Beginning with the trailblazing expedition of Lewis and Clark; Early American Naturalists tells the stories of men and women of the 1800s who crossed the Mississippi River and encountered the new life of the western New World. Explorers profiled include John James Audubon; Martha Maxwell; and John Muir.
#1377545 in Books PublicAffairs 2010-06-01 2010-06-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 1.09 x 6.80 x 9.52l; 1.14 #File Name: 1586487140304 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Important story; but needs editingBy Khumbu TrekkerThis is a story that everyone should know about; and I don't mean to detract from the tragedy. I also don't want to knock the author; but this book was full of typos and factual errors that (for me) distracted from the book itself. Jonathan Green writes well; but he needs a better editor. The Olympics in Beijing were in 2008; not 2006; and "Kozjek died climbing Muztagh Tower on K2". Huh? Muztagh Tower and K2 are both in the Karakoram Mountains of Pakistan; but they're two different peaks! I'm not even a mountaineer; but I know enough to catch errors like these. Too bad his editor didn't. I started to compile a list of typos to inform the author for revisions; but the list grew so long I gave up.I follow mountaineering; and I remember when this shocking story broke. I don't want to deter anyone from reading this book; because people need to be informed about China's horrendous treatment of Tibetans; but I hope my review prompts Mr. Green to make revisions before the next edition comes out.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A MUST Read Riveting True StoryBy Virginia HydeJonathan Green has done an excellent job of conveying a horrific true story of the murder of a 17 y/o Tibetan nun seeking one thing; the ability to practice her religion.It is forwarded by the Dal Li Lama. This murder was captured vividly by a mountain climber on his smart phone as he watched unable to stop the cold blooded event. It is a "cautionary morality tale" that conveys the pervasive control of Communist China; the moral corruption of capitalism to the extreme; and the loss of genuine concern for others. Here he describes in great detail the Chinese forces that prevent the Tibetan people from actively pursuing their everyday lifestyle; practicing their religion; to control of the education of their children. He explains the simplicity in which these people live and the moral code they fiercely defend even if it means prison or even death by the Chinese.It is extremely disturbing since as as American I never heard about this until I read the book! Where was the american press when this story was released? This story should be shouted from the mountain tops!Appalling is the fact that the author had to risk his life and that of those who guided him in the area in order to get this message out to the public. Kudos to Dolma best friend of Kelsang (who was murdered) for the courage to tell this story to Jonathan. The author can never visit China again. Dolma can never return home or see her family again.The book will never leave you!4 of 4 people found the following review helpful. Essential topic; fantastic readingBy eriktornerI am not sure Jonathan really knows what he accomplished with this book. I have studied and worked with the Tibetan issue for over 15 years and read most of the "must-reads"; and I rate this as one of the very best. Cause it does give you a good background on the Tibet Question; a history lesson; but it is actually also a good read. That can not be said about every book written on the subject. Learning so much about the climbing world was new and fascinating for me; and that is an added bonus. Overall though; the worth and value of reading the book is that you gain insight and understanding into the thinking of all those thousands and thousands of Tibetans that risk their life to leave Tibet. Why they leave. How they leave. What they risk.When I last visited Tibet in January this year I even went through quite a big struggle in order to visit the Nangpa La - the mountain pass that acts as one of the books main characters. I stood there; in the Chinese military camp from which the soldiers descended upon the refugees on that fateful day in 2006 - which is the event which the book is focused on. Standing there I came to fully appreciate how this story and the way it is told by Jonathan Green has influenced me and helped me in my work. I even brought the topic up in an interview I did with His Holiness the Dalai Lama.Read it. Buy it. It is also available as an app if you; like me; actually wish to bring it with you into China.
