Book | Wilderness Essays

Part of John Muir's appeal to modern readers is that he not only explored the American West and wrote about its beauties but also fought for their preservation.

His successes dot the landscape and are evident in all the natural features that bear his name: forests, lakes, trails, and glaciers.

Here collected are some of Muir's finest wilderness essays, ranging in subject matter from Alaska to Yellowstone, from Oregon to the High Sierra.

This book is part of a series that celebrates the tradition of literary naturalists—writers who embrace the natural world as the setting for some of our most euphoric and serious experiences. These books map the intimate connections between the human and the natural world.

Literary naturalists transcend political boundaries, social concerns, and historical milieus; they speak for what Henry Beston called the “other nations” of the planet. Their message acquires more weight and urgency as wild places become increasingly scarce.

Impact Story from Gibbs Smith: "As a Benefit Corporation (B Corp), we believe in taking care of the environment. We have a commitment to carbon neutrality and reduce what we can and offset what we are not yet able to. Our physical office facilities, business travel, production/printing, and outbound shipping are all carbon neutral. We’re proud to be a B Corp and stand along with other businesses that meet the high standards of social and environmental performance, legal accountability, and public transparency. At the end of the day, we’re here to support an inclusive and sustainable economy for all.”