Re: [at-l] Civil War books/Sigurd Olson book

[Trailmixup@aol.com]

Thanks, everyone.  I've gotten so many responses already for places to look 
for the Rodale set.  Some I had tried before, many are new.  I'm going to get 
right on it!

...And $50 for the 2-volume set beats the best quote I'd received so far 
(which was $75, plus shipping -- and only *if* they could get their hands on 
this out-of-print set.)  I've been on that waiting list for over a year.

Did I ever mention how much I love this group?!

Leslie asked: <<  Who is Sigurd Olsen?  What kind of books? >>

Olson was an "outdoorsman" and outdoor education leader from Minnesota.  At a 
time when most folks were pushing for land development and industrial 
applications for our natural resources, he was a strong advocate for 
preservation.  An avid canoeist, he had been President of the National Parks 
Association and then a board member.   (Sorry, I had spelled his name 
incorrectly in my original post -- I guess I think all the world is Danish!)  

The book I'm reading now, "The Singing Wilderness" has this to say about the 
book (from its dustcover):  "A vibrant book of discovery that re-creates the 
sights and sounds of the Quetico-Superior country and explores with deep 
insight the permanent values of a great wilderness area."   

Through 34 chapters he takes the reader through all the seasons, if read in 
order.  But I'm thinking that each chapter could stand alone.  Most chapters 
are short and would make excellent "contemplations for the day," if read 
daily.  Some of the chapter titles are:   "The Storm," "Smell of Morning," 
Moon Magic," "Silence," Pine Knots," "The Last Mallard," "Wilderness Music," 
and "Timber Wolves."   He is simply eloquent.

He offers practical outdoor advice, but mostly he writes about how the 
wilderness and natural surroundings evoke a sense of awe in him.   He never 
preaches about conservation; instead, he lets the reader see what he sees 
about the wonder of nature.  He quotes from other great minds, like Thoreau 
(my favorite).  Some of the practices he writes about are outdated (like 
campfires, about which he writes a great deal -- but then few could argue 
that a campfire isn't still a powerful and inspiring experience), but mostly 
what he writes about is that almost ineffable stuff that eternally draws all 
of us to the wilderness.  

The other title that I have is "Runes of the North" -- which I cannot comment 
on, as I loaned the book to my dad.  Other titles (per the dust cover) are: 
The Listening Point and The Lonely Land.

I had found these books at the camp that I worked at this summer.  They 
looked intriguing, so I put them aside in hopes of finding time to read them 
later.   Aside is where they stayed until someone on this list mentioned that 
Sigurd Olson was a great writer and I recognized the name.  I dug out one of 
the books and immediately started to read it.  The lister (whoever he/she 
was) was right.

We have some wonderful people on this list with great insights and resources 
to share.  Thanks.

Trailmixup
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