Discovering Humboldt: A Book, A Coffee, and A Hilarious Misunderstanding
It is humbling to be reminded of how influential coffee has been in the history of mankind—something I was recently reminded of while listening to a fantastic audiobook, The Invention of Nature by Andrea Wulf. I have to admit that I didn’t pick this book on my own; it came recommended by my fiancée. She found it while searching for audiobooks in Spanish, and this one caught her attention. I'm glad it did. We both started listening to it on a recent road trip. Unfortunately, as soon as we got back to Calgary, she couldn’t put it down and, well, left me behind. So, I took matters into my own hands and borrowed a copy from the Calgary Public Library. The book is amazing, although my version was in English, not Spanish.
You’re probably wondering what this book is all about. Well, it’s a fantastic journey into the life and times of Alexander von Humboldt. Before reading the book, I had only a vague sense of who he was. I had heard his name as a child growing up in Ecuador. There's the Humboldt Current that runs along the Ecuadorian coast of the Pacific Ocean in South America. In the city we lived in, Guayaquil, there was
the Humboldt School, where German was taught alongside Spanish.
Spoiler alert: Humboldt was a polymath who pushed the boundaries of science at the start of the 19th century. He was an explorer, geologist, botanist, mathematician, and writer. He met and influenced many significant figures in history, including Goethe, Thomas Jefferson, Simón Bolívar, and Charles Darwin.
So why am I bringing this up? Well, there was a phrase in the book that caught my attention:
“After an early breakfast of black coffee—‘concentrated sunshine,’ as Humboldt called it—he worked all day and in the evening went on his usual tour of salons until 2 a.m.”
― Andrea Wulf, The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World
I’ve heard many descriptions of coffee before, but “concentrated sunshine” has to be one of my favourites. My mind immediately wandered to a beautiful sunset, feeling the warmth of the sun's rays on my face, and the instant happiness and joy it brings. Wow!
So, there you have it. If you’re in the mood for some concentrated sunshine, go ahead and order some Crickle Creek Coffee this week. I hope it brings a little sunshine into your life.
P.S. I recommended the book to my mom, and she diligently went on the Calgary Public Library app and searched “Humboldt.” A few weeks later, I asked if she had gotten the book. Here's the funny exchange that followed while we were driving:
-“Oh yes, it’s been a great read so far, but I’m still waiting for Alexander von Humboldt to show up,” my mother said.
-“What do you mean?” I asked, confused.
-“Well, I’m not sure yet what marijuana has to do with Humboldt, but I’m sure the connection will come later.”
-“Huh? What book are you reading?” I glanced at her, perplexed.
-“The one you recommended—the Humboldt one,” she replied.
-“So, The Invention of Nature, right?” I asked.
- “Oh! Well, I searched for ‘Humboldt,’ and the book that came up was just called Humboldt. I thought that was the one. It’s about this town in California that grows marijuana and how they’re concerned about what legalization will do to their livelihoods.”
At this point, everyone in the car burst out laughing, including some very confused teenagers.
Alejandro