Kindred Spirits: The Story of the Extraordinary Nature Conservation of Theodore Roosevelt and John Muir

by Jeff Olson

Theodore Roosevelt, John Muir, and a Golden Age of Nature Conservation. This is the compelling remarkable, untold story of the huge step forward and beginnings of nature conservation in America during the Golden Age of 20 years from 1889-1909 that established a foundation and a foothold for nature and nature conservation in America, and the world. The book compares the two giant naturalist leaders of this Golden Age, the kindred spirits of John Muir and Theodore Roosevelt with their many strong similarities and their many strong differences in their family, upbringing, education, religion, personalities, passion for nature, careers, advocacy, styles of leadership, and naturalist writing. It is the background story of two of America's Greatest Naturalists and their monumental actions that brought extraordinary accomplishments of nature conservation at a magnitude of size that dwarfs any other time or place. The book explores the key factors of influence and turning points in the lives of Muir and Roosevelt that brought them these nature conservation accomplishments. The book asserts that the explosion of nature conservation in this twenty-year period was very improbable to occur, an improbable time, an improbable place, an improbable idea, an improbable size, and led by two improbable leaders. A wonderful book of American environmental history for birders, hikers, campers, adventurers, and park visitors.

198 pages

Published January 1, 2024