
Cosmos
- First published
- 1845
- Reading level
- Fairly demanding
- Price
- Free
About the book
"Cosmos: A Sketch of the Physical Description of the Universe, Vol. 1" by Alexander von Humboldt is a scientific treatise published between 1845 and 1862. Born from lectures at the University of Berlin and shaped by Humboldt's explorations across the Americas and Asia, this influential work presents a unified vision of nature—from outer space to Earth. Humboldt argues that universal laws govern both celestial order and terrestrial chaos, inviting readers to perceive the wholeness and harmony underlying our physical world through both objective observation and subjective contemplation.
- Science
- Astronomy
- Physical geography
- Cosmography
Updated September 2026. Public domain in the USA. Text and summary from Project Gutenberg eBook #14565. Cosmos on Wikipedia.
More free books by Alexander von Humboldt
About Alexander von HumboldtViews of nature
Personal Narrative of Travels to the Equinoctial Regions of America, During the Year 1799-1804 — Volume 1
Aspects of nature, in different lands and different climates (Vol. 1 of 2)
Letters of Alexander von Humboldt to Varnhagen von Ense.
Aspects of nature, in different lands and different climates (Vol. 2 of 2)



