The Snow Leopard by Peter Matthiessen follows the author’s physical and spiritual journey through the Himalayan mountains in Nepal, joined by applied biologist George Schaller, as they search for the elusive snow leopard and explore themes of spiritual growth, moral development, and beauty through Matthiessen's travel journals. The narrative interweaves natural history, religious reflections, and memoir.

Contemplative

Mysterious

Melancholic

Inspirational

Serene

Reviews & Readership

4.2

20,632 ratings

76%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

Not a fan

Review Roundup

Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard is widely praised for its poetic prose and deep philosophical insights. Readers commend its vivid descriptions and spiritual journey, though some find the narrative pace slow and introspective to a fault. Overall, it’s celebrated for its profound reflection on nature and self-discovery.

Who Should Read The Snow Leopard?

Readers who relish introspective travel narratives, mystical landscapes, and personal epiphanies will be captivated by Peter Matthiessen's The Snow Leopard. Fans of Jon Krakauer's Into the Wild or Cheryl Strayed's Wild will appreciate its blend of adventure and profound spiritual quest.

4.2

20,632 ratings

76%

Loved it

17%

Mixed feelings

Not a fan

Fun Facts

The Snow Leopard won the U.S. National Book Award in two categories in 1980: Contemporary Thought and General Nonfiction.

Peter Matthiessen was both an author and a naturalist, and he co-founded the literary magazine The Paris Review.

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The book resulted from Matthiessen's expedition to the remote Dolpo region of Nepal, which he undertook with the field biologist George Schaller in search of the elusive snow leopard and to study Himalayan blue sheep.

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Book Details

Pages

368

Format

Book • Nonfiction

Genre

Philosophy

•

Travel Literature

•

Action & Adventure

Setting