The Story of My Boyhood and Youth
by John Muir
'The Story of My Boyhood and Youth' Summary
The elder Muir was a religious fundamentalist. What his father taught, John Muir writes, was "grim self denial, in season and out of season, to mortify the flesh, keep our bodies in subjection to Bible laws, and mercilessly punish ourselves for every fault, imagined or committed." Muir's father believed that the Bible was "the only book human beings could possibly require," while John secretly read every volume of poetry and literature he could get his hands on. With no formal schooling after leaving Scotland, John also learned from nature--keenly observing details of the seasons, the life of the farm oxen, and wild animals and birds. John also became an amateur inventor, eking out time from farm chores by getting up at 1 a.m. to whittle intricate wooden clocks by candlelight in the unheated farm house basement.
Muir finally made a break for freedom--his decision was to go to Madison, Wisconsin, and enter his clocks in the State Fair, with the hope that somebody might see them and offer him a job in a machine shop! All the baggage he carried the day he left home was a package made up of "two clocks and a small thermometer made of a piece of old washboard, all three tied together with no covering or case of any sort, the whole looking like one very complicated machine." His father's goodbye was to admonish John about the "wicked world" and to warn him sternly that if he should find himself in need of money, none would be forthcoming. John would have to depend on himself.
How John Muir made his way from that Wisconsin farm to become the great American naturalist, spokesman for Yosemite and the California redwoods, is the stuff of legend: which makes Muir's autobiographical account of his early boyhood a fascinating read.
Book Details
Language
EnglishOriginal Language
EnglishPublished In
1913Author
John Muir
Scotland, United States
John Muir also known as "John of the Mountains" and "Father of the National Parks", was an influential Scottish-American naturalist, author, environmental philosopher, botanist, zoologist, glaciologis...
More on John MuirDownload eBooks
Listen/Download Audiobook
- Select Speed
Related books
Captains of Industry by James Parton
In this volume are presented examples of men who shed lustre upon ordinary pursuits, either by the superior manner in which they exercised them or by...
The Autobiography of a Slander by Edna Lyall
A gossipy old woman, an impressionable young girl, a narrow-minded curate, a letter written while bored, a scrap of dinner party conversation intended...
Historic Girlhoods, Volume 1 by Rupert S. Holland
Biographical sketches of ten girls who became famous before becoming women - some not even making it to womanhood. From Joan of Arc to Catherine d'Med...
Among the Head-hunters of Formosa by Janet B. Montgomery McGovern
Embark on a thrilling expedition to the enigmatic landscapes of Formosa, where the allure of adventure intertwines with the rich tapestry of indigenou...
Thomas Wingfold, Curate by George MacDonald
A young man (Thomas Wingfold) "enters the church" through no real faith and only for want of something to do. After an encounter with a brash young at...
The Youth of Washington: Told in the Form of an Autobiography by Silas Weir Mitchell
It details the life of George Washington as a young man, from his childhood to his military career. Written by Silas Weir Mitchell, a noted American p...
Secrets of Crewe House: the story of a famous campaign by Campbell Stuart
The book tells the story of a high-profile campaign in the early 20th century that exposed a scandal involving a prominent British politician. First...
Sir Christopher Wren: Scientist, Scholar and Architect by Lawrence Weaver
Step into the captivating world of one of history's most brilliant minds with "Sir Christopher Wren: Scientist, Scholar and Architect" by Lawrence Wea...
Some Passages of the Life and Death of the Right Honourable John, Earl of Rochester by Gilbert Burnet
I believe that the good Bishop of Salisbury's account of the last days of poor young Rochester would, if carefully read, make more impression on the m...
Bird World: A Bird Book for Children by Jenny H. Stickney
It is an engaging and educational book that introduces young readers to the fascinating world of birds. Through its delightful pages, this book provid...
Reviews for The Story of My Boyhood and Youth
No reviews posted or approved, yet...