Summary Of A Sand County Almanac By Aldo Leopold

The book A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold is filled with many themes. One main theme I found in part four in the essay “Wilderness” was the connection between humans and nature. Aldo Leopold states, “The rich diversity of the world’s cultures reflects a corresponding diversity in the wilds that gave them birth” (264). This statement contributes nature to creating culture. In the essay “Wildlife in American Culture” Leopold states, “The culture of primitive peoples is often based on wildlife” (211). Ever since the beginning of time people have looked to nature to develop thoughts, ideas and economy. Former biology professor Richard T. Wright states that the Eastern Islander people used trees to grow their economy (3). The utilization of

Today the same lesson applies, humans must see the value that nature offers to keep the world spinning. Unlike the Eastern Island values, culture today is focused on technology and not on nature. In “Wildlife in American Culture” Leopold says, “In civilized peoples the cultural base shifts elsewhere, but the culture nevertheless retains part of its wild roots” (211). I agree that culture has shifted away from nature. Even more so today than in Aldo Leopold’s time. Leopold states in the essay “Prairie Birthday”, “Few grieved when the last buffalo left Wisconsin, and few will grieve when the last Silphium follows him to the lush prairies of the never-never land” (54). People are beginning to care less about nature and what happens to it and more about technology. Leopold states, “But we who seek wilderness travel for sport are foiled when we are forced to compete with mechanized substitutes” (270). In today’s world it is more difficult to experience our culture through nature. I also agree that in many aspects civilization draws from nature to create culture, much like the Eastern Islanders. Technology only creates one culture, but nature creates