Reviews

The Adventures of Alexander Von Humboldt by Andrea Wulf

manu_291196's review against another edition

It's a book that is hard to read electronically. 

ashc123456's review

5.0

Absolutely delightful. Great to revisit one part of Wulf's The Invention of Nature in a graphic format.

timmieb's review against another edition

adventurous funny informative lighthearted mysterious medium-paced

4.75

Één van de beste biografieën die er zijn. Avontuurlijk en meeslepend geschreven!

nonsensesinger's review

5.0

This book is astonishing. I found it on the new shelf at the Southwest Harbor public library on Mt. Desert Island while on vacation and they let me check it out! (Pro tip : if you are ever staying at a vacation community with a library, just ask for a card and see!) I had a day to read it before leaving the island and was totally engrossed! Not only had I really never heard of Alexander von Humboldt (and his works and influence) who was EXTREMELY important in the arenas of studying plants, geology, native cultures and customs of South America, but I had never quite seen a book like this. This book felt custom made for me - adventuring in South America AND it’s a graphic novel!? This book does a BRILLIANT job of staying in the moment with thrilling adventure and death defying dos in the name of science while also flashing ahead to highlight von Humboldts lasting resounding influence. He had a lot to say about deforestation, slavery and treatment of native peoples and conservation that was, for the time, extremely forward thinking. He is portrayed in this book as a sort of absent minded professor - constantly thinking, measuring and recording and he is still extremely likable. He makes me want to do more with my day - And want to go to South America all the more. My one and only complaint about this book is, due to its size sometimes the images were blown out or pixelated in the collages....I didn’t even talk about the collages....just READ THIS!

willowsfair's review

adventurous informative inspiring slow-paced

4.5

kris_mccracken's review

4.0

Beautifully-presented piece on one of science's overlooked greats. A genuine polymath, von Humboldt pushed the edges of exploration across multiple fields, and lived a life full of adventure. This is a great pairing to Daniel Kehlmann's novel Die Vermessung der Welt, which I enjoyed immensely.

Moreover, it showcases the potential of the graphic novel, and utilises the man's actual sketches and journal pages within the text is colourful and creative ways. Definitely one to check out!

wjacksonata's review

5.0

Stunningly illustrated book that recounts Humboldt's adventures and explorations through South America and Mexico. Incredible detail, great use of primary sources, and jam-packed full of botanic and geologic nerdery. Aside from the beautiful art, the story is fascinating. Humboldt and his companions hiked, climbed, trudged, floated, fell, and crawled through and over more volcanoes, jungle, rivers, mountains, and plains than any explorer I have read about to date. Humboldt also seemed to have a more progressive attitude - decrying slavery, colonialism, and environmental destruction well ahead of his time.

cringletimagi's review against another edition

adventurous funny hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

4.5

jinrhee's review against another edition

adventurous

4.0

Fantastisch und abenteuerlich! Eine sehr schön illustrierte und unterhaltsame Erzählung Humboldts Abenteuer.

Leider waren die Sprechblasen und Texte teilweise wild auf den Seiten ausgebreitet, sodass es nicht die angenehmste Art war zu lesen und den Dialogsträngen zu folgen, aber genauso wild und chaotisch wurden auch die Abenteuer von Alexander von Humboldt dargestellt. Es hatte einen gewissen Charme. 

jcoryv's review

4.0

Read this concurrently with Wulf’s “The Invention of Nature”... graphic novel covers about the first third of the book and covers certain topics in greater detail. Some of the dialogue is, I don’t know, snarky? But better than dry and boring.