Customer Reviews

Aldo Leopold: His Life and Work

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Aldo Leopold is widely admired for his contribution to the modern conservation movement and his seminal work, "A Sand County Almanac." In my own profession (wildlife ecology and management), it seems like a Leopold quotation carries the ultimate weight of authority (and they're much more common, since Meine and Knight's collection, "The Essential Aldo Leopold," came out).

For many years I admired the wise, kind-hearted old man who wrote The Almanac. Aldo Leopold became the most exalted member of my personal pantheon of saints. Aldo Leopold became inspiration incarnate, but lost his humanity in the process. He could do no wrong.

Then I read Curt Meine's biography. Leopold's famous essay, "Thinking Like a Mountain," chronicles only one of the many lessons learned in a life filled with equal parts reckless bravado and deep introspection. Leopold launched his career as a fortunate son, cocksure and itching to change the world, only to learn that real change takes patience, commitment, hard work, compassion, and an open mind willing to learn. Sound familiar?

I read Curt Meine's biography before I read Marybeth Lorbiecki's "Fierce Green Fire." To be honest, I enjoyed both, but found Meine's biography to be more fulfilling. If you want to understand where the Land Ethic really came from, pick up "His Life and Work."

This is definitely the full story of Aldo Leopold. It is very thoroughly researched and goes into his life in full detail. You get the chance to read about his career, his personal life, his challenges, and his opinions. Aldo Leopold presents an interesting study.

Aldo Leopold was definitely a very complex man. If you are thinking this is going to amplify all of the legend and lore around the Sand County Almanac, be prepared for some surprises. Aldo Leopold evolved throughout his life and, at least I think, was never the "full on" environmentalist he was presented to be. In fact, reading his life story emphasizes his enthusiasm for hunting and sportsmanship, and his confusing, contradictory, and sometimes counter-productive work. In the end, he came to see preservation around the use of the wilderness for hunting and fishing, something lost in today's "us vs. them" environmental debate.

This book is for the Aldo Leopold fan or those who simply want to fully understand an oft-quoted but little-understood man. I think the rangers at Yellowstone should read it before using Leopold out of context (which they do a lot). I also think the NRA should read this book. Why? Because it is a guide on how to mellow one's stance, cross the aisle, and find peace in the wilderness. We would have more wilderness and fewer endangered species if more gun-nuts were true environmentalists and more environmentalists hunted. Then we would all be a little bit more like Albert Leopold.

If "Sand County Almanac" was your first taste of Leopold, you'll want to read Curt Meine's book. It's one of those books that you can't put down (if you are a true Leopold fan - if you're not - don't bother, you wouldn't appreciate it!