walk in nature is infinitely more impactful than most of the passages. The arguments in the latter third of the book are the saving grace. They’re well articulated and mostly valid. I would have preferred to consume this book as a pamphlet or brochure around 2,000 words in length. There are nice ideas buried under an annoying barrage of superfluous details.

[Bonnie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve had this book on my shelves since my mother died in 1996. I’m so glad I’ve finally read it because I just loved it. It is so peaceful and lyrical and it took me back to my childhood growing up in Madison and visiting my grandparent’s farm near Edgerton. There are some connections to my family. Leopoldo was an Associate Director of the Forest Products Laboratory at the University of Wisconsin and my father worked there. He was a professor at Wisconsin and I and my five brothers and my daughter graduated from there. My mother seemed to know all the flora and fauna in southern Wisconsin.
It was interesting that Leopoldo bought failed farmland and got to work trying to improve it and bring it back to its original state. He finds wonder in all of nature, even what happens when trees are diseased. My favorite month in the almanac is February when Leopoldo helps saw through an 85-year-old oak tree and comments on climate, state laws and other things during each year. He ends each section with the phrase “Rest cries the head sawyer, and we pause for a breath”.
I’d love to go to Leopold’s farm today, but I’m afraid much of the fauna, especially the birds, will be gone.

[Kinsey Ayers · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Land Ethic made this very worth reading.

[Carrie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really lovely reflection on a time and place. My favorite essay included notes while crosscutting a tree. As he and his partner cut, he reflects on the years the tree was alive.

[Alan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed all the essays and I found the final essays most enjoyable.

[Z Reader · Rating 2 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first part - the almanac month by month. The musings in the second half were occasionally interesting - impressive how on point he was so long ago, clearly influenced a lot of the environmental movement - but I got bored hence it took me months to finish this.

[Ranger Ragle · Rating 4 out of 5]

I had to read this book for my Wildlife Principles class in college, and I was not disappointed. I was not expecting a highly philosophical read when I started this, but it was a welcomed surprise. The book mainly consists of short essays, or "shack sketches," that describe nature and how complex its inter-workings are. Leopold was a forester and the "Father of Wildlife Ecology" according to my professional field.

Most books in my trade are almost entirely scientific in nature, and rather drab to read. Leopold sets the standard by bringing in a much needed dose of poetry and philosophy.
Not only does Leopold use science to support conservation, but he also uses religious morality and philosophy to prove his points. This book also does a great job in showing the importance of proper sportsmanship in the outdoors. Hunting and fishing, interestingly enough, often drive conservation movements all across the country. Leopold was an avid hunter, and this was one of the ways he felt he truly drew closer to nature.

This book is great for anyone who wants to read beautiful essays about various creatures and their habitats. It is not too scientific, so that a general audience can still appreciate and understand what is being said. My rating is not based on Leopold's authorship skills, the descriptions, or philosophy. It is rather based on the purpose of this book. The book is meant to inspire generations of people to develop a new land ethic to save what we have here on Earth. This book achieves that purpose in various ways.

[Kyndra McGovern · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is one that I plan to read a physical copy of. Although getting to listen to the audiobook is a convenience, the depth of this book needs to be read ink and paper.

Aldo’s ability to right poetically and scientifically is one to be jealous of. Seeing nature through his eyes brought my love for nature to the forefront (to be fair, this isn’t hard to do).

[Careyjo Titus · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will forever be one of my favorite reads. As a biologist, I tear up just thinking about the biodiversity we have lost and this book paints the perfect picture of what it must have been like to live through it. I believe everyone should read this book once to understand the impact we’ve had on the plant and to learn how we can prevent this from continuing into future generations.

[Yvonne Leutwyler · Rating 3 out of 5]

I admit I didn't read this book cover to cover, especially because there are many short essays in addition to the main part. Very interesting perspective (and a lesson in natural history) from the first half of the 20th century, from the forester, hunter, and conservationist that Mr. Leopold was.

[Gale · Rating 5 out of 5]

re-read before school. better the second time. gospel for the environmental steward.

[Luke · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m a big fan of Wisconsin now

[Travis Brown · Rating 5 out of 5]

A classic for anyone seeking to understand or develop a land ethic.

[Olivia Hinds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolute classic. I have been reading in Part 1 each month as we enter new ones, but reading it all together was a treat. I love his idea of a land ethic, and making people care about what positively impacts land and not just is economically valuable. The things he speaks to are still true today. Will certainly be a reread.

Learnings/ Quotes:

"Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land"

"The gadgets of industry bring us more comforts than the pigeons did, but do they add as much to the glory of the spring?"

Idea of country versus land. Country : personality , deeper ecological value , health and ability to self renew. Land : human scale, ownable.

Importance of hobbies! Just because! Without need for health, power, profit.

"too much safety seems to yield only danger in the long run... In wilderness is the salvation of the world (Thoreau)"

"A sense of history should be the most precious gift of science and of the arts, but I suspect that the grebe, who has neither, knows more history than we do". True of animals but also true between humans with varying experiences. He speaks later of how you cant learn everything from a degree and that is true. Those anglers/hunters/people who spend time and are observant on the land often know more than the trained biologist. People can lack that humility.

"The elemental simplicities of wilderness travel were thrills not only because of their novelty, but because they represented complete freedom to make mistakes, The wilderness gave them their first taste of those rewards and penalties for wise and foolish acts which every woodsmen faces daily, but against which civilization has a built a thousand buffers. These boys were 'on their own' in this particular sense. Perhaps every youth needs an occasional wilderness trip, in order to learn the meaning of the particular freedom"

[Bene.M.Lire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ce roman, je ne l'ai pas lu d'une traite, comme j'ai l'habitude de le faire. Non, celui ci , je me suis pris le temps de lire lentement, pas tous les jours, mais selon les humeurs et le temps extérieur.
Oui, car la météo y a joué un tour. J'ai débuté cette lecture, avec en tête de lire chaque mois, le chapitre qui lui était consacré. J'ai plutôt bien tenu les 1ers mois, mais avec le printemps et une activité recrudescence, j'ai laissé de côté de roman.
Mais, en y revenant de temps en temps, pour lire un chapitre, ou juste quelques lignes. Avec l'automne venant et le temps moins lumineux, j'ai de nouveau ressenti plus intensément son appel. Car, ne le cachons pas, ce roman est contemplatif et rend hommage à la faune et à la flore. Les saisons se déroulent et on observe l'impact du temps, de l'homme, sur cette nature. J'ai été comme dans la peau d'une ornithologue, à observer le vol et les habitudes des oiseaux. J'ai été botaniste en découvrant la manière dont la flore évolue en fonction de contraintes climatiques ou humaines. J'ai observé, j'ai senti. C'est beau, c'est lent, ça peut ennuyer surtout si on a l'habitude d'histoires trépidantes. Mais, ça a été, pour moi, à chaque fois, un temps plus calme, plus lent, plus nécessaire pour contrebalancer le stress du quotidien. Un peu comme une bulle hors du temps, un espace dans lequel on s'autorise (enfin) à s'accorder du temps et à s'approcher de la nature.
Le seul bémol, c'est que les 40 dernières pages ont été plus laborieuses à lire. J'ai apprécié la critique de l'impact du tourisme sur les espaces sauvages et naturels, mais cette liste des territoires perdus ou encore existants, a quelque peu étouffé mon intérêt. A lire cependant si vous est fan du nature writing.

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new favorite. Some of the essays toward the end got a little tedious and repetitive. I think this is owing to being published posthumously. It was also mind-stretching to realize that this book was written in the early 1900s and that issues that face our wilderness and land have only gotten more dire. Surely, my under-educated mind thought, things in the early 1900s were pretty good, nothing too irreparable..yet. We haven't flooded the earth with plastic.. yet, we haven't over-consumed our way into obesity.. yet (body, mind, and household goods). But as the author stated a couple of times, ontogeny recapitulates phylogeny. We just keep following the same old paths of evolution. If I remember correctly, it all ends in a mass extinction event. (So that was the dire endnote takeaway for me, and my own extrapolating out another 3/4 of a century.)

The first half of the book was a beautifully written observation of the land, much of it from his north-midwest farm. The middle of the book took in some land in the southwest (my favorite).

Leopold founded the first ever Forest Wilderness Area (now Gila National Forest), started the Wilderness Society, and founded the profession of game management.

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of my friends said she reads A Sand County Almanac regularly, maybe yearly. I said that I hadn't read it – untrue, as I read a collection of all of Aldo Leopold's writings not that long ago, but I'd thought it was true.

I might not have reread A Sand County Almanac if I'd remembered correctly, but that would have been sad. Leopold's almanac, with essays for each month of the year, is a book that should be read and reread, probably serving as an antidepressant to those of us with seasonal affective disorder, especially for those of us who are treehuggers, as I am.

I particularly enjoyed his essays on cutting down an oak, ring by ring; the life of chickadee #65290; and choosing between planting a birch and a pine, considering each on multiple dimensions (he's pro-pine). He sees each species he observes clearly, lovingly, and respectfully. He can be both pro-conservation and hunt grouse, and I enjoy this apparent contradiction.

Leopold was pessimistic about the environment when he wrote in 1949. I don't know if it cheers or depresses me to read this 75 years later, probably both.

[Andrew Karl · Rating 2 out of 5]

A short read.
If you want the jist of it, read the last chapter.

"Parts of the clock assume they can survive without the non ecological parts"

"The evidence must be economic to be valid..."

"Many recent advancements are improvements to the pump and not the well."

“I have purposely presented the land ethic as a product of social evolution because nothing so important as an ethic is ever ‘written.’ Only the most superficial student of history will suppose that Moses ‘wrote’ the Decalogue; it evolved in the minds of a thinking community, and Moses wrote a tentative summary of it for a ‘seminar.” I say tentative because evolution never stops. The evolution of a land ethic is an intellectual as well as an emotional process.”

[A. Ohlhauser · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of this book is a sort of ode to the natural world. Leopold knows and loves it well.

The second half is really a collection of essays on conservation and the appropriate human attitude toward the natural world. The big takeaway for me is that we humans need to learn to be more "creaturely": to have an "intense consciousness of land" as parts of it, not as lords over it. I think Wendell Berry had a lot of ideas about this, too.

This is a surprisingly good book to inform us on how to live, even discussing things like the value of hobbies. Time to go work on our creatureliness.

[Cory Alexander · Rating 5 out of 5]

wow. really opened my eyes. I believe Aldo Leopold really did what he set out to do. to make relevant the currently uneconomic concerns of nature. that we can't get rid of those without effectively destroying the economic ones. to remind the reader about the true interconnectedness of nature and that we as people are just as much a apart of that as the things which hitherto have been ignorable or unknown. the line say from Thoreau to Leopold to Edward Abbey is an interesting one to trace. what they can teach us about nature but more importantly what they can teach us aboit ourselves. who might just have a say in this whole nature thing. great book overall.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first part of the book contains quiet reflections from a person living and observing close to nature. That he lives on a quiet farm in Wisconsin--rather than some "dramatic" landscape--makes his quiet attention to and love for detail and patterns all the more winsome. The end of the book contains a few more "environmentalist" essays, but of a more centrist variety which could be very helpful today. He is no classic liberal but rightly urging movement from seeing nature as a community rather than a commodity.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Be still and watch the changing seasons in 1940s Western Wisconsin with Aldo Leopold. If you want to understand trees, skip the Overstory and read this Almanac. If you like books like Wintering by Katherine May, enjoy this meditation on our relationship with nature. This book is prescient, articulating timely tensions such as whether making an investment in conservation seems worth it to businesses or individuals if it does not yield financial profit.

[Keelan Conway · Rating 4 out of 5]

May I someday hitch my own wagon to a star and drop the reigns

Part 1 captures the passing of a year through a collection of anecdotes and stories from the fauna and flora as is passes and changes with the seasons.
Part 2 & 3 then outlines the impact that humans have wrought upon the land and the need for change. If timely in 1949, depressing but necessary reading in 2025.

Very much enjoyed and I would recommend to anyone.

[Jennifer Talarico · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was originally published in 1949 and delves into conservation and the environment. His essays, questions and concerns are still relevant today. He was the founder of game management and was concerned about land management in the first half of the twentieth century. I enjoyed his cryptic approach and I can't imagine what he would have to say now.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is a reverence, respect, and intimate relationship with the land with each word of this book. Noting the rings of the tree, the history that happened as those rings were formed, understanding the need for gratitude for the tree as you use it to heat your home. That respect is not currently happening.

[Peggy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful, keenly observant, and wise, this book lives on as a classic of environmental thought. Leopold enumerates the value of land to life; if we love it, we can make it beautiful again. An optimistic and practical call to cherish, enjoy, and conserve the land that offers us everything we could possibly want.