i read snow leopard as a young man when i was trekking in the mountains of the lower himalayas and fell in love with it.

ever since then, it is one of the few books i re-read every few years. i find it an inspiring, thoughtful and profound book and am amazed by the masterful way it takes the reader on this inner and outer journey.

however, on my last reading of snow leopard, while i did appreciate its beauty and insight, i was struck by its romanticism and by its lack of perspective. i don’t want to be prescriptive or suggest that a book contain everything but there are parts of the book which are so orientalist, so a-historical, so troubling in the way they looks at the lives of the buddhist porters (as if they are timeless, childlike, not a product of history or society but almost exclusively of religion) that i found it very troubling; almost as the inner reaches of nepal became the site for peter m to map his fantasy and project his vision of buddhism…

i suppose my reading has become more nuanced. but i wonder if peter m would write the same way now. is it possible to write as radiant a book which not just a romantic, spiritualised visitation but also also takes into account the social, political and historical circumstances of the people and religion it is about? or would that be an altogether different novel?

respectfully, his storyman

I am not understanding why a story that is supposed to be about a naturalist and his past experiences in nature and writing has turned into an op-ed about this naturalist’s political views.

How does he have any merit to discuss the country’s economic situtation or about the Supreme Court?

Peter Matthiessen is not only a great writer — one of the greatest, but a model of how to live in the world. I read “The Snow Leopard” many years ago and still re-read it when I can. And his book “Men’s Lives” is one of the most touching and moving books about people living in tune with their world while fully aware of how that world is changing.

From his contributions to the world of literature (including being one of the founders of The Paris Review)to his activism on behalf of native people, fishermen, the environment, etc. he is one of our greatest living treasures.

I just love this book, Peter Matthiessen and reread it aloud to my husband as we traveled through western Canada. It was magical. As we began to read about the turquise lake…lo and behold there we were at the turquiose lake of those northern places. I never imagined such a truly vivid depth of color. Of course we never did encounter nine b’on-pos falling silent as they glide across the narrow ledge only to continue in chattering laughing voices once across. Thank you for taking us there.

Can Mr. Mathisen or anyone else tell me what became of James Blake, author of “The Joint,” about prison life in Florida in the late 1950’s, he was published by “The Paris Review.” Many Thanks, Paul Sullivan

This interview with Peter Matthiessen was truly a healing salve for the multiple crises we are all facing in this country and in the world today. Peter’s books have been my companions for years, and I recently had the incredible good fortune to travel with a group he led viewing wildlife in Tanzania. Today, it was wonderful to hear his voice again! And so inspiring and heartwarming to hear him speaking with such feeling and wisdom, as well as frankness, about the current election, as well as to hear how he manages the difficulties of facing what is happening to our species and our planets.

Thank you Tom and Thank you Peter!
with great gratitude. Olivia Bernard

I wish to direct my comment to the question of Howard from Vermont. He brought up something so important in terms of what modern society has lost and that a writer like Peter Matthiessen brings out–melancholy.
Many of the famous Chinese poets also had this same sense of existence when they came away from years and years of wandering in solitude in the wilderness. Some found despair from it. However, Shakespeare points out its usefulness in his play, “As You Like It” through his character, Jacques. Sometimes after a life of greed and evil(even unbeknownst to himself), a person must come to a point of conversion. After this, the depth of melancholy is essential to an examined life. Unfortunately in America, we must hit bottom before we understand the usefulness of melancholy, much less irony. I think Mr. Matthiesen does a wonderful job of describing his experiences in such a beautiful way as to make us jealous, and drive ourselves to conversion.

Again, the best of everyday experiences has occurred : synchronicity. Peter Matthiessen was unknown to me until this morning, when I tuned in to WBUR and actually felt with some force, the gravity, the calm, the wisdom of his voice. Oddly enough, what I heard of the interview focused on the choice before the citizens of this country in the upcoming election, and his thoughts regarding each candidate. I am a registered Independant, and have been undecided. As many in business, I “understand” the Republican party on certain business and responsibility issues, but am drawn to the Democratic party on social, spiritual, integrity, International and individual freedom issues. While I feel strongly that this country will not see constructive and lasting change until we create and support a third party choice….the few but powerful words that I heard from Peter Matthiessen removed any doubt I harbored that my vote should be given in favor of Barak Obama. What that vote will stand for in this country, in this world, is now more important than any small criticism I may muster of Obama or the Democratic party. The McCain-Palin ticket would be one lonely duo at the top in their matching maverick-suits, at best. In truth, I fear them as false “PROFITS “(sic), saying what the Republican party needs them to say at this moment,so that the intrenched machine has a shot at continuing to work beneath the public radar. I needed a moment of enlightenment to make my decision, and it came from this interview…and not from any dogma or harsh political debate. It was spiritual. It was synchronicity. Thank you.

Yes indeed Mr. Matthiessen. We must stand by Leonard Peltier during his Parole hearing.

At the heart of Peltier’s argument is the refusal of the government to enforce Title II, Chapter II, Section 235(b)(3) of the Sentencing Reform Act. Effective on October 12, 1984, this part of the law ordered that parole dates “consistent with the applicable parole guideline” be issued to all “old system” prisoners within the following five-year period, at the end of which time (on October 11, 1989) the Commission would cease to exist.

On December 7, 1987, Congress enacted Public Law 100-182 which amended the SRA; repealed, in Section 2, the release criteria established by the original section 235(b)(3); and restored the release criteria under 18 U.S.C. 4206. This amendment did NOT restore the Parole Commission or remove its obligation to establish mandatory release dates, with sufficient time for appeal, by October 11, 1989. These changes to the law also applied only to crimes committed AFTER the law was amended on December 7, 1987. The amendment simply did not apply to the Leonard Peltier or some 6,000 other “old system” prisoners still held by the U.S. Bureau of Prisons today.

After it had technically ceased to exist, the Parole Commission claimed it needed more time to complete its work. Congress inexplicably granted a number of after-the-fact extensions, the first in 1990 and the latest in 2002. Peltier’s attorneys claim these extensions were legally invalid and therefore inapplicable because, at the time they were made, the Parole Commission had already been abolished.

Mr. Peltier should have been given his certain release date by October 11, 1989, minus sufficient time to exhaust appeals. Had the Parole Commission followed the congressional mandate, Peltier would have been released over a decade ago. Lacking in any statutory authority, the U.S. Parole Commission in fact illegally extended Leonard’s term of imprisonment. The failure of the Parole Commission to give a release date to Peltier violated the ex post facto, Bill of Attainder, and Due Process clauses of the U.S. Constitution.

The parole Commission can’t even abide by its own guidelines. Besides, they denied parole the last time on the grounds that he killed two agents. The Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals reduced the charge from murder to Aiding & Abetting after the proscucution stated that they do not know who shot their agents.

Like Martin Luther King Jr. stated, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”

hello from berlin, Peter Mathiesson is a real “Mensch” reinforcing what it means to be human, the potental we all have. It was so refreshing how candid he was about his views on the election and the incredible importance of it. Is USA a great nation? It intervenes all over the world mostly in the interest of money and increased control over the planet and it’s resources. Totally reinforcing a ME FIRST egomania in it’s population. Americans could be a great PEOPLE but live in a bubble unaware of how much their lifestyle and choices affect us all. It was good to hear those views resonated when everybody seems afraid to speak up against the right, afraid to OFFEND…while the extremists do and say what they please…I know about this in germany as we have the rise of neo nazi’s always trying to reemerge. Obama’s candidacy is about unity, about a chance…one we may never get again. America…take your responsibility, do your duty! And I thank Peter for his books too!

A few amazing facts about PM: He was a founder of the Paris Review, along with George Plimpton. (Jane Fonda was an intern there, then.)
As a example of his great literary talent, he not only won the National Book Award for the Snow Leopard, but he was nominated in three other categories: fiction, biography and something else I forgot.
He can do it all……

Thank you so much for this program. What a perfect moment to have him speak. It really gave me a lift. Just ordered “the Snow Leopard” through your website/ Amazon.

Thank you Tom for this very nice moment shared with Peter Mathiessen. I Absolutely enjoy his work. I have not read Snow Leopard, but would highly recommend the series on Mr.Watson, such as Bone to Bone, Killing Mr. Watson. Just incredible literature!!

I agree with one point Mr. Mathiessen (I am paraphrasing) about american having lost their way.
Americans are very generous and open to the world plight, but oddly enough are completely blind to their own!!!
They are so faithful to the idea of the “american dream” that they refuse to see nightmarish side of the dream, that leaves hundred of thousands of Americans in poverty, millions without healthcare, millions a step away for losing it all and personal bankruptcy because of illness or pre-existing conditions, and more than inadequate and unequal education.
Year in year out the Americans roll in with the punches mistaking it for “resiliency” when it is nothing more than denunciation of their so revered Forefathers, who after all founded this country because they coould no longer stomach TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION!!!!
Who is representing “Mainstreet” today?
Isn’t time Americans rebelled and partake in what millions of people in most other western and some third world countries do : right to universal healthcare, right to fair, equal and free education, right to transportation?

Now that would make the Forefathers proud!!!

I really liked Peter’s distinction between “living for the moment” and living “moment by moment, breath by breath”.

Peter’s ok, but he’s no Candace Bum-shill.

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I enjoyed hearing Peter Matthiessen, as did other friends here in Salt Lake City, Utah (on the western edge of the Wasatch Mountains, in the Great Basin). I just read the puzzled comment from another Utahn and wanted to give my applause and great thanks to Mr. Matthiessen. Thank you for mentioning [human] overpopulation as one of the most important problems challenging life on earth.

[...] few days ago, I heard nature writer and novelist Peter Mathiessen interviewed on On Point with Tom Ashbrook NPR. Since then, I haven’t been able to get what Matthiessen said out of my [...]