The Invention of Nature

As I read about Humboldt's journeys, I was reminded of Will Farrell in the movie “Elf” telling the story of traveling through the gumdrop forest: the book is written for a 13 year old. It's got a total golly-gee tone, and could dispense with about every other sentence.

Everyone knows the amazon jungle is hot & humid, ok? Or when we are told Humboldt thought about something, e.g., electricity, he saw a mysterious force, and we hear nothing more.

The description of his relationship with Goethe did neither man a service. Again, reads like some sort of YA tale.

In short, there is very little intellectual depth or revelation here. It's just a storybook.

Gave up after 5 chapters. Two stars because it's not awful, it's just awfully dull and not very insightful.