The Yosemite [Paperback]

John Muir (Author), David Brower (Foreword)

Book Description

Series: Works | Publication Date: March 1, 1988

In this nature-writing classic, John Muir eloquently portrays the valley he called his “marvelous wonderland,” providing detailed descriptions of its flora, fauna, and natural features. He demonstrates a rare ability to portray both scenic splendors and moments of pulse-pounding excitement, such as peering over the dizzying brink of Yosemite Falls or scaling snow-covered South Dome to watch his half-mile-long shadow dance on the sea of clouds below him.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sierra Club founder Muir, pioneering conservationist who a century ago fought to establish Yosemite National Park, wrote timelessly of his travels through this High Sierra wilderness. In a new edition of Muir's classic, Rowell ( Mountain Light ) offers a complementary vision in color photographs of the monumental region. Celebrating the purity of the landscape Muir loved, he unveils bare mountain peaks, snow- and mist-filled realms and the pristine particularity of nature on a smaller scale in green and scarlet dogwood foliage and a snug cache of primroses sprouting among massive rocks. An ideal accompaniment to Muir's verbal tour, the photographs, like the prose, verify that "everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike."
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

“Not only is [Muir] the author to whom all men turn when they think of the Sierras and Northern glaciers . . . but he was also . . . a man able to influence contemporary thought and action on the subjects to which he had devoted his life.” —Theodore Roosevelt --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 238 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books; 1 edition (March 1, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871567822
• ISBN-13: 978-0871567826
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,030,367 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A must read, however..., November 18, 2005

By 

Donald Dwoske (Canton, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Yosemite (Paperback)

I have not had the pleasure of visiting Yosemite, not yet. Muir wrote this book when he was 73 years old and recollects his experiences over may years in the valley. I found the most interesting sections to be descriptions of personal events - riding an avalanche, passing behind Yosemite Falls, the people he knew during those years. I simply wish more of the book had a similar content, I feel we have only been exposed to the tip of the iceberg, and there is so much more he could have offered. I have several of his other books, yet to read, so perhaps they will expand on his personal adventures.

There are lengthy sections on the landscape, flowers, trees and other physical characteristics of the valley. It is these latter sections that drop me to a four star rating. I have a version without any pictures, and I believe that photographs would have done many sections of this book more justice than words. Some information on the trees may be unique and interesting, but I found myself skimming over several sections due to a lingering over latin names and taxonomy.

This book should simply not be missed by those with a love for the outdoors, but keep in mind there may be some sections lacking the personal touch I was expecting for the whole book.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wonderful!, September 23, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Yosemite (Paperback)

A great book and a wonderful gift for anyone who loves Yosemite. Rowell's photographs are wonderful, and are set to John Muir's observations and memories of the Valley.