Summary of The Invention of Nature

The Invention of Nature: Alex’s World, by Andrea Wulf is a biography of Alexander von Humboldt, a scientist and explorer who made remarkable contributions to the fields of biology, geology, and astronomy. The book follows his life and work from his childhood in Germany to his explorations around Europe and the Americas. Humboldt's findings laid the foundation for the modern-day disciplines of ecology and conservation, and his life is explored in detail, including his controversial and oft-ignored role in the Latin American independence movements. Wulf paints a picture of Humboldt's life, showing the links between his expeditions, his observations of the world, and how his discoveries and ideas about nature have been adopted by practitioners and thinkers in the current era. The Invention of Nature is a captivating story of Humboldt's life that also serves as a portrait of a brilliant man who forever changed our understanding of the natural world.