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Reflections from the North Country
Written in the last years of his life, Reflections from the North Country is often considered Sigurd Olson's most intellectually significant work. In an account alive with anecdote and insight, Olson outlines the wilderness philosophy he developed while working as an outspoken advocate for the conservation of America's natural heritage.
Based on speeches delivered at town meetings and government hearings, this book joins The Singing Wilderness and Listening Point as the core of Olson's work. Upon its initial publication in 1976, Reflections from the North Country, with Olson's unique combination of lyrical nature writing and activism, became an inspiration to the burgeoning environmental movement, selling over 46,000 copies in hardcover.
In this wide-ranging work, Olson evokes the soaring grace of raven, osprey, and eagle, the call of the loon, and the song of the hermit thrush. He challenges the reader to loosen the grasp of technology and the rush of contemporary life and make room for a sense of wonder heightened by being in nature. From evolution to the meaning and power of solitude, Olson meditates on the human condition, offering eloquent testimony to the joys and truths he discovered in his beloved north-country wilderness.
Based on speeches delivered at town meetings and government hearings, this book joins The Singing Wilderness and Listening Point as the core of Olson's work. Upon its initial publication in 1976, Reflections from the North Country, with Olson's unique combination of lyrical nature writing and activism, became an inspiration to the burgeoning environmental movement, selling over 46,000 copies in hardcover.
In this wide-ranging work, Olson evokes the soaring grace of raven, osprey, and eagle, the call of the loon, and the song of the hermit thrush. He challenges the reader to loosen the grasp of technology and the rush of contemporary life and make room for a sense of wonder heightened by being in nature. From evolution to the meaning and power of solitude, Olson meditates on the human condition, offering eloquent testimony to the joys and truths he discovered in his beloved north-country wilderness.
192 pages, Kindle Edition
First published September 12, 1976
About the author
Sigurd F. Olson
38 books74 followersSigurd F. Olson was an American author, environmentalist, and advocate for the protection of wilderness. For more than thirty years, he served as a wilderness guide in the lakes and forests of the Quetico-Superior country of northern Minnesota and northeastern Ontario. He was known honorifically as the Bourgeois — a term the voyageurs of old used of their trusted leaders.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews
October 7, 2016
"These are reflections, and the philosophy, of a man who has traveled the wilderness most of his life. 'I hope.' writes Sigurd Olson, 'those who travel with me may hear an almost imperceptible note of harmony that runs through the grand symphony of the land I have known.'
"His book is alive with anecdote and insight, born of his long familiarity with rivers, lakes, and primitive terrain, from the northern United States and the mountains of Alaska to the Northwest Territories of Canada and the arctic tundra.
"He evokes the soaring grace of raven, osprey and eagle, the call of the loon and the song of the hermit thrush. He sharpens our awareness of the beauty around us -- gently warning us to leave behind our excess baggage of scientific sophistication and open ourselves to wonder. He reflects on our frontier heritage, ponders the meaning of solitude--its freedoms and cleansing powers. He meditates on wholeness, cosmic rhythms, and the slow cycles of seasonal change, and once again offers eloquent testimony to the inherent joys and truths he has found."
~~front flap
Oh BOY! This is going to be one of my all time very favoritest of books, thinks I. Don't I have a special connection with ravens? Isn't the song of the hermit thrust burned forever in my memory after that magical hike at dusk along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? Don't I thirst after wholeness, and the slow cycles of seasonal change? Doesn't my heart sing for rivers, lakes, and primitive terrain?
So I rubbed my hands together in glee, and dove right in.
I hated it.
This book says "Me me me -- look at me! See how environmentally and woodsy I am? Aren't I wonderful?" Well he may have been wonderful, and the back flap of the dust jacket says he was: "one of America's distinguished ecologists and interpreters of wilderness, and one of the best-loved writers in his field." But what I wanted from this book was to see what he'd seen, go where he'd been, travel and watch and wonder with him. Instead, I got lectured on every page about the danger of losing wilderness, and how we should all care, and do something about it. I do care, I do do as much as I can about it, and if I didn't already know all that, do you think I'd be reading a book about wilderness?
"His book is alive with anecdote and insight, born of his long familiarity with rivers, lakes, and primitive terrain, from the northern United States and the mountains of Alaska to the Northwest Territories of Canada and the arctic tundra.
"He evokes the soaring grace of raven, osprey and eagle, the call of the loon and the song of the hermit thrush. He sharpens our awareness of the beauty around us -- gently warning us to leave behind our excess baggage of scientific sophistication and open ourselves to wonder. He reflects on our frontier heritage, ponders the meaning of solitude--its freedoms and cleansing powers. He meditates on wholeness, cosmic rhythms, and the slow cycles of seasonal change, and once again offers eloquent testimony to the inherent joys and truths he has found."
~~front flap
Oh BOY! This is going to be one of my all time very favoritest of books, thinks I. Don't I have a special connection with ravens? Isn't the song of the hermit thrust burned forever in my memory after that magical hike at dusk along the North Rim of the Grand Canyon? Don't I thirst after wholeness, and the slow cycles of seasonal change? Doesn't my heart sing for rivers, lakes, and primitive terrain?
So I rubbed my hands together in glee, and dove right in.
I hated it.
This book says "Me me me -- look at me! See how environmentally and woodsy I am? Aren't I wonderful?" Well he may have been wonderful, and the back flap of the dust jacket says he was: "one of America's distinguished ecologists and interpreters of wilderness, and one of the best-loved writers in his field." But what I wanted from this book was to see what he'd seen, go where he'd been, travel and watch and wonder with him. Instead, I got lectured on every page about the danger of losing wilderness, and how we should all care, and do something about it. I do care, I do do as much as I can about it, and if I didn't already know all that, do you think I'd be reading a book about wilderness?
September 28, 2014
I picked up “Reflections” at the National Park Visitor’s Center of the St. Croix Riverway, as appropriate reading material for our club Namekagon River trip. And it was - nice short stand-alone chapters about the wilderness. I read the first half-dozen or so over the three-day week-end.
Sigurd Olson (1899-1982), the noted environmentalist and outdoorsman, wrote these short essays in his later years when he was based in a cabin on the edge of the Quetico Wilderness. They were based on speeches delivered at town meetings and government hearings.
His descriptions of nature are alive with keen observation and unsentimental language, but he challenges the reader with his intellectual insights. He writes here about the “Primal Heritage” of mankind – man’s historic relationship with his environment. He considers man’s “Search for Meaning” in life and the things the wilderness provides: beauty, simplicity, courage, and opportunity for human beings to make more of their lives. Finally, Olson takes on “The Imponderables,” with essays on such intangible assets as Balance and Order, Contemplation, and Immortality. Some heavy stuff that goes way beyond description of loons calling at sunset over a Canadian lake. But, there's stuff like that too.
Sigurd Olson (1899-1982), the noted environmentalist and outdoorsman, wrote these short essays in his later years when he was based in a cabin on the edge of the Quetico Wilderness. They were based on speeches delivered at town meetings and government hearings.
His descriptions of nature are alive with keen observation and unsentimental language, but he challenges the reader with his intellectual insights. He writes here about the “Primal Heritage” of mankind – man’s historic relationship with his environment. He considers man’s “Search for Meaning” in life and the things the wilderness provides: beauty, simplicity, courage, and opportunity for human beings to make more of their lives. Finally, Olson takes on “The Imponderables,” with essays on such intangible assets as Balance and Order, Contemplation, and Immortality. Some heavy stuff that goes way beyond description of loons calling at sunset over a Canadian lake. But, there's stuff like that too.
September 23, 2008
Sigurd Olson's life and writing has been a part of my life for about 6 years. If you are into nature writing and specifically the effects of wilderness on the human heart (spiritually, not physically), then this is a good book. Comprised of essays, it is reminiscent of days gone by, yet hopeful for a better tomorrow.
August 23, 2024
Loved reading this book. It gave a lot more meaning to my summer in the Boundary Waters with some new perspective not just on the area, but on life and conservation/environmentalism too
January 11, 2022
Olson was a well-known environmental writer in his time, also serving as president of the National Parks Association. Somehow I hadn’t heard of him before my husband picked this out at random. Part of a Minnesota Heritage Book series, this collection of passionate, philosophically oriented essays about the state of nature places him in the vein of Aldo Leopold – before-their-time conservationists. He ponders solitude, wilderness and human nature, asking what is primal in us and what is due to unfortunate later developments. His counsel includes simplicity and wonder rather than exploitation and waste. The chief worry that comes across is that people are now so cut off from nature they can’t see what they’re missing – and destroying. It can be depressing to read such profound 1970s works; had we heeded environmental prophets like Olson, we could have changed course before it was too late.
February 23, 2017
Sigurd Olson was ahead of his time in his reflections on the significance of wilderness for the earth and the human psyche. His diagnosis of some of the problems of modernity and the deep cultural wounds that gave birth to it is especially prescient. Although Olson is perhaps best known as a nature writer, I wouldn't come to this book looking for nature writing: start with Runes of the North or another book. This is really an armchair (or better, campfire) philosophers reflections on a life spent in nature and especially wild places. It is the description of what he has learned from a world that is passing and a lifestyle that will soon become impossible.
There are some linguistic choices in the book that are dated. The use of the generic masculine is bothersome, and the way he is using the word "race" will feel outmoded and distracting to many contemporary ears. More substantively, the way Olson speaks about indigenous people could use some careful analysis. Olson was no theoretical romanticist - he lived a life significantly interwoven with the First Nations of North America. However, ultimately, there is more than a whiff of patronizing attitudes. I wouldn't let this discourage you from reading his work, but I would hold it in mind as a possible limitation to his otherwise very thoughtful and insightful exploration of the significance of wilderness and nature. Overall, very highly recommended.
There are some linguistic choices in the book that are dated. The use of the generic masculine is bothersome, and the way he is using the word "race" will feel outmoded and distracting to many contemporary ears. More substantively, the way Olson speaks about indigenous people could use some careful analysis. Olson was no theoretical romanticist - he lived a life significantly interwoven with the First Nations of North America. However, ultimately, there is more than a whiff of patronizing attitudes. I wouldn't let this discourage you from reading his work, but I would hold it in mind as a possible limitation to his otherwise very thoughtful and insightful exploration of the significance of wilderness and nature. Overall, very highly recommended.
November 11, 2015
Pretty simplistic book with nothing terribly fancy or beautiful about his writing. I was honestly disappointed after having read other reviews. Olson seems to assume the reader has the same assumptions about nature as he- including almost specific ways to access the Divine through nature. He seems to be almost a wanna-be scholar of religion, interspersing his writing with unfounded references to historical figures and sayings. His nature writing lacks a lot of the deep observation he seems to lecture about -this isn't a book where he paints a mental picture of the North Country, but rather seems patronizing if you (or society) doesn't see nature the way he does.
I'm hoping his other books aren't as frustrating for someone like me (a Minnesotan who spends countless seasons in the north country) -I bought a batch for winter reading!
I'm hoping his other books aren't as frustrating for someone like me (a Minnesotan who spends countless seasons in the north country) -I bought a batch for winter reading!
August 1, 2010
The book seemed to start off on a philosophical note but ended a bit more "preachy". Considering the copyright was 1976, Sig O. talked of technological overload... we couldn't figure out (at least relatively speaking) what he was referring to. Perhaps autos and television? In spite of the built in puzzles, the books emphasis on personal reflection, nature, conservation, the struggle between untouched wilderness and experienced wilderness, and the human role was interesting. Not everyone can build a cabin in the woods by a lake for their own personal reflection space like he did and Sig O. acknowledges that but lets the idea go. These topics are universal. I had to be in the right mood to read this book to make it an overall good read.
July 12, 2011
Here we go. So, three weeks later and still not enthusiastic. I spend time in the woods, and I agree with Olson's insight of the impact the serenity out there. His style is spiritual to a fault. I was expecting something real about the canoe at sunset, more sound and smell than heart and soul. And after reading that line after line, maybe I just wasn't in the mood, so I put it away for a while.
October 29, 2013
The last third of the book has his distilled ideas on conservation and love of the land. My hesitation to recommend the book is his paternalism towards Aboriginal / First Nations peoples. While his intention is to be honourific, alas, he evaluates Aboriginal knowledge and traditions with a romantic ideal, through which he replicates some stereotypes. I much preferred The Singing Wilderness.
February 16, 2017
Sweetly reminiscent of a life I once knew — or at least tasted — having grown up in the north, within easy reach of natural peace and solitude. Olson’s wilderness was one where my dad, brother and paternal grandfather were at home and I might have been, had I not been spoiled by the comforts of civilization. My favorite chapter, “Tradition,” was a reflection on the pride and joy one feels when making things by hand. It called up memories of Dad, who had the passion and patience I once had, but now lack, to create things from raw materials — not least, the pair of snowshoes he and I completed together, lacing rawhide in a complex triangular pattern in ash frames steamed into their teardrop form by Uncle Carl. But I digress — Olson’s writing leads you to do that. I also loved the illustrations by Leslie Kouba — featuring trees, birds, sky, water, often a tent or log cabin, and usually a canoe — all part of my youth as well. For me this book was an enjoyable sentimental journey, even though it literally put me to sleep at times. A great bedtime read.
Want to read
July 14, 2007I'd like to start with this book, then read others he's written.
Here's the "from the publisher" from bn.com:
Written in the last years of his life, Reflections from the North Country is often considered Sigurd Olson's most intellectually significant work. Based on speeches delivered at town meetings and government hearings, Olson outlines the wilderness philosophy he developed while working as an outspoken advocate for the conservation of America's natural heritage. This book joins The Singing Wilderness and Listening Point as the core of Olson's work that became an inspiration to the burgeoning environmental movement.
Here's the "from the publisher" from bn.com:
Written in the last years of his life, Reflections from the North Country is often considered Sigurd Olson's most intellectually significant work. Based on speeches delivered at town meetings and government hearings, Olson outlines the wilderness philosophy he developed while working as an outspoken advocate for the conservation of America's natural heritage. This book joins The Singing Wilderness and Listening Point as the core of Olson's work that became an inspiration to the burgeoning environmental movement.
November 25, 2007
This is a great introduction to the writings and wilderness philosophy of Sigurd Olson, one of the leading nature writers of the last centruy. In Reflections, he presents his wilderness philosophy and call to advocacy in a series of short informal essays. His anecdotes of time spent north keep the tone light and lively for an intellectually probing text. He's a sharp observer of nature, and he captures those small and timeless moments in the outdoors in a way that will make you pull your camping gear out of the closet.
June 28, 2017
I picked this book up from the library shelf, hoping for a romp in the Canadian wilderness with a fisherman. What I ended up reading was something much more expansive and poetical than I expected. This book is more than a reflection, it is a guide to understanding your place in nature. Olson and I have many similar views, as I have now learned. Reading this book has the similar feeling as to when my best friend and I go hiking together- the quiet knowing we both enjoy the world around us, a fellowship not found otherwise.
December 11, 2009
One thing I didn't get from Olson's previous books (it's been quite a while since I read them) was what a strong personality he was. I know from living in Minnesota in the late 1970's and 80's that he really stirred things up in the Ely area and he took a lot of verbal abuse. In this book he more than once refers to facing up to challenges as a part of the maturing process. I think he meant more than just daring to run rapids.
August 20, 2018
It’s surprising yet not so that this book written in the late 70’s resonates as tho’ it had been written as a respectful, philosophical and practical reminder in response to hideous actions being taken to desecrate protected and monumentally important areas in our nation today. It appears little has changed. Dizzying destruction for the financial benefit for a few will leave us with what??
This is my second reading of this book and I’ve come away with an entirely different perspective...
This is my second reading of this book and I’ve come away with an entirely different perspective...
May 24, 2019
There were certainly jewels to be picked up along the way in this writing and I could sense a kindred spirit in love of natural places. His attempts at the end to bring in views of emergent spirituality showed a confused and muddied mind, which was unfortunate. For those who love and want to protect our natural places, it's well worth the read. It's nice to understand better those behind the writing of the Wilderness Act.
February 28, 2014
Thoughtful essays published in 1976 by an ecologist and environmentalist who drew on his experiences as a backwoods guide and seeker of knowledge to explore our relationship to the natural world, each other, and, ultimately, a being greater than ourselves. Beautifully written, the work is prescient, timeless, and wise.
January 20, 2016
I am working my way through all of Sigurd Olson's work. This selection of short essays really put into words the impact on our lives of nature and especially Northern Minnesota. Olson writes in short chapters his own views of his wilderness philosophy. Instead of hammering away on protecting the environment, he invites us in to understand how nature is our soul.
January 30, 2017
The author has spent much of his lifetime in the wilderness, and in this book he shares his memories and the wisdom gained from this time. Although written in the 1970s, his philosophy and recognition of the fragility of the remaining wilderness is even more pertinent and important today than it was then. Beautifully written.
July 8, 2018
I picked up this book before a canoe trip in the Boundary Waters, and it quickly became one of my favorite books ever. Olson's ability to connect his experiences in the wilderness to broader themes of nature, ethics, and spirituality is astonishing, and very well captures some of the most important aspects of life.
August 9, 2008
I love these books. If you love the wilds or like the idea of loving the wilds, these collections of thought will captivate you. Especially if you have experienced the Boundary Waters region in Minnesota. Sigurd Olson is the wilderness canoist's godfather.
Read
May 4, 2015Sure the message of this book--save the wilderness--is a great message, but I don't like the way it was delivered. The author writes in a pretentious way and this book sounds like a "holier-than-thou" lecture.
March 10, 2017
I think this is my favorite book by Olson, but I love them all. They evoke such a feeling of calm for me. We need more people like Olson in this world.
May 29, 2012
This is another good reflective wilderness book.
March 12, 2015
Sentimental hyperbolic mud.
January 12, 2015
Excellent collection of Olson's poetic essays about the wilderness, conservation and the environment. A book that I will read again and then possibly even again.
June 3, 2023
Magic in our midst!
May 24, 2017
Loved this book.
June 12, 2023
Feels disappointingly simple, especially after reading Aldo Leopold, a true visionary who not only has wonderful insights but also incredible writing ability. I did not feel deeply touched or inspired by this book, which felt patronizing and enraptured with a mythologized perfect primitive past. Timeless, this book is not. All Indians are lumped together and all apparently believe one thing. Lots of insipid religious rambling, no Brian Doyle here! Formulaic essays that focus on a topic, name drop better authors and thinkers, borrow heavily from previous works, and include boring stories about his many friends. The essays feel like first drafts and lack finesse. No sense of wonder or beauty, just all the trite pat that the worst of this genre of book tend to espouse. Since he’s so influential and his books are so highly regarded, I will try an earlier one for comparison, but this one left me sorely disappointed and underwhelmed.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 47 reviews