“The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World”

    Listen 00:48:43

    Guest: Andrea Wulf

    Few people know who Alexander von Humboldt is. Yet he’s been called the father of environmentalism, was a hero to Darwin, Thoreau, and John Muir, and has towns, parks, lakes, mountains and an ocean current bearing his name. So why isn’t this 19th century naturalist and explorer more widely remembered? Writer ANDREA WULF honors von Humboldt’s legacy in her new book The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt’s New World. She tells guest host Mary Cummings-Jordan about his remarkable life and his contributions to the natural sciences.

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