Essential Muir: A Selection of John Muir's Best Writings (Essential) (California Legacy Book) [Paperback]

Fred D. White (Author, Editor), John Muir (Editor)

Book Description

Series: California Legacy Book | Publication Date: April 1, 2006

An introduction to the great ''poetico-trampo-geologist-botanist and ornithologist-naturalist''

Preservationist. Inventor. Lobbyist. John Muir was many things at once, and he is California's best-known icon--so much so that his image was chosen to appear on the new state quarter. But the best way to know the man who founded the Sierra Club and helped create Yosemite National Park is to read his own words.

Essential Muir is the second volume in the California Legacy Essentials Collection. Taking the best of John Muir's writings on nature--in which he waxes ecstatic even as he accurately describes the scientific attributes of a flower--as well as his thoughts on religion and society, this book presents a fresh look at one of California's greatest literary figures. His love for nature was so powerful--and his description of it so compelling--it still inspires us a century later.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

John Muir was born in Scotland in 1838, and made many expeditions to Alaska and the Sierra Nevadas in California throughout his life. After his adventure with Stickeen in 1880, Muir continued to travel the world and educate people about Yosemite and the natural world. Muir died in 1914.

Fred White is an associate professor of composition and directed the writing program at Santa Clara University from 2003 to 2005. His books include The Well-Crafted Argument (with Simone Billings), Lifewriting, Communicating Technology, Science and the Human Spirit, and The WriterÂ’'s Art.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Heyday (April 1, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1597140279
• ISBN-13: 978-1597140270
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #445,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars More than essential Muir..., March 22, 2010

By 

David A. Marks "norcalidave" (Paradise, CA United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Essential Muir: A Selection of John Muir's Best Writings (Essential) (California Legacy Book) (Paperback)

This book is so well done and so beautiful is its content, that I cannot imagine someone
not having this as a resource, if they understand and value Muir's writing and his
great works...

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A New Favorite Author, January 3, 2012

By 

Dusty Cross-ties (Portland, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Muir: A Selection of John Muir's Best Writings (Essential) (California Legacy Book) (Paperback)

John Muir's works are old enough to be in the public domain and are freely available online, so you can judge for yourself whether you appreciate his exuberant writing style before you buy. For my part, I knew within about 5 minutes that he would be one of my favorite authors. This book solidly confirmed that prediction.

Before reading this book, I had very little knowledge about Muir. Just the basics: grew up in WI, loved the Sierra Nevada, fought against the Hetch Hetchy dam and founded the Sierra Club, went on a hike with TR. I found Prof. White's eleven-page introduction to be helpful in understanding Muir and his writings, and it made me eager to learn more. The professor's selection of Muir's works succeeded in illustrating Muir's multiple facets, his rather astounding life trajectory, and the surprising depth to which he has impacted American society even to the present day. My only complaints about the book are physical--it's a little too big to fit in a hiker's pocket and not really sturdy enough to survive more than a few excursions (the book really ought to be read somewhere out in nature for maximum impact). On the other hand, several of selections have reached that highest echelon--writings dear to me that I have already and will continue to read over and over again. Think maybe I'll go do that now...