A review by lizawren
The Sense of Wonder by Rachel Carson

5.0

Rachel Carson is one of my personal heroes and I really loved her short ode to experiencing nature with children. It’s sentimental and heartfelt, but never sloppy:

“One way to open your eyes to unnoticed beauty is to ask yourself, ‘What if I had never seen this before? What if I knew I would never see it again?’ ...It occurred to me that if this were a sight that could be seen only once in a century or even once in a human generation, this little headland would be thronged with spectators. But it can be seen many scores of nights in any year… and because they could see it almost any night perhaps they will never see it. An experience like that, when one’s thoughts are released to roam through the lonely spaces of the universe, can be shared with a child even if you don’t know the name of a single star. You can still drink in the beauty, and think and wonder at the meaning of what you see.”

What I love about Rachel Carson is she’s a scientist first and foremost, but completely defies the (undeserved) stereotype of scientists as callous robots. She takes time to be awe-inspired and set aside thinking for feeling, but never needs to invoke the supernatural to do so.

“The lasting pleasures of contact with the natural world are not reserved for scientists but are available to anyone who will place himself under the influence of earth, sea and sky and their amazing life… Those who dwell, as scientists or laymen, among the beauties and mysteries of the earth are never alone or weary of life. Whatever the vexations or concerns of their personal lives, their thoughts can find paths that lead to inner contentment and to renewed excitement in living. Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.”

So incredibly beautiful.