John McPhee Quotes

A collection of quotes by John McPhee.

John McPhee is a renowned American writer and author. Born on March 8, 1931, in Princeton, New Jersey, he is known for his nonfiction works and long-form journalism. McPhee has published numerous books and essays, often focusing on various topics like geology, conservation, and the environment. A frequent contributor to The New Yorker since 1965, he has received numerous awards for his writing, including the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction in 1999. His unique blend of in-depth reporting and engaging storytelling has solidified his reputation as a master of creative nonfiction.

A quarter-horse jockey learns to think of a twenty-second ra

A quarter-horse jockey learns to think of a twenty-second race as if it were occurring across twenty minutes--in distinct parts, spaced in his consciousness. Each nuance of the ride comes to him as he builds his race. If you can do the opposite with deep time, living in it and thinking in it until the large numbers settle into place, you can sense how swiftly the initial earth packed itself together, how swiftly continents have assembled and come apart, how far and rapidly continents travel, how quickly mountains rise and how quickly they disintegrate and disappear.

John McPhee

Time Science