About this product

Product Identifiers

PublisherUniversity of Chicago Press

ISBN-100226360660

ISBN-139780226360669

eBay Product ID (ePID)70905584

Product Key Features

Number of Pages296 Pages

LanguageEnglish

Publication NameEssay on the Geography of Plants

Publication Year2010

SubjectLife Sciences / Botany, Earth Sciences / Geography, History

TypeTextbook

Subject AreaScience

AuthorAlexander Von Humboldt, Aime Bonpland

FormatHardcover

Dimensions

Item Height0.1 in

Item Weight21.4 Oz

Item Length0.9 in

Item Width0.6 in

Additional Product Features

Intended AudienceScholarly & Professional

LCCN2008-038315

Reviews"In this book, our first planetary thinker, Alexander von Humboldt, announces his life's work and catalyzes not just a new way of doing science-opening the way to biogeography, evolution, ecology, environmental science, the study of climate change and a host of other disciplines-but a new way of seeing the world that includes the role of humans in changing the face of the planet and the role of nature in human thought, perception, and imagination. Thanks to this fine and scholarly translation, richly supported by introductory essays, readers of English at last have access to Humboldt's provocative questions and visionary tools. Here scientific precision and artistic beauty fuse into an argument for transdisciplinary thought in free and democratic societies. In Darwin's day, every educated person read Humboldt; today, every educated person interested in forging a path to the future should start with this book, Humboldt's manifesto for the twenty-first century."-Laura Dassow Walls, author of Passage to Cosmos: Alexander von Humboldt and the Shaping of America, "Alexander von Humboldt was a seminal explorer and natural philosopher of the nineteenth century whose work was fundamental to the development of botany, ecology, geography, geology, meteorology, and other disciplines. . . . His groundbreaking work on plant geography is translated here for the first time in highly readable English, with a perceptive, thought-provoking introduction that lends context and added interest to the general text."Choice, Virtually a Rosetta Stone, this book provides entry to the work of the great polymath naturalist who inspired Darwin, and reveals Humboldt as the grand figure that he was. Not just a translation, but greatly enriched by essays and supporting material, this is a must read for anyone interested in natural science--and, indeed, science in general., "Virtually a Rosetta Stone, this book provides entry to the work of the great polymath naturalist who inspired Darwin, and reveals Humboldt as the grand figure that he was. Not just a translation, but greatly enriched by essays and supporting material, this is a must read for anyone interested in natural scienceand, indeed, science in general."Thomas E. Lovejoy, The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, Alexander von Humboldt was a seminal explorer and natural philosopher of the nineteenth century whose work was fundamental to the development of botany, ecology, geography, geology, meteorology, and other disciplines. . . . His groundbreaking work on plant geography is translated here for the first time in highly readable English, with a perceptive, thought-provoking introduction that lends context and added interest to the general text., Virtually a Rosetta Stone, this book provides entry to the work of the great polymath naturalist who inspired Darwin, and reveals Humboldt as the grand figure that he was. Not just a translation, but greatly enriched by essays and supporting material, this is a must read for anyone interested in natural science-and, indeed, science in general., "Alexander von Humboldt was a seminal explorer and natural philosopher of the nineteenth century whose work was fundamental to the development of botany, ecology, geography, geology, meteorology, and other disciplines. . . . His groundbreaking work on plant geography is translated here for the first time in highly readable English, with a perceptive, thought-provoking introduction that lends context and added interest to the general text." Choice, Stephen T. Jackson provides an invaluable service to modern science-complementing Sylvie Romanowski's meticulous translation of Humboldt's essay and the careful reproductions of Humboldt's seminal illustrations of geographic variation in climate and vegetation along the slopes of Mount Chimborazo-with an eloquent account of the historical development and intellectual impact of Humboldt's masterpiece. The result is a precious opportunity to rediscover a lost classic in the history of science; one that can once again serve as an exemplary case study for advancing the frontiers of natural science through enlightened integration across diverse but interdependent disciplines., In this book, our first planetary thinker, Alexander von Humboldt, announces his life's work and catalyzes not just a new way of doing science-opening the way to biogeography, evolution, ecology, environmental science, the study of climate change and a host of other disciplines-but a new way of seeing the world that includes the role of humans in changing the face of the planet and the role of nature in human thought, perception, and imagination. Thanks to this fine and scholarly translation, richly supported by introductory essays, readers of English at last have access to Humboldt's provocative questions and visionary tools. Here scientific precision and artistic beauty fuse into an argument for transdisciplinary thought in free and democratic societies. In Darwin's day, every educated person read Humboldt; today, every educated person interested in forging a path to the future should start with this book, Humboldt's manifesto for the twenty-first century., "Virtually a Rosetta Stone, this book provides entry to the work of the great polymath naturalist who inspired Darwin, and reveals Humboldt as the grand figure that he was. Not just a translation, but greatly enriched by essays and supporting material, this is a must read for anyone interested in natural science-and, indeed, science in general."-Thomas E. Lovejoy, The Heinz Center for Science, Economics and the Environment, In this book, our first planetary thinker, Alexander von Humboldt, announces his life's work and catalyzes not just a new way of doing science--opening the way to biogeography, evolution, ecology, environmental science, the study of climate change and a host of other disciplines--but a new way of seeing the world that includes the role of humans in changing the face of the planet and the role of nature in human thought, perception, and imagination. Thanks to this fine and scholarly translation, richly supported by introductory essays, readers of English at last have access to Humboldt's provocative questions and visionary tools. Here scientific precision and artistic beauty fuse into an argument for transdisciplinary thought in free and democratic societies. In Darwin's day, every educated person read Humboldt; today, every educated person interested in forging a path to the future should start with this book, Humboldt's manifesto for the twenty-first century., Alexander von Humboldt was a seminal explorer and natural philosopher of the 19th century whose work was fundamental to the development of botany, ecology, geography, geology, meteorology, and other disciplines. . . . His groundbreaking work on plant geography is translated here for the first time in highly readable English, with a perceptive, thought-provoking introduction that lends context and added interest to the general text., "Stephen T. Jackson provides an invaluable service to modern science-complementing Sylvie Romanowski's meticulous translation of Humboldt's essay and the careful reproductions of Humboldt's seminal illustrations of geographic variation in climate and vegetation along the slopes of Mount Chimborazo-with an eloquent account of the historical development and intellectual impact of Humboldt's masterpiece. The result is a precious opportunity to rediscover a lost classic in the history of science; one that can once again serve as an exemplary case study for advancing the frontiers of natural science through enlightened integration across diverse but interdependent disciplines."-Mark V. Lomolino, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, Alexander von Humboldt was a seminal explorer and natural philosopher of the nineteenth century whose work was fundamental to the development of botany, ecology, geography, geology, meteorology, and other disciplines. . . . His groundbreaking work on plant geography is translated here for the first time in highly readable English, with a perceptive, thought-provoking introduction that lends context and added interest to the general text., "Stephen T. Jackson provides an invaluable service to modern sciencecomplementing Sylvie Romanowski's meticulous translation of Humboldt's essay and the careful reproductions of Humboldt's seminal illustrations of geographic variation in climate and vegetation along the slopes of Mount Chimborazowith an eloquent account of the historical development and intellectual impact of Humboldt's masterpiece. The result is a precious opportunity to rediscover a lost classic in the history of science; one that can once again serve as an exemplary case study for advancing the frontiers of natural science through enlightened integration across diverse but interdependent disciplines."Mark V. Lomolino, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, New York, "In this book, our first planetary thinker, Alexander von Humboldt, announces his life's work and catalyzes not just a new way of doing scienceopening the way to biogeography, evolution, ecology, environmental science, the study of climate change and a host of other disciplinesbut a new way of seeing the world that includes the role of humans in changing the face of the planet and the role of nature in human thought, perception, and imagination. Thanks to this fine and scholarly translation, richly supported by introductory essays, readers of English at last have access to Humboldt's provocative questions and visionary tools. Here scientific precision and artistic beauty fuse into an argument for transdisciplinary thought in free and democratic societies. In Darwin's day, every educated person read Humboldt; today, every educated person interested in forging a path to the future should start with this book, Humboldt's manifesto for the twenty-first century."Laura Dassow Walls, author of Passage to Cosmos: Alexander von Humboldt and the Shaping of America, Stephen T. Jackson provides an invaluable service to modern science--complementing Sylvie Romanowski's meticulous translation of Humboldt's essay and the careful reproductions of Humboldt's seminal illustrations of geographic variation in climate and vegetation along the slopes of Mount Chimborazo--with an eloquent account of the historical development and intellectual impact of Humboldt's masterpiece. The result is a precious opportunity to rediscover a lost classic in the history of science; one that can once again serve as an exemplary case study for advancing the frontiers of natural science through enlightened integration across diverse but interdependent disciplines.

Dewey Edition22

IllustratedYes

Dewey Decimal581.9

Table Of ContentPreface Note to the Reader Note on Nomenclature Note on Units Acknowledgments Introduction: Humboldt, Ecology, and the Cosmos Stephen T. Jackson Translator's Note Sylvie Romanowski Essay on the Geography of Plants Alexander von Humboldt, translated by Sylvie Romanowski Text of Humboldt's Tableau physique Translated by Sylvie Romanowski Humboldt's Pictorial Science: An Analysis of the Tableau physique des Andes et Pays voisins Sylvie Romanowski Plant Species Cited in Humboldt's Essay and Tableau physique Stephen T. Jackson Instruments Utilized in Developing the Tableau physique Stephen T. Jackson Biographical Sketches Stephen T. Jackson Bibliographical Essay and Bibliography Stephen T. Jackson

SynopsisThe legacy of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) looms large over the natural sciences. His 1799-1804 research expedition to Central and South America with botanist Aim Bonpland set the course for the great scientific surveys of the nineteenth century, and inspired such essayists and artists as Emerson, Goethe, Thoreau, Poe, and Church. The chronicles of the expedition were published in Paris after Humboldt's return, and first among them was the 1807 "Essay on the Geography of Plants." Among the most cited writings in natural history, after the works of Darwin and Wallace, this work appears here for the first time in a complete English-language translation. Covering far more than its title implies, it represents the first articulation of an integrative "science of the earth, " encompassing most of today's environmental sciences. Ecologist Stephen T. Jackson introduces the treatise and explains its enduring significance two centuries after its publication., The legacy of Alexander von Humboldt (1769-1859) looms large over the natural sciences. His 1799-1804 research expedition to Central and South America with botanist Aimé Bonpland set the course for the great scientific surveys of the nineteenth century, and inspired such essayists and artists as Emerson, Goethe, Thoreau, Poe, and Church. The chronicles of the expedition were published in Paris after Humboldt's return, and first among them was the 1807 "Essay on the Geography of Plants." Among the most cited writings in natural history, after the works of Darwin and Wallace, this work appears here for the first time in a complete English-language translation. Covering far more than its title implies, it represents the first articulation of an integrative "science of the earth, " encompassing most of today's environmental sciences. Ecologist Stephen T. Jackson introduces the treatise and explains its enduring significance two centuries after its publication.

LC Classification NumberQK101.H9313 2009