The Invention of Nature cover art

The Invention of Nature

The Adventures of Alexander von Humboldt, the Lost Hero of Science

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The Invention of Nature

By: Andrea Wulf
Narrated by: David Drummond
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About this listen

Winner of the Costa Biography Award 2015. Winner of the LA Times Book Prize 2015 (Science and Technology). Shortlisted for the Independent Book Week Award 2016.

Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) is the great lost scientist: more things are named after him than anyone else. There are towns, rivers, mountain ranges, the ocean current that runs along the South American coast; there's a penguin, a giant squid - even the Mare Humboldtianum on the moon.

His colourful adventures read like something out of a Boy's Own story: Humboldt explored deep into the rainforest, climbed the world's highest volcanoes and inspired princes and presidents, scientists and poets alike. Napoleon was jealous of him; Simon Bolívar's revolution was fuelled by his ideas; Darwin set sail on the Beagle because of Humboldt; and Jules Verne's Captain Nemo owned all his many books. He simply was, as one contemporary put it, 'the greatest man since the Deluge'.

©2015 Andrea Wulf. Recorded by arrangement with Doubleday, an imprint of the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group, a division of Penguin Random House LLC (P)2015 Highbridge, a division of Recorded Books Biological Sciences Environment Europe Physics Professionals & Academics Science Science & Technology World United States Heartfelt Inspiring Thought-Provoking Imperialism Royalty

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Critic reviews

"Dazzling." ( Literary Review)
"Brilliant." ( Sunday Express)
"Extraordinary and gripping." ( New Scientist)
"A superb biography." ( The Economist)
"An exhilarating armchair voyage." (Giles Milton, Mail on Sunday)
All stars
Most relevant  
I rarely read biographies & I normally find C18 European history very dull. But this book has awakened my interest. Most amazing fact about Humbolt (in my opinion): the huge number of gigantic ally famous people he met, indeed was acquainted with. A real science adventure story. But then ... Humbolt himself gets into a slightly shambling old age, & so does this book. There's a long tail, with mini-biographies of some of the main people influenced by Humbolt. That's still interesting but ... Well, less so.

Seems to tie together not only science, but history too. Fascinating

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Very intersting book, well researched. I did not know much about von Humboldt and bought this to listen to in the car with my husband. He knew more than me (he's a scientist) but the book kept him enthralled too. Well written, wel read, what more can you ask?

I learned a lot

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Excellent true story, informative, interesting and compelling. I have enjoyed listening to it twice over. Surprisingly ahead of his time and already aware of the damage humanity causes

Investment of nature

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If you could sum up The Invention of Nature in three words, what would they be?

Pertinent ecological history

What other book might you compare The Invention of Nature to, and why?

None

What did you like about the performance? What did you dislike?

Oh dear - this is where the criticism comes in, on what is otherwise an excellent book.
Firstly the positive - the narrator is very clear in his diction, which is good.
I don't like American accents generally, but they are not a problem for me normally. But the narrator has some really strange pronunciations, which I am sure are not "standard" American English. "Himalya" for the Himalaya is bad enough, but with a common word like "Parisian" I was driven to distraction.
Also there was not really sufficient feeling in the narrator's work - he was just narrating.

Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

The early chapters, when Humbolt was carrying out his explorations of South America, were by far the most interesting - it was fascinating to hear that issues such as climate change were being considered two hundred years ago, when many of today's politicians remain unconvinced.

Any additional comments?

I would certainly recommend this. I am not of a scientific bent, but I have thoroughly enjoyed this book, and would have enjoyed it more with a better chosen narrator.

Absolutely fascinating - a book for today.

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What made the experience of listening to The Invention of Nature the most enjoyable?

Wonderfully read and so inspiring about someone who was so famous in his time but is relatively unknown now.

What did you like best about this story?

Humboldt is such an inspiring and energetic person with such passion for our world.

What does David Drummond bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you had only read the book?

Wonderfully read - so easy and pleasant to listen to. He added such life to the story without imposing his own personality.

Did you have an emotional reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Yes - a real empathy with Humboldt and what he stood for.

Excellent and a revelation

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Expansive and detailed review of Humbolt, his life and inspirational influence. A learned and useful vook as well as engaging and emotional at times.

Full qnd insightful

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A man for our season because he predicted the problems our planet would be in if our stewardship of the earth's resources were not wisely and scientifically managed.

A man for our season.

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Rarely has a book on an 18th century man of science, nature, art and natural history been more exciting and unputdownable than the story of this utterly uniquely passionate man whose “ invention” and love of Nature was decades before his time. You will not regret reading this magnificent story.

Gripping from start to finish

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Everyone must hear this book. We should all know about such a historic character as Homboldt.

Great

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Wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful,wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, wonderful, highly recommended, essential reading.

wonderful.

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