Birmingham: Wilderness Press, 2012. Octavo, paperback.

In a unique treatment that will appeal to world-wide fans of John Muir, Ann Rowthorn weaves the story of the great naturalist's life through an extraordinary new assemblage of his most evocative writings, representative of Muir the boy, Muir the young man, and Muir the wise senior sage. Building on her lifelong passion for the work and philosophy of John Muir, author Anne Rowthorn has created this entirely new treatment for showcasing the great naturalist's philosophy and writings. By pairing carefully selected material from various stages of Muir's life, Rowthorn's book provides a view into the experiences, places, and people that inspired and informed Muir's words and beliefs. The reader feels able to join in with Muir's own discoveries and transformations over the arc of his life. Rowthorn is careful not to overstep her role, in that she stands back and lets Muir's words speak for themselves. Marrying the best aspects of anthology with the best aspects of biography distinguishes, this book from the many extant books on John Muir.