The Invention of Nature
#945 of 2,654 all-time
The Invention of Nature
Andrea Wulf
7 people recommended it in 6 threads, 2016–2025.
What people on Hacker News said
The best historical book I've ever read. Von Humbolt was one of the greatest scientists to ever live and I can't believe I'd ever heard of him before.
Darwin said of him "if it hadn't been for AVH, I would have never stepped foot on the HMS Beagle"; profoundly important to modern science, an adventurer, yet little known in modern times
The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf (a biography of Alexander von Humboldt)
The Invention of Nature : Alexander Von Humboldt's New World
It details Alexander von Humboldt, his travels through South America and Siberia, and general contributions to science.
I really enjoyed “The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World” a few years ago.
Where it comes up
- Ask HN: Books about people who did hard things 2025 · 2 recommendations
- Ask HN: Favorite audio book for long drives? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: What books have you read that have changed your life? 2022 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Best books you read in the past decade? 2019 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2018? 2018 · 1 recommendation
- Ask HN: Books you read in 2016? 2016 · 1 recommendation