A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold has been on my
“to read” list for eighteen years. I’ll
admit that I didn’t hear of this bible of environmental science until I started
at Michigan Tech in 1996. In our Intro
class, my friend and future roommate, Corinna, told me all about A Sand County
Almanac. Her enthusiasm had me put the book on my “to read” list. I don’t know why it has taken me so long to
read it! Now I teach environmental
science and we talk about Aldo Leopold, which led me to decide over the summer
to finally read the entire book. It did
not disappoint. A Sand County Almanac is
a beautifully written love letter to the natural world and all who love it.
Part I is split into monthly writings about nature
on Leopold’s sand county farm in central Wisconsin. He brilliantly discusses the history of the
area through the chopping down of tree.
I found it very interesting scientifically, but also because I now live
in Wisconsin. I read parts of this
section out loud to my family and they enjoyed it. It made everyone think. Part II is the Quality of the Landscape where
Leopold talks about the landscape, ecology, and natural history of various
parts of the US including Wisconsin, Iowa, and the Southwest. Part III is Leopold’s musings on various
topics, including my favorite, “The Land Ethic.”
The book included wonderful drawings by Charles W.
Schwartz. They went along perfectly with
the readings and enhanced my reading pleasure.
My kids enjoyed flipping through the book and looking at them as well.
Some of my favorite quotes from A Sand County
Almanac were:
“There are some who can live without wild things,
and some who cannot. These essays are
the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot.”
“When we see land as a community to which we belong,
we may begin to use it with love and respect.”
I kept the copy from the library to use as a prop
for my Intro to Environmental Science class and I think I got a few people
interested in reading it. I need to
purchase my own copy!
Overall, an excellent book about nature and
conservation – it’s a must read for all!
I wish I wouldn’t have left it on my TBR list for so long.
Book Source:
The Kewaunee Public Library
So funny that you should post on this book--I just ordered it and am eager to read it. Glad you liked it so much. It was on the recommended reading list of a bird book I am currently reading. Sounds marvelous--I love the quotes :)
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