Peter Matthiessen’s The Snow Leopard, even though it’s prose, reads like one long love poem. A love of the world, the search for meaning, and for all the stories in between.
It’s been a long time since I’ve read a book that reminded me of the words of Edward Abbey and John Muir, but The Snow Leopard has that kind of rhythm. It feels even more Muir-esque to me than Muir’s writing somehow. I know. Make sense of that!
I kind of cheated on this reading because I couldn’t stay awake reading the paperback version—not because it’s boring, but because the language is so serene, it kept rocking me to sleep in less than a page’s time. So, I opted to listen to this one by audiobook a lot, and I was not disappointed. Matthiessen’s voice is perfect for describing the beauty, grandeur, and peace of Nepal’s Himalayan mountains, and the entire reading felt like one long, deep meditation. It’s rather beautiful.
The premise of this book is that after losing his wife to cancer, Matthiessen sets out in search of the mysterious snow leopard of the Himalayas. But the snow leopard is really a symbol for a deeper search, making this book a wonderful contemplation on the meaning of life and trying to make sense of how we are here and what our place is in the universe.
I wanted to make note of this book here on the site, though, because while there are many great quotes in it, I felt there was a core thread that carried throughout: messages of dignity and hope and continual self-improvement. They mirror the aspirations and hopes I have for my own life, and my writing, which is to do as much good as I can before my time is done. I think if you’re looking for a book to slow you down and appreciate the quiet majesty of the mountains, and our place among them, this is a worthy entry in your personal library.
In mine, I’m sticking it right next to the books by Abbey and Muir.
“The absurdity of a life that may well end before one understands it does not relieve one of the duty (to that self which is inseparable from others) to live it through as bravely and as generously as possible.” – Peter Matthiessen’s The Snow Leopard
Seekers Bookshop
As I do with every new book that I find worthy of a read, I’ve added The Snow Leopard to the Seekers Bookshop on Bookshop.org. Proceeds help independent booksellers compete with Amazon and the other big guys.