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Essential Reading for Nature Lovers
These are considered some of the best books about and inspired by nature.
Publicado el 30 de marzo de 2023
Flight Behavior
Barbara Kingsolver“What was the use of saving a world that had no soul left in it. Continents without butterflies, seas without coral reefs … What if all human effort amounted basically to saving a place for ourselves to park?” These are the questions Kingsolver asks in her moving novel about climate change. After Dellarobia witnesses a colony of Monarch butterflies migrating to the valley near her Tennessee home, she believes she has seen a miracle. However, she quickly learns from a scientist that has been tracking the colony that this is actually an alarming sign of climate change. “Flight Behavior” sends an important message about the interconnectedness of all of nature’s creatures and the complex relationships between science, family, faith, politics, and the environment.
The Overstory
Richard PowersPowers' magisterial work is, ultimately, about being unable to see the forest for the trees. Except in this case, it’s human beings who are the trees, and trees that are the forest. Don’t worry; this isn’t an environmental polemic. Or maybe it is, but you’ll be far too engrossed in the writing to notice. “The Overstory” won the 2019 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction.
Where the Forest Meets the Stars
Glendy VanderahVanderah’s gorgeous debut novel follows the journey of Joanna Teale, a grieving ornithologist recovering from the double blow of her mother’s death and her own battle with breast cancer. She’s committed to losing herself in her work studying nesting birds. However, her life is turned upside down by the appearance of a mysterious girl who claims to be from the stars. What follows is a journey of learning how to love and trust again. This is a great read for fans of “The Great Alone” and “Where the Crawdads Sing.”
Shelter: A Love Letter to Trees
Ada LimónTake a leisurely walk through the woods and across the country in this homage to trees from U.S. poet laureate Limón. This personal essay — told in brief and bittersweet vignettes — pays respect to the power, beauty, and mystery of our strong and silent companions. “Shelter” is perfect to read in the shade of a tree on a sunny day.
The Hidden Life of Trees: What They Feel, How They Communicate
Peter WohllebenIn our age of climate change, it’s essential to understand the irreplaceable value of old-growth forests. Forester Wohlleben combines knowledge and empathy in this book, and the effect is an engrossing education on sustainable forestry. Whether you love trees or want to learn more about the complex webs that impact our climate, “The Hidden Life of Trees” is a great read.
The Heartbeat of Trees: Embracing Our Ancient Bond with Forests and Nature
Peter WohllebenDo trees remember the past? Can they feel pain? Can they communicate with one another? These are all valid questions that Wohlleben (“The Hidden Life of Trees “) answers with scientific research to back him up. His book is a clear representation of his love and admiration for trees. It also comes with a call to action to better conserve forests around the world.
The Murmur of Bees
Sofia SegoviaThis is the extraordinary tale of an abandoned baby found disfigured and covered in a thick blanket of bees. Despite Simonopio’s mysterious start in life, he finds a place with a loving family. They quickly discover that the boy has magical gifts, such as visions, the ability to understand bees, and an uncanny ability to predict the future. Set against the backdrop of the Mexican Revolution, “The Murmur of Bees” is a beautifully written novel that is part historical fiction and part magic realism.
The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature
The Secret Teachings of Plants: The Intelligence of the Heart in the Direct Perception of Nature
Stephen Harrod BuhnerBy forging a deeper and more meaningful relationship with nature, Buhner suggests we can bring a renewed sense of balance to our lives. He explores the connection between our hearts, bodies, and the natural world. Drawing on Indigenous knowledge of plant medicines, Buhner compiles resources and tools to help readers perceive the world around us with our hearts rather than our brains.
Song of Increase: Listening to the Wisdom of Honeybees for Kinder Beekeeping and a Better World
Song of Increase: Listening to the Wisdom of Honeybees for Kinder Beekeeping and a Better World
Jacqueline FreemanBees are fascinating creatures that contribute to pollinating a majority of the world’s flowering plants and are vital to the health and wellbeing of our planet and the people on it. Despite this, many people live in fear of bees and even seek to harm them. However, this book will make you think twice about killing even one bee. Authors Freeman and Chernak McElroy argue wee can and should live in harmony with these resilient creatures by planting bee-friendly gardens and building homes for native bees. “Song of Increase” helps readers see life from the perspective of bees, and in doing so, learn more about ourselves and our place in the world.
The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists, and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect
The Language of Butterflies: How Thieves, Hoarders, Scientists, and Other Obsessives Unlocked the Secrets of the World's Favorite Insect
Wendy WilliamsButterflies have fascinated scientists and collectors for centuries, to the point where competition for collections turned cutthroat. This is a treasure trove of butterfly lore that covers the history of the study of butterflies, their role in the ecosystem, and the relationship between butterflies and humans.
The Breath of a Whale: The Science and Spirit of Pacific Ocean Giants
Leigh CalvezCalvez gives readers an inside look into the lives of some of the ocean’s most intriguing creatures. Blending scientific research of cetaceans and the author’s personal encounters with whales, “The Breath of a Whale” serves as a timely and poignant reminder that these giants are intelligent beings whose survival is threatened by a dwindling food supply.
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded
Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants, Updated and Expanded
Douglas W. TallamySometimes it’s difficult to imagine how a single person can help to reverse climate change and habitat destruction. Tallamy, an entomologist and professor of agriculture and natural resources, has good news: Even the smallest patch of earth can go a long way toward sustaining the earth’s biodiversity. Gardeners can play a crucial role in balancing the environment with native plants.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants
Robin Wall KimmererLiterary Hub named “Braiding Sweetgrass,” a New York Times bestseller, one of the top 10 best essay collections of the decade (2010-2019). Author Robin Wall Kimmerer builds several bridges with this book — between modern science and Potawatomi traditions, and between humankind and the natural world. “The book is all about reciprocity,” says Kimmerer, “and how people enter into reciprocity with the world, giving back in return for the gifts of the earth.”
The Amazon: What Everyone Needs to Know
Mark J. PlotkinThe Amazon is one of earth’s most complex ecosystems. Did you know that a single Amazonian river might contain more fish species than can be found in all of Europe’s rivers combined? It’s truly a wondrous place that serves as a refuge for billions of trees, hundreds of animal species, and 70 tribes.
The Home Place: Memoirs of a Colored Man's Love Affair with Nature
J. Drew LanhamThe Lanhams have called Edgefield County, South Carolina home for generations. Lanham, author of the essay “Birding While Black,” pays tribute to his roots, his family, and the beauty of nature in this moving memoir. He shares stories about his Southern upbringing, experiences with nature, and the struggles of being Black in a predominantly-white field of study.