Alexander von Humboldt and the Invention of Nature

An adventure playground of the mind. Andrea Wulf brings to life the vibrant existence of the universal genius Alexander von Humboldt, portraying him as a sui generis interdisciplinary researcher. Nature is almost reinvented by Humboldt: in its entirety as a web of life, as a modern interpretation of the powerful idea of the "great chain of being." Wulf highlights how Humboldt was far ahead of his time and remains relevant: as early as 1800, he anticipated human-caused climate change and provided crucial insights for the theory of evolution. (2 mp3 CDs, running time: 15h 38).