Loved the book! We need THIS type of genius and sensibility to "go viral". Enough of stupidity , superficiality and shallowness in a World in so many crisis... Thank you for the light and the book. Truly inspiring.
The Invention of Nature is one of most interesting bibliographies I've ever read. Really, why did such a remarkable scientist come to be forgotten? Why do many books about Darwin mention the names like Lyell and Malthus as inspirers without mentioning Humboldt, who was actually the primary inspirer?
He isn't really forgotten - I lived and went to High school in Berlin, Germany and for example: 1. The Humboldt Klinikum ( Hospital ) or 2.the Humboldt University. In Germany Biology is greatly respected, example - Evolution was widely and rapidly respected after Darwin's Species was translated. In Biology and Geography Humboldt and his story was taught to me in the 8th grade I study Astrophysics at IU in the US now but ( when time permits ) I read a lot if Books concerning the History of Darwin, Wallace,Asa Gray Hooker & Huxley and Humboldt got mentioned rather often as one if Darwin's heroes.
@@Raydensheraj Wilhelm von Humboldt is more known than Alexander von Humboldt but at his time he is the second most famous person after Napoleon de Bonapart in Europe.
C'est un grand explorateur de la nature durant le 19 siècle,il a laissé un trésor de livres qui enrichissent la bibliothèque scientifique de l'humanité.j'espere être comme lui....
So much truth in how it's amazing how much old naturalists got correct, sure some of them were very wrong some of the time &/or somewhat racist but.. perfect example is Lamarck who's ridiculed for his evolutionary theories yet he revolutionized classifications of invertebrates at age 50 or so (when he was already a world reknowned botanist and could've retired) and those groups still hold to this day
Humboldt's political influence is overlooked. His natural science work would be displaced by Darwin. But his political contribution is relevant today. Humboldt told Thomas Jefferson that Texas was "deserted and worthless." Humboldt worked with the finest scholars in Mexico who told him this. Jefferson, who was not sure of the southern border of the Louisiana Purchase, decided to make it the Rio Grande River.
Yes I also wondered why. After lady speaker spoke so eloquently about Master Humboldt, even having to cut her presentation short. No doubt audience had some interesting questions for her. I can't wait to read her book now detailing how other polymaths in history looked up and learn from humble Humboldt.
