My First Summer in the Sierra is a book written by John Muir, and it is intended for young readers. Muir is America’s most influential and renowned naturalists who advocates for the creation of national parks and monuments in the United States. It is a book about the author’s stay in the California’s Yosemite River Valley and in the Sierra mountains. Muir talks about his experiences in the nature’s wonders with the flora and fauna. The author talks about his love for his country and the natural world. Muir talks about the wild by describing the animals he meets during his visit in the California’s Yosemite River Valley and in the Sierra mountains. In addition, he describes the trees, the clouds, the birds and the mountains he is able to come over. My First Summer in the Sierra is an interesting book that persuades the readers to respect the natural world and save it from deteriorating.
Muir voices his opinions on how to create and preserve several national parks and monuments in America. He talks of his adventure in the Sierra Mountains and his regards for the natural world. Muir’s strong sense of harmony and the unity of nature can be felt through his narrations about nature. John Muir was a lover of the wilderness and he had all the reason for that passion. In addition, he is the most influential advocate in the preservation of the wilderness and the entire natural wild. Muir does his best to show the entire world that, we are part of the nature, and we should do all we can to make it beautiful and preserve it ranging from creating national parks, preserving our animals, trees, and even our forests.
Muir notes that, the natural environment is deteriorating as days goes by and something needs to be done in order to preserve it. I agree with Muir because, so many trees are being cut as the natural environment is being polluted and if nothing is done, the natural environment will continue fading away. As one reads the book, Muir’s passion for the natural world is very clear. For instance, he says, “The air is keen and bracing, yet warm during the day; and though lying high in the sky, the surrounding mountains are so much higher; one feels protected as if in a grand hall “(Muir). Muir liked the air nature could give while he was exploiting the wilderness. His passion of the wilderness can be felt in his words. In addition, he describes about the animals he meets in his expedition in the mountains. In addition, he talks of the beauty of the mountains when he says "Never before had I seen so glorious a landscape, so boundless an affluence of sublime mountain beauty. The most extravagant description I might give of this view to anyone who has not seen similar landscapes with his own eyes would not so much as hint its grandeur and the spiritual glow that covered it" (Muir). In his book, Muir was determined to show the world the beauty of nature and the reasons why it should be conserved. In addition, he was able to create and preserve national parks because of his passion for the natural world. In addition, during his work, he did everything he could, to preserve the national parks.
John Muir’s book has remained as a legacy that has put the creation of national parks on focus. In his exploration of the Sierra and Yosemite mountains, Muir encourages the readers to learn to explore their nation and be able to preserve the natural world. Moreover, through his writings, the author was able to draw the reader’s attention to the beauty of nature, thus giving them a reason to preserve it. The book provides several journals that explain the beauty of nature through the author’s eyes and it is easy to convince the readers to support John Muir’s movement of conserving the natural world. Muir interweaves chapters in his journal and provides the readers with the ways of achieving ecological literacy. Through the author’s self-reflections, observations, and physical experiences in the Sierra and Yosemite mountains, one is able to admire his passion and focus on the mountaineering exploits in order to learn more and to save the world’s nature.
My First Summer in the Sierra is an interesting book that helps none to understand how to treat the environment. I agree with John Muir on the conservation of the natural environment. My First Summer in the Sierra is a must read book for any individual who feels a connection to the natural world. Muir presents a groundbreaking journal that can convince, even the most cynical urbanites to connect with the outside world. The book is the best for people who are passionate with the natural and wild world and its arguments are valid; the natural world is deteriorating, and it should be preserved. Through his writing, Muir has helped in the establishment of several national parks and changed the way Americans view the mountains, rivers, forests, deserts, and the wilderness. Moreover, he pioneered the advocating of protecting forest areas and the wild nature. My First Summer in the Sierra book provides a timely and valid argument on the natural world.
Works Cited
Muir, John. My First Summer in the Sierra. New York: Dover Publications, 2004. Print.
