author
John Muir
1838–1914
A restless wanderer of mountains, forests, and glaciers, he turned close observation of the natural world into some of the most influential nature writing in American history. His books and activism helped inspire the protection of Yosemite and other wild places that became central to the national parks idea.
12 Audiobooks
The Mountains of California
by John Muir
Steep Trails
by John Muir
Our National Parks
by John Muir
Travels in Alaska
by John Muir
The Yosemite
by John Muir
The Grand Cañon of the Colorado
by John Muir
Stickeen
by John Muir
A Thousand-Mile Walk to the Gulf
by John Muir
The Story of My Boyhood and Youth
by John Muir
My First Summer in the Sierra
by John Muir
About the author
Born in Dunbar, Scotland, in 1838, he moved with his family to Wisconsin as a boy. Before becoming known as a writer and conservationist, he worked on farms and showed a talent for invention and mechanics.
After an eye injury temporarily threatened his sight, he changed the course of his life and set out to study nature more directly. His travels eventually drew him to California and especially to the Sierra Nevada, where his notebooks, essays, and books brought readers vividly into the mountains, waterfalls, forests, and glaciers he loved.
He became one of the best-known voices for protecting wilderness in the United States. He helped found the Sierra Club in 1892, and his advocacy was an important force behind the preservation of Yosemite and Sequoia. He died in 1914, but his writing still stands out for its energy, wonder, and deep belief that wild places matter.