I’ve put together a list of nature books that I’ll be diving into this summer. Some are new reads, and others I am revisiting.
The Book of Hope: A Survival Guide for Trying Times by Jane Goodall
The title says it all, and with Jane’s calm, steady voice this book is a balm to everything upside down in the world right now.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom. Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
I am savoring this book one essay at a time. Robin takes you on a journey of slowing down, communing with nature, and building a relationship with all living things.
The Peregrine by J. A. Baker
This is a classic of British nature writing, considered by Barry Lopez to be one of the most important books in twentieth century nature writing. Baker’s observations of peregrines visiting the Essex coast in winter are captured in daily essays that place you right there with the author.
The Shepherd’s Life: Modern Dispatches from an Ancient Landscape by James Rebanks
James is the first son of a shepherd, who was the first son of a shepherd. He chronicles a year in the life of a shepherd in the Lake District, sharing a deeply-rooted connection with the land
Sounds Wild and Broken: Sonic Marvels, Evolutionary Creativity, and the Crisis of Sensory Extinction by David George Haskell
In this highly anticipated book, Haskell traces animal songs and their evolution in their environments. He then tracks the evolution of human music and language. The last section highlights the erasure of sonic diversity and this impact on the world’s creativity.