A Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There

This collection of essays is one I’ll return to again and again to remind myself of the need for wildness and a proper “land ethic.” Highly recommend this to anyone living on this beautiful planet.

The title of the book is not a good indication of the excellent piece of literature this is. It reflects a simpler time and life, but its message is profound regarding our perception of nature and our impact on even a simple plot of land. The author’s (Aldo Leopold) sentence construction and vocabulary is outstanding. Even the introduction is excellent by Barbara Kingsolver. I have to admit I would not have purchased and read this book had it not been recommended by a professor at Texas A&M University. I recommend it to you.

A must-read for people interested in nature or conservation. Or for anyone else, really. Well-written and surprisingly hard to put down. Thoughtful.

This book is an absolute joy to read! The language and imagery will take you far away! What a brilliant book!!

I REALLY don't care much for poetry. I suffered through it in high school but really had zero appreciation for it. Well, I'm just a few days shy of turning 69 years old now, and I'm willing to admit that this is an extremely well-written book. I suspect that my admiration for it stems largely from the fact that it ISN'T a bunch of rhyming poetry. It's simply eloquently assembled words and phrases that impart a great meaning to the pictures that they paint. Is you appreciate creativity. If you appreciate visualization. Then you're going to love this book.

Leopold's writing style is easy to digest and understand, especially about a critical subject--a Land Ethic, which even today is insufficiently adopted, despite many of Leopold's observations being backed up by considerably more research.My primary critical comment though is that the three parts of the book--his Almanac in Wisconsin, writings of the American Southwest, and his discussion of the need for a Land Ethic--aren't better nested at the "seams" that would make A Sand County Almanac read like one book instead of three.

Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac" is a timeless masterpiece for anyone who appreciates the beauty of nature. This book is a captivating journey through the seasons, filled with Leopold's profound insights and deep love for the natural world. It's both poetic and thought-provoking, reminding us of our responsibility to care for the land. If you haven't read it yet, do yourself a favor and dive into this classic. It's a true gem that will leave you inspired and connected to the wonders of the outdoors.

A man way ahead of his time. We can learn much from him. This should be required reading for anyone that wants to live in a better world.