I can't remember how many times I've read Annals of the Former World, and any number of other McPhee classics. He is simply the best writer of English nonfiction we've ever had. A living treasure. He got me hooked on Geology and countless other subjects in which my interest was minimal beforehand. He improves my life every time I read him, and civilization ever time he writes another essay or book.The treat here is seeing Eldridge Moores, a geologist as grand in his own way as McPhee. Tnx, UCTV.
There is no one of whom I am aware with a more facile understanding of the language. As a expository writer he has no equal; I feel as if I am in the physical presence of the man as he unravels a scene. In his book "Coming Into the Country" he paints a scene wherein a man looks down into a crystalline stream. There are so many fish he remarks it as if he is "looking up into a sky full of zeppelins." He is, in my mind, one of the finest writers to ever have put ink to paper. He is sine qua non; pure and simple. If I could have but one McPhee, I would be most content with "Giving Good Weight", assuming I was ignorant of his other wonderful books. It would be a hardship for a devotee of this American treasure to have access to but one McPhee.
I knew I was gonna do this! I don't mean to imply the Good Mr. McPhee is a writer of only expository works- he has the ability to assemble the language myriad ways and the resultant is always a delight! If to 'turn a phrase' could be found in the dictionary...well, you get the picture!
+Ambroid Phlexes hi ambroid, that's a very beautiful comment to make. however 'facile' does not mean what you think it means! to call a writer facile would be a great insult. but i'm sure you meant much kinder words about mcphee :)
I love John McPhee so much!! I"ve read his book Annals of the Former World several times! am setting out again. I'm working on my own geo poetry of the NW
irons in the fire, i'm reading now. read some of travels in georgia. i agree with your idea of his rhythm, he has a very natural flow of writing. and he writes so that things can be easily understood. which is much like a musician
I'm a huge McPhee fan, and, after watching this a second time, I can only say that the moderator seems disinterested and perfunctory. Also, wish this was a longer. Presently I'm reading 'The Founding Fish', McPhee's "fishing" book. As with everything he writes, it is a fascinating read containing his charcteristic vibrant prose and humor.
Hello Mary. I agree with your thoughts on McPhee and the significance of his writings to the general public. Reading his first "geology book" (Basin & Range) twenty-five years ago turned me onto Earth science big time.
So funny to hear the discussion about McPhee's returning again and again to geology. I was one who first got hooked on him with "Coming into the Country," and every time I'd hear of a new book out, I'd rush to find it. What would it be about...oranges, nuclear fission, agriculture? Oh, no...not another geology book. Great to hear him read his own words on the reasoning.
nice, thanks for putting this up. wow that was a kind of intense interview. it actually clears up just how true the indication in the book it is something that would satisfy the general public as well as the geological community. seems as if geologists dont really see his work as of being of very much value in an academic sense.
However, Mcphee does enjoy these freedoms as a freelance writer, and with the help of a few geologists, he was able to create an appetizer, if you will, to geology. the kind of thing you give the general public to provide a very basic, large picture of north american plate tectonics, but also an interest in a field which is not given much attention in schools. my score: awesome.
However, i do think his book was successful because it truely does effectively communicate geology to those who have no background in the field. It creates an appeal and enthusiasm for the subject as only one with the time and freedom to write that most researching geologists do not enjoy.
I can't remember how many times I've read Annals of the Former World, and any number of other McPhee classics. He is simply the best writer of English nonfiction we've ever had. A living treasure. He got me hooked on Geology and countless other subjects in which my interest was minimal beforehand. He improves my life every time I read him, and civilization ever time he writes another essay or book.The treat here is seeing Eldridge Moores, a geologist as grand in his own way as McPhee. Tnx, UCTV.
I cannot agree more
There is no one of whom I am aware with a more facile understanding of the
language. As a expository writer he has no equal; I feel as if I am in the physical
presence of the man as he unravels a scene. In his book "Coming Into the Country" he paints a scene wherein a man looks down into a crystalline
stream. There are so many fish he remarks it as if he is "looking up into a sky
full of zeppelins." He is, in my mind, one of the finest writers to ever have put
ink to paper. He is sine qua non; pure and simple. If I could have but one McPhee, I would be most content with "Giving Good Weight", assuming I was
ignorant of his other wonderful books. It would be a hardship for a devotee of
this American treasure to have access to but one McPhee.
I knew I was gonna do this! I don't mean to imply the Good Mr. McPhee is a
writer of only expository works- he has the ability to assemble the language
myriad ways and the resultant is always a delight! If to 'turn a phrase' could be found in the dictionary...well, you get the picture!
+Ambroid Phlexes hi ambroid, that's a very beautiful comment to make. however 'facile' does not mean what you think it means! to call a writer facile would be a great insult. but i'm sure you meant much kinder words about mcphee :)
John McPhee- one of my heroes for "Annals of the Former World"; a scientific and literary classic.
John McPhee is among my favorite authors.
He is my favorite author, he writes non-fiction so I can read it like fiction.
I love John McPhee so much!! I"ve read his book Annals of the Former World several times! am setting out again. I'm working on my own geo poetry of the NW
irons in the fire, i'm reading now. read some of travels in georgia.
i agree with your idea of his rhythm, he has a very natural flow of writing. and he writes so that things can be easily understood. which is much like a musician
...or a poet.
I'm a huge McPhee fan, and, after watching this a second time, I can only say that the moderator seems disinterested and perfunctory. Also, wish this was a longer. Presently I'm reading 'The Founding Fish', McPhee's "fishing" book. As with everything he writes, it is a fascinating read containing his charcteristic vibrant prose and humor.
Hello Mary. I agree with your thoughts on McPhee and the significance of his writings to the general public. Reading his first "geology book" (Basin & Range) twenty-five years ago turned me onto Earth science big time.
So funny to hear the discussion about McPhee's returning again and again to geology. I was one who first got hooked on him with "Coming into the Country," and every time I'd hear of a new book out, I'd rush to find it. What would it be about...oranges, nuclear fission, agriculture? Oh, no...not another geology book. Great to hear him read his own words on the reasoning.
nice, thanks for putting this up. wow that was a kind of intense interview.
it actually clears up just how true the indication in the book it is something that would satisfy the general public as well as the geological community. seems as if geologists dont really see his work as of being of very much value in an academic sense.
I remember that paragraph! Such a great book.
I think you're clearly a geek when you think of these guys as celebrities. I guess I'm a geek. :-P
However, Mcphee does enjoy these freedoms as a freelance writer, and with the help of a few geologists, he was able to create an appetizer, if you will, to geology.
the kind of thing you give the general public to provide a very basic, large picture of north american plate tectonics, but also an interest in a field which is not given much attention in schools. my score: awesome.
However, i do think his book was successful because it truely does effectively communicate geology to those who have no background in the field. It creates an appeal and enthusiasm for the subject as only one with the time and freedom to write that most researching geologists do not enjoy.
Was the moderator an "educator" .... one of those professionals that people pay $40-50K a year to be downwind of?
Please elaborate on your snark, o wise man.