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The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf - 4* - My Review

The Invention of Nature examines the legacy of Alexander von Humboldt (1769 – 1859), a visionary naturalist and polymath whose influence extends to modern environmental thought. He revolutionized our understanding of nature by recognizing the interconnectedness of all living things – a concept that would later inspire Charles Darwin, John Muir, and countless others. Wulf’s prose vividly describes Humboldt's adventures across South America, where he climbed volcanoes, navigated treacherous rivers, and documented thousands of new species.

This book also presents how von Humboldt’s holistic vision of nature influenced not just science, but art, literature, and politics. His writings inspired Simón Bolívar's revolutionary ambitions in South America, shaped Thoreau's observations at Walden Pond, and laid the groundwork for modern environmentalism. His warnings about human-induced climate change, deforestation, and ecosystem destruction were prophetic. The book serves as a biography and a compelling argument for why Humboldt's ecological vision is more crucial than ever in our era of environmental crises. It is a beautifully written homage to von Humboldt and his significant achievements. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This has been languishing on my TBR forever. One of my students just read Wulf‘s Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation and was telling the class about it. They thoroughly enjoyed its fresh approach to a well-worn topic.