Over 150 years ago, John Muir trekked through the Sierra Nevada Mountains as part of a sheep herding adventure. While not his first trek or his first journal, My First Summer in the Sierra was a groundbreaking account that brought the beauty of the western forests to readers nationwide. Published in 1911, this, and other Muir writings, helped to sway public opinion in favor of President Cleveland’s designation of protection for 13 national forests. Muir was not only a preservationist; he was a lobbyist and guide to hikers of all calibers from the regular citizen to President Theodore Roosevelt. My First Summer in the Sierra is Muir’s recounting of four months spent in the Yosemite River Valley describing the landscape, the fauna, and his thoughts on the splendor of the untouched land.
I give My First Summer in the Sierra 4 out of 5 stars. John Muir has long been a favorite naturalists and preservationist for me. His work to protect the untouched land and protect the beauty of the natural environment has been instrumental in allowing future generations to view this beauty firsthand. I liked this book and was stunned by depictions and vivid descriptions provided by Muir. I can understand his motivations to protect this wonderland. These are the kind of descriptions I can see being the script to an IMAX film about the Sierra.
I would direct this book to those who may have read Muir’s more popular works like The Mountains of California or Our National Parks. His writing style is unmistakable and remains constant across his works. I would also recommend this book to readers interested in the start of our National Parks, and the California wilderness protection acts.
I chose My First Summer in the Sierra for the Read With Lindsey Reading Prompt “about nature”. I understand the recent backlash Muir’s legacy has experienced in the face of his negative actions and opinions towards people of color. However, his work toward conservation of these lands cannot be discarded. His philosophy of finding the divine among the natural environment connected with the greater population and their Christian religion. His legacy includes several physical landmarks named after him such as Mount Muir in the Sierra Nevada and Muir Pass in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks. Taken as any other work from this generation – with an overlook of political views not even mentioned in the book, this book can be valued for the purpose behind it: to draw attention to and increase the support for the beauty of nature in the area.
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What I’m Reading
- Current print book: Shelter in Place, Nora Roberts
- Current audio book: Baltimore Blues, Laura Lippman
- Book I’m most looking forward to: Rich People Problems, Kevin Kwan
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