Humboldt's Cosmos Audiobook By Gerard Helferich cover art

Humboldt's Cosmos

Alexander von Humboldt and the Latin American Journey That Changed the Way We See the World

Preview

Try for $0.00
Prime logo Prime members: New to Audible?
Get 2 free audiobooks during trial.
Pick 1 audiobook a month from our unmatched collection.
Listen all you want to thousands of included audiobooks, Originals, and podcasts.
Access exclusive sales and deals.
Premium Plus auto-renews for $14.95/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Humboldt's Cosmos

By: Gerard Helferich
Narrated by: Ray Childs
Try for $0.00

$14.95/month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy for $29.95

Buy for $29.95

Confirm purchase
Pay using card ending in
By confirming your purchase, you agree to Audible's Conditions of Use and Amazon's Privacy Notice. Taxes where applicable.
Cancel

About this listen

The thrilling story of the charismatic explorer who Simon Bolivar called "the true discoverer of South America" and the daring expedition that altered the course of science. From 1799 to 1804 German naturalist and adventurer Alexander von Humboldt conducted the first extensive scientific exploration of Latin America.

At the completion of his arduous 6,000-mile journey, he was feted by Thomas Jefferson and presented to Napoleon, and, with the subsequent publication of his findings, he would be hailed as the greatest scientific genius of his age. Humboldt's Cosmos tells the story of this extraordinary man who was equal parts Einstein and Livingstone, and of the adventure that defined his life. Gerard Helferich vividly recounts Humboldt's expedition through the Amazon and over the Andes, highlighting his paradigm-changing discoveries along the way. During the course of the expedition, Humboldt cataloged more than 60,000 plants, set an altitude record climbing the volcano Chimborazo, and became the first to study the great cultures of the Aztecs and Incas. In the process, he revolutionized geology and laid the groundwork for modern sciences such as climatology, oceanography, and geography and his contributions would influence future greats such as Charles Darwin and shape the course of science for centuries to come.

,p>Published in time for the bicentennial of the expeditions completion in May 1804, Humboldt's Cosmos is a dramatic tribute to one of history's most audacious adventurers, whom Stephen Jay Gould noted "may well have been the world's most famous and influential intellectual."

Public Domain (P)2009 Audible, Inc.
Geology History Latin America World Adventure Ancient History
activate_Holiday_promo_in_buybox_DT_T2

What listeners say about Humboldt's Cosmos

Average customer ratings
Overall
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    54
  • 4 Stars
    27
  • 3 Stars
    16
  • 2 Stars
    3
  • 1 Stars
    2
Performance
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    39
  • 4 Stars
    24
  • 3 Stars
    5
  • 2 Stars
    4
  • 1 Stars
    1
Story
  • 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • 5 Stars
    42
  • 4 Stars
    19
  • 3 Stars
    8
  • 2 Stars
    1
  • 1 Stars
    2

Reviews - Please select the tabs below to change the source of reviews.

Sort by:
Filter by:
  • Overall
    3 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    2 out of 5 stars

Exploring the man they named the current for

Not sure if it's the writing, but Humboldt comes off a little like the stereotypical German tourist. This strikes me as both good and bad (as German tourists tend to be). Example: the mastiff he decides to take into the jungle with him. His "pet" is ultimately (and maybe inevitably?) eaten. Shows a kind of willfulness while at the same time showing the cheerful way he would face privations on his journeyings ("Just need my dog and I'll be fine").

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

2 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    4 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    4 out of 5 stars

New appreciation

Where does Humboldt's Cosmos rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

I hardly knew anything about Humboldt. This book gave me new appreciation for the genius of the man. Now, wherever I go, I see things named after him-- and rightly so. A great education in a very enjoyable format.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

5 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fantastic.

Excellent review of Humboldt's travel/diacoveries throughout South America and Mexico. I truly enjoyed this book.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

1 person found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars

Excellent book about someone I knew nothing about

Humboldt to me was a someone I had never heard of. Now, I am amazed at the things this man accomplished in his life. How much richer the whole world would be if we had more men like this.

Things like: Humboldt Current, Humboldt's Penguin now have new meaning, knowing the man behind them.

The book is nicely narrated as well.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

10 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Fascinating History of Science

Thoroughly enjoyed the narrator's "character" voices. A compelling story that was hard to "put down".

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

3 people found this helpful

  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    5 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    5 out of 5 stars

Some chapters I’ve listened to 3 or 4 times

Excellent book! I learned so much! It helped me to put the history of our human exploration of the world on timelines for me to better understand. I had no idea how impressive a man Humboldt was. My favorite chapters are too many to list. The reader has a pleasant voice, and does not over do the character’s voices. I do wish that the audible book came with PDFs with maps, etc. On my next listening through, I will bring out some of my maps to get in my minds eye of some of the fantastic places he’s been and discovered. This man inspire Darwin.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!

  • Overall
    1 out of 5 stars
  • Performance
    2 out of 5 stars
  • Story
    1 out of 5 stars

Lots of virtue signaling - do not recommend

Could have been a great history of Humboldt’s impact on history, but like so many writers today he drags out his soap box. Way too much virtue signaling.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.

You voted on this review!

You reported this review!