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An enjoyable travelogue mixed with history lessons as the author follows in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham, the "discoverer" of machu picchu. The author playfully switches between stories of his travels with his interesting travel group and the history of the Vilcabamba range and the greater Inca empire. A highly worthwhile read if you are planning on visiting the Cusco area, and still interesting as a history / travelogue if not.

I really enjoyed reading Sounds Wild and Broken. Haskell takes the reader on a journey of sound through time. He starts of describing a world before sound was used as a form of communication, and builds all the way to music. The different perspectives he offers can offer a new world of appreciation for your daily soundscape, from music, to insect calls, to birdsong. A heartily recommended book!

Von Humbolt is credited to being the first naturist to see nature as a holistic system, laying the groundwork for ecology. The author takes the reader along in the story, first characterizing Von Humboldt as a broadly interested scientist (or natural philosopher), before describing his travels to South America where he laid out the foundations for his further work. The later chapters on thinkers and naturists influenced by Von Humboldt accentuate the importance of his work, and include the beginnings of nature conservation programs. These thinkers include Darwin, Goethe, and John Muir, to name a few.

The Invention of Nature is a wonderfully inspiring book to those interested in early science, nature, and conservation. The story of the colourful Von Humboldt and the more in-depth explanations of his significance make for a lovely reading experience.