Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work

by Curt D. Meine

This biography of Aldo Leopold follows him from his childhood as a precocious naturalist to his profoundly influential role in the development of conservation and modern environmentalism in the United States.

Genres: Biography, Nature, Nonfiction, Conservation

654 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1987

About the author

Curt Meine, Ph.D., is a conservation biologist, historian, and writer. During his conservation career over the last twenty years, Meine has worked on projects involving topics ranging from biodiversity conservation planning, sustainable agriculture, and international development, to crane and wetland conservation, prairie restoration, and development of community-based conservation programs. He has worked in Europe, Asia, and across North America, in partnership with organizations including the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, the U.S. Agency for International Development, the World Conservation Union, the World Wildlife Fund, the American Museum of Natural History, and the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts and Letters. He has served on the Board of Governors of the Society of Conservation Biology and on the editorial boards of the journals Conservation Biology and Environmental Ethics.

Meine has edited and authored several books. His biography Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work, published by the University of Wisconsin Press in 1988, was the first full-length biography of Leopold (taken & abridged from www.humansandnature.org)

Reviews

[Colette! · Rating 5 out of 5]

Raving madly about how right Aldo Leopold was about conservation management would be going against his stance of non-dogmatic approach to critical thinking and seeing the world, but this biography gave insight to a man who quietly and effectively preached a gospel of observation and communion with the land. Curt Meine's keen insight on both the nature of man and land are exposed in this thorough and tenderly written biography. Aldo and his family come alive within the pages and it's with a heavy heart you come to the end.

[Kate · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an in-depth biography! I feel like I could read this five times and still learn new things.

[Dana Tuss · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally finished. Because of libraries closing I was able to keep the book for a long time so finally got through it, although I did finish a couple of others before. Good book about an interesting guy with great ideas. I especially was interested in how his ideas on certain things changed over time — and his willingness to question his beliefs and alter them once he had done his research if needed. He seemed open minded, but also was persuasive. Interesting life.

[Ann · Rating 4 out of 5]

Meine's biography of Leopold is an intensive, comprehensive work. Meine goes meticulously through the years fleshing out what was going on in Leopold's life, writings, and thinking within the backdrop of the political, conservation, and world realms.

This 2010 edition starts with a quote from the poets Bryant and Eliot followed by a meandering piece on Leopold by Wendell Berry. Included is the preface to the 2010 and 1988 editions, followed by the acknowledgements, and then the text. The text is divided into sections based on time and where Leopold was located. The book ends with an epilogue (updates on what the family members did after Leopold's death), a list of abbreviations, notes, a bibiography, and index. The book also includes many black and white photos.

This biography serves to illustrate the development of the Land Ethic in Leopold's life and thinking and traces the rise of the conservation movement based on sound science and research. A sense of Leopold as the man comes through the correspondence between friends, family, and students.

Highly recommended especially for those interested in the conservation movement, in Leopold's Land Ethic, and in an intesive portrayal of how an intellectual and caring life develop.

[Dustin Brewer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Aldo lived an inspiring life!

[Rick B. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Quite a compendium of facts, quotes, and stories. Almost too much detail, but definitely paints a fine portrait of a great man and his lifelong dedication to conservation.