Book Description

"We can place this book on the shelf that holds the writings of Thoreau and John Muir." San Francisco Chronicle

These astonishing portraits of the natural world explore the breathtaking diversity of the unspoiled American landscape -- the mountains and the prairies, the deserts and the coastlines. A stunning tribute to our land and a bold challenge to protect the world we love.
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Reviews (44)

The Danger To Nature Is Our Nonparticipation
There are few books on conservation, wildlife and nature that haven't been quickly obsoleted, are hoplessly trapped in period pop cultural amber, are fronts for naive political extremism or are simply irrelevant.

Aldo Leopold's "A Sand County Almanac" is one of those few; composed of illuminating vignettes dealing with practical knowledge of and experience in the North American wilderness, thoughtful critiques of today's accepted notions of wildlife and land "management," and the realistic acceptance of the human role as a predator within nature's massive food chain. Leopold believed humanity's ever-increasing physical and psychological isolation from full but equal participation in all parts of the natural world's reality--its beauty and wonder as well as its cruelty and danger--has been to its severe detriment.

This trend, to him, is leading us to environmental carelessness, colossal misuse and waste of natural resources, and, worst of all, gives rise to an aberrant social ideology reveling in the fatuous cartoon fantasy of nature being a big, happy, perpetually peaceful commune if only humans weren't there. After looking at our sad record of pollution, repeated habitat destruction, poaching, overfishing and listening to the endless, arrogant prattle of government bureaucrats, pop conservationists and so-called animal rights activists, it seems Leopold is indeed a prophet for our times

What Do You Value?
An American classic, A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold extolls the highest virtues attainable in nature when Homo sapiens adopt a land ethic, which recognizes that, regardless of economic considerations, the preservation of the natural environment is an obligation. Leopold introduces the reader to wildlife and the land on a personal level, while stressing the fact that a communal relationship exists between human beings and the earth. Instead of presenting people as domineering conquerors over the environment, Leopold explains that humans are interdependent members of an energy circuit called the biota, which consists of all living animals and plants.

It is easy to see why this book, A Sand County Almanac, is still quoted today. Has the United States or the world considered instituting a land ethic? Are major decisions involving mining, farming, manufacturing, hydroelectric power, housing construction, waste disposal, recreation, and nuclear energy utilizing a universal land ethic? Why not? Has the scientific world given modern society the answers concerning land and water renewal or how to prevent animal extinction? All of the basic philosophical arguments presented in Leopold's book are still being pondered by conservationists today. Besides explaining why a land ethic is needed, this book is an indictment upon each generation that reads it and yet does nothing. Not only is Leopold's text a good read, but it is also an essential one.

Marilyn Glaser, Student
Great Basin College

A poetic journey for the diehard environmentalist
Are you one of those people who actually likes to read Thoreau? Well then you're missing out! Aldo Leopold is sooooo much better. Leopold's writing is poetic yet it also calls the common person to action. Likewise Leopold walks the walk when it comes to protecting the environment. While this book isn't exactly page turning, if you like authors like Thoreau, then you should definitely check out The Sand County Almanac, which is the bible to environmentalists. Random Excerpts:: There are some who can live without wild things, and some who cannot. These essays are the delights and dilemmas of one who cannot...the opportunity to see geese is more important than television, and the chance to find a pasque-flower is a right as inalienable as free speech. ___Is education possibly a process of trading awareness for things of lesser worth? The goose who trades his is soon a pile of feathers.:: If you are a die hard environmentalist (or you just like to read poetic stuff) this book is for you.

An Environmental Classic
Aldo Leopold summarizes many environmental movements within this compilation of essays. The Sand County Almanac was one of those university-assigned books that I could not part with and still have today. A must read if you are interesed in the mind of the Wisconsin borne man who set aside the first designated wilderness in New Mexico.

A whole different world existing so near & yet so far.
A fine work in which Aldo Leopold personifies all the creatures & flora living in the forest. He knew even then, in the 1940's that their world was at risk, from us & they would lose. As a learning exercise it works & I recommend it espcially to high school students.
The division of the tape into 12 months serving as chapters is also effective as is continiuing story of the felling of a great tree. As they cut deeper we are taken back in time.
A good tape to relax with. Stewart Udalls narration is just right. ... Read more

Book Description

In a lifetime of exploration, writing, and passionate political activism, John Muir made himself America's most eloquent spokesman for the mystery and majesty of the wilderness, a master of natural description who evoked and celebrated with unique power and intimacy the untrammeled landscapes of Alaska and the American West. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

John Muir: Outdoorsman, Conservationist, and Literate Genius
"American forests! the glory of the world!"
- John Muir, 1901

Of all the extraordinary men and women that have made our nation great, one stands above all others for his dedication to preserving its unequaled natural beauty: John Muir. Founder of The Sierra Club, this lover of the western forests' legacy to our generation is the National Park system, through which millions of acres of unique ecosystems have been set aside for everyone's enjoyment.

"Muir: Nature Writings" is a collection of the writings of this Scottish expatriate who first stepped foot in America in 1849 as an eleven year old brawler and budding naturalist. Blessed with a childhood mastery of Latin and Greek as well as a discerning and disciplined eye, the learned boy possessed a poet's heart, a scientist's mind, and a theologian's soul. A genius, who as a teen whittled precision wooden scientific instruments, Muir used his diverse skills to vividly portray nature's life and death struggles on his family's Wisconsin farm in "My Boyhood & Youth." Here we find Muir learning to swim by observing frogs or recollecting the mindless slaughter of the Earth's most numerous bird, the now-extinct passenger pigeon, a forlorn tale that foreshadows the conservationist he was to become.

While in college polishing his mechanical skills, Muir was detoured into studying botany. Dropping out to make powered tools for factories, an accident left him rethinking that detour; he forsook the factory and walked across America. His journey led him to the Sierra Mountains, chronicled in "My First Summer in the Sierra." Now working as a shepherd, Muir drove his flock through Yosemite while making detailed nature studies. Marveling at the natural beauty of the land he would eventually champion as one of the first National Parks, Muir wrote: "We are now in the mountains and they are in us, kindling enthusiasm, making every nerve quiver, filling every pore and cell of us. Our flesh-and-bone tabernacle seems transparent as glass to the beauty about us, as if truly an inseparable part of it, thrilling with the air and trees, streams and rocks, in the waves of the sun, - a part of all nature, neither old nor young, sick nor well, but immortal."

Muir's writings here run the gamut from analytical to thrilling. In "Stickeen", the author and a canine companion cheat death while stranded mid-storm between crevasses of an Alaskan glacier. (A self-taught authority on glaciers, Muir would eventually have one in Alaska bear his name.) "The Mountains of California" is an in-depth look at the geologic formations, plants, and animals of the region. In this piece, he tells of being stuck on the side of volcanic Mt. Shasta, staying warm in the bitter cold by nestling up to steam vents. Muir also laments the loss of the vast meadows of the San Joaquin Valley as he discusses how to make a living post-Gold Rush by raising bees for honey.

What makes Muir so unique when compared with today's environmentalists is this belief that we can live in harmony with Creation if we take simple steps to prevent despoiling it. In "The American Forests" he wrote: "No place is too good for good men, and there is still room.... Every place is made better by them. Let them be as free to pick gold and gems from the hills, to cut and hew, dig and plant, for homes and bread...." Muir's balanced view of Man's place in the wilderness overwhelmingly reflects his Christian faith, for he never fails to stand in awe of each living thing God has made. That our government leaders were so swayed by Muir's writing attests to the power of his "holy" persuasion. All of us are indebted to John Muir's single-minded devotion to America's wilderness.

("Muir: Nature Writings" is part of the Library of America series. This diverse collection of the writings of great Americans ranges from sermons of early American preachers to analysis of the Vietnam War. The works of Abraham Lincoln, Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, Flannery O'Connor, and James Thurber are but a few that comprise the series. An invaluable lookingglass into the heart and soul of our nation, this collection is essential reading for anyone who longs to know what makes America unique.)

inspirational in every way
A great writer writing about great things - you'll feel like you're in the middle of the Sierra yourself. Endlessly enjoyable.

Lovers of Muir, find your home in this volume!
In a world brimming with wonderful volumes of the work of John Muir, here is the one edition in which you may find virtually everything you seek. To find it in such a handsome, handy, easy to negotiate book makes this a must for all lovers of Muir's writing. Eight inches tall by six wide and two inches thick, it is a durable and willing partner for excursions through the wilderness. Created for long life among library shelves and scholarly studies, this sleek little friend stows away quite comfortably in backpack or oversized coat pocket. Those who don't know Mr. Muir will meet the great lover of wildness (and perhaps history's most influential advocate of preservation) presented in a lovingly researched volume which includes informative notes on the evolution of Muir's field journal entries into published pieces, a chronology of his life and literary career, and all of the major writings for which he is known. A generous selection of his published essays and magazine articles reveal many previously unsuspected jewels of poetic prose. As a lifetime devotee of the works of Shakespeare, the Bible, and the immortal Scottish bard Robert Burns, Muir could recite extensive passages from all. Likewise, his writing breezes through the imagery and lessons drawn from these potent sources. Coffee table books brimming with Ansel Adams photography, biographies of Muir, and collections of his correspondence are all aspects of any comprehensive Muir collection. The words themselves, however, simple and elegantly bound, are where the journey might well begin. ... Read more

Book Description

In the spirit of Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack, Eric Utne, founder of Utne magazine, presents "an almanac for residents of the blue states," to help you awaken your connection to nature wherever you live and to celebrate every day of the year.The almanac includes an Ephemeris of the motions of the Sun and Moon, and where to look for each of the planets; plus, Doc Weather’s Pretty Good Weather Predictions. We’ll bet Doc’s more accurate than any of the other long-range prognosticators out there. A month-by-month Field Guide to Urban Flora and Fauna where you live – what’s budding, blooming or fruiting, mating, birthing or hibernating now, in your neighborhood?Learn the scientific facts and legendary lore of common urban critters, like pigeons, rats, coyotes, and more…Tune your soul to the rhythms of nature. Calendar of the Soul. We offer meditations and practices from western and eastern contemplative traditions. Every week of the year includes medita! tions you can use to harmonize with the rhythms of the natural world.

Plus… Living Urban Treasures, Urban Sanctuaries, Essential Places, Survival Strategies, Civilizing Ideas.SEASONAL POEMS by Rumi, Mary Oliver, Robert Frost, Thich Nhat Hanh, and others to enter the soul mood of each week. QUOTESProverbs, famous sayings – timeless wit and wisdom. Plus, the story behind various holidays, festivals and historic events, famous peoples’ birthdays and death dates, proclamations, songs, recipes, astronomical events – all chosen to deepen your sense of the living year. ... Read more

Book Description

When her thirty-year marriage broke up, Sue Hubbell found herself alone and broke on a small Ozarks farm. Keeping bees, she found solace in the natural world. She began to write, challenging herself to tell the absolute truth about her life and the things that she cared about. The result is one of the best-loved books ever written about life on the land, about a woman finding her way in middle age. ... Read more

Reviews (20)

An artistically-written first-hand account of a natural life
I found this book by accident after remembering her articles on bee-keeping in The New Yorker some years ago. What is startling about this writer is that she lives her very full life, and yet has managed to perfect the craft of writing to tell us all about that life. She has made me re-think my definition of art. While I have always seen art as communication (some may disagree with this), I have grown to be less impressed with people who are artists first and livers of life second. Sue Hubbell reminds us that you have to have something to communicate first and foremost. It's just wonderful that she has the ability to give us insight into something prosaic as beekeeping (others have written of the country life) and show us the magic that lives within.

A COUNTRY YEAR
This book was an inspiration to me before I moved to the Ozarks. The frankness in which Sue Hubbell writes is very much the way she is in real life. I have had the pleasure of meeting Sue since I lived in the same small town as she did. It saddens me that she has since moved away and her cabin has been torn down and the land reverted back to nature. A small piece of history has left the area and is hidden in the woods forever. I miss her and her lifestyle. As far as her voice being monotonous, I was thrilled to see the audio book on sale since she is such a good story teller. I will buy that selection for my own mother who moved to this area 10 years ago and is a real country woman.

A pleasant visit to the Ozarks
I am not sure what in my life is drawing me towards books about women and beekeeping, but here is another wonderful book about both.

Sue Hubbell has an easy style of writing that drew me through this book in just over a day. While she talks about her time as a commercial beekeeper, she also writes about the simple qualities and hard realities of living close to the land and close to poverty in rural Missouri. Her observant style brings back memories of my own small town upbringing. This is just the right book for curling up on a cold Winter day or lounging in the hammock trying to escape the heat of Summer.

A Country Year: Living the Questions
A poetic collection of prose about living in the Ozarks. The author manages to capture how it feels to live in such a magical place--makes one feel that this is still one of our national treasures--the book taps into the enjoyment of small things, of every day life, of some of the cultural nuances of the region, and of Nature's rhythms. The book is a real feel good read.

Bee Keeping is Much More Than I Thought
This book is one of the few I have a great appreciation for. Sue Hubbell has great patience in the process of making honey and watching the world around her. Her style seems easy going but really you learn she is always on the move.
Hubbell's story is a very easy, simple read but it is a very enjoyable experience. I now have taken an interest in bee keeping. Although I might never pick up the career, her story has me thinking about things that never crossed my mind before, even though I've been exposed to it. Her description makes anything transform to something beautiful. ... Read more

Book Description

When it was published in 1987, Letting God was the first book to explore the themes of the Twelve-Step programs within the context of Christian tradition. Now revised to emphasize its spiritual focus, and including an introduction presenting a monthly theme, each daily reading begins with a selection from the New Testament. These are followed by eloquent, thought-provoking meditations that reveal how the passages apply to Christian living today, and conclude with a brief prayer. This inspiring daily devotional strengthens and encourages the reader, providing sustenance for the sould and practical insights on everyday life. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

best poetry and best prayers
Although the title of the book is "Earth Prayers," the subtitle is "365 Prayers, Poems, and Invocations for Honoring the Earth." Indeed. You will find not only beautiful prayers written by modern writers and from ancient cultures, but complex poems that offer questions on the condition of the planet, and humans' place in the "Cycles of Life." One of my favorites is Allen Ginsberg's poem on pages 72-73.

Great collection of earth prayers and poems
This book brings together poems and prayers from all sorts of cultures honoring nature. There's a Navajo chant, zuni chant, hidu prayer, songs by eskimos, poetry by robert frost and emily dickenson and more and more. Four hundred pages of wonderful words for the earth. I love it! Here are the different "chapters":The Ecological Self, A Sacred Place, The Passion of the Earth, Healing the Whole, The Elements, Blessings & Invocations, Praise and Thanksgiving, Benediction for the Animals, Cycles of Life, The Daily Round, and Meditations. I like to just flip the book open and read a few to ponder. Simply wonderful.

Keep in touch with the earth
Enjoy the earth through literature, poetry and meditations with this guide. If you love the feel of dirt beneath you, the wind in your hair, or water on your feet, this is a book you must carry with you.

its great
This is a fantastic book. It has a lot of beautiful poetry in it that celebrates the earth. If you are thinking of buying it, then I would highly recommend it. It is something I plan to use to share with others. I am one of those "treehugger" people, and I suppose that is why I like this book so well. There are several passages in the book that were so moving it brought me to tears.

A resource I treasure
Thank you Elizabeth and Elias for compiling this wonderful book of earth honoring prayers. I've used it many times to find an appropriate opening or closing to classes or other gatherings where a moment of earth gratitude and awareness was called for. In fact, I've used it so much that I lost it and need to buy another one! It is also a rich source of prayers to use for personal spiritual work, prayers that help slow me down enough to remember the sacredness of the natural world. Even if I'm hard at work in the city and can't be physically present in some of nature's more healing places, at least I can remember to feel the earth beneath my feet, and to honor her. It is a great book just to pick up and browse through, and contains prayers that are ancient and full of the energy of thousands of our ancestors, and prayers that represent a new awakening to our lost heritage. An earth bible for earth lovers! By the way, I've heard rumors of a Volume II. Is it true and can I purchase it here, or elsewhere? ... Read more

Amazon.com

Born in 1915, the mountaineer and outdoorsman David Brower has arguably been the single most influential American environmentalist in the last half of the 20th century; even his erstwhile foes at the Department of the Interior grudgingly credit him with having nearly single-handedly halted the construction of a dam in the heart of the Grand Canyon, and he has converted thousands, even millions, of his compatriots to the preservationist cause through his work with the Sierra Club, Friends of the Earth, and other organizations.

Brower was in the thick of battle when John McPhee profiled him for the New Yorker in a piece that would evolve into Encounters with the Archdruid. McPhee follows Brower into unusually close combat as Brower faces down a geologist who is, it seems, convinced that there is no sight quite so elevating as that of a fully operational mine; a developer who (successfully, it turned out) sought to convert an isolated stretch of the Carolina coast into a resort for the moneyed few--and who provided the title for McPhee's book, wryly opining that conservationists are at heart druids who "sacrifice people and worship trees"; and, most formidable of all, former Interior Secretary Floyd Dominy, who oversaw the construction of a structure that for Brower stands as one of the most hated creations of our time, Glen Canyon Dam on the Colorado River. McPhee offers up an engaging portrait of Brower, a man unafraid of a good fight in the service of the earth, making Encounters an important contribution to the history of the modern environmental movement. --Gregory McNamee ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Arguably McPhee's finest book
As the other reviewers here have noted, this is John McPhee's superb recounting of three episodes in the life of famous environmental activist David Brower. The three people he encounters are a geologist, a land developer, and a dam builder. The structure of the book allows a revealing contrast between one of America's greatest environmental activists on three key issues. These are: 1) the desirability and advisability of exploring and mining for ore and minerals in protected wilderness areas, 2) whether it is preferable to develop land on the Atlantic Coast or allow it to be developed, and 3) the desirability of damming major rivers in the Southwest.

My favorite portion of the book featured Brower's encounter with the fascinating Charles Fraser, one of America's greatest and most gifted land developers. At debate was whether to develop Cumberland Island as a recreational and residential area, or whether to leave it wild and protect it as a National Seashore. The editorial reviewer inaccurately stated that Fraser was successful in his goal to develop it. He was not. Today Cumberland Island is a designated National Seashore. Fraser had hoped to develop Cumberland much as he had Hilton Head. What is compelling about Fraser is his desire to develop land on the one hand, with an intent to respect the physical surroundings to the greatest possible degree. Brower himself says in the book that while he is opposed to developing Cumberland Island, if anyone were to develop it, he would want Fraser to be that person.

The section of the book in which Brower and dam builder Floyd Dominy discuss a wide range of issues is fascinating not just in contrasting two fundamentally opposed viewpoints, but in bringing out both Brower's most conspicuous success and failure. The success was his leading the Sierra Club in opposing building a dam in the Grand Canyon. The tragedy was that in focusing on opposing the Grand Canyon, Brower and the Sierra Club were unable to fight the building of the Glen Canyon River Dam, for environmentalists and conservationists perhaps the single greatest tragedy since the building of the Hetch Hetchy Dam early in the 20th century. In building this dam, the ironically named Lake Powell was created. Many environmentalists refer to his as Lake Foul. The irony stems from the fact that it was named in "honor" of John Wesley Powell, who led the first expedition of Europeans to explore the entirety of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon. Powell was deeply opposed to the development of the American West beyond the ability of the water supply to support the local population. He would, therefore, have been horrified to find such an anti-monument as this lake bearing his name. Edward Abbey's books are filled with vituperative attacks on the devastation wrought by the building of the Glen Canyon River Dam. There are several organizations that continue calling for the draining of Lake Powell.

Why is there so much outrage at this dam? In creating Lake Powell, the water covered some of the most excruciatingly beautiful landscape not only in the United States but the world. Just before the dam was completed and the waters filled the area, photographer Eliot Porter took a number of remarkable photographs chronicling the magnificence of what was lost. Instead of being covered with water, the area should have been declared a national park. The poignancy of the final section of McPhee's book is the since of the tragedy of the dam, and the two who struggled over its building, meet and talk.

a generation passes...
This was the book that introduced me to John McPhee (I grew up around the corner from Dave Brower)and it made me a lifelong fan of McPhees remarkable insights and abilities as a reporter. Here he takes Brower -probably the leading voice for landscape conservation in the second half of the 20th century- and puts him Up Close and Personal with three very remarkable antagonists: the greatest Dam builder in North America, the developer of Hilton Head, and with a mining engineer who has "an affinity for beds" -but has managed to spend nearly 8 years in total sleeping rough in search of minerals world-wide. What is most intriguing about this book is that one comes away with an appreciation of the complexities surrounding environmental issues. This is no polemic or one-sided rant, rather McPhee shows us the strengths and weaknesses of each of his characters, and by weaving the personal in with the political we are left to make up our own minds just who are the heroes and who the villains. Recently I used this book in an Environmental Lit. class & to my surprise about half of the students had never heard of Brower (hence the title of my review. In spite of this they were all captured by the artful transparency of McPhee's prose -they were on that raft with Dominy & Brower, they went up that mountain, they walked that beach, and most important, they had that conversation. Thirty years after its publication this book still has the zip to draw its reader in. Regardless of your position on Things Environmental, I encourage you to give this a good read.

too many dam dams
It made me want to hike the Sierra Nevada mountains. The cover of the book enticed me to read this book. The book was very informational about David Brower's life. It was good how the book was divided into three parts to makea it more interesting. John McPhee did a good job of describing how the mountains looked. It helped show how nature is affected by humans and how we shouldn't interfere with it. It was very interesting to see the differemt views of a conservationist verses a copper miner or a developer. Overall, this story has enlightened all of its readers to the effects of human growth and industrialization in the wilderness.

Encounters with an Archdruid
There are three parts to this book. The first is about A Mountain. Brower, Park, Brigham and some others go up the mountain in pursuit of copper. The second part of the book is about An Island. The Island is owned b a man named Charles Frazer. The chapeter deals with the developemnt of the Sea Pines Plantation. The third part of the book is The River. The men discuss the pros and cons of dams. The entire chapater is dedicated to the arguement oabout dams.
The book talks about the good and bads that come about with changes in the environment that maybe some people aren't aware of. Overall, this book reveals good information about the encirionment, but is boring. THe entire third part of the book is about the arguement over dams. At first. the arugements are humerous, but after 94 pages of arguement, it gets very redundant.
The first section of the book is much better than the other parts of the book. Brower and his group have several adventures, such as finding copper in a streamn. Also, they run into more people in the first section of the book, so fortunatly there are more viewpoints. One other partcularly interesting adventurous part was at the very end, when the men go down Lava Falls. Unfortunatly, the book was still rather dull, due to the reptiteveness of the themes in it. Basically, in each chapter, an interesting environmental theme is brought up. However, by the end of the chapter, the theme becomes like beating a dead horse.

review
The book is three stories involving hte controversial issues with different land areas. Each story involves a conservationist, David Brower, and opposition. In the mountains, David Brower( the archdruid mentioned in the title), aruges against Charles Park over the issue of a copper mine. On an island, Brower advises Charles Fraser against developing a secluded area. And finally, on the river, Brower arugues with Floyd Dominy about the construction of a dam. Although the three stories shared the same main character, they all stressed different opinions and ended differently. The story showed both extremes of a conservationist and opposition. The book is hard to follow and make connections. It also jumps from present to pas. This is apparent especially in the third story on the river when it jumps from ravelng along the river to Brower's past and resignation from the Sierra Club. The book is interesting as it shows the sides of both conservationist and opposition as expressed through extremely well written stories. Overal, we would recommend this book to people torn between the conservationst and oppositions standpoint but fails to include what we could do to help these issues. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Recommended for every new California diver
The title may be a bit misleading in that this book isn't simply an identification catalog like some other field guides. The book is organized into chapters describing different marine habitats, and does a good job of providing the big picture. The author describes many species, covering their appearance, behavior, role in their environment, and classification. Most species that are discussed are accompanied by photographs, but not all. While this book can serve as a reference, I enjoyed reading it cover to cover. ... Read more

Book Description

Reviews (11)

Wyoming Rock History at its Best
John McPhee joins geologist David Love for a tour of the Wyoming countryside. Well at least, McPhee uses their drive along Interstate 80 as a jumping off point to spin a tale or two. Painting on a broad canvas, he pieces together a detailed picture of Wyoming from its rich geological history, to the hearty characters that settled there. And the focal point for all this is David Love. And why not? Love's history with the area is indeed the stuff that can fill a book.

The descriptions of Love's parents (especially his dad) and how they cut their teeth in the ranching business on the unforgiving landscape proved the most entertaining for me. The time spent looking for lost sheep, and moving herds put David Love on a path to his ultimate passion.... The geology of Wyoming. For Love, the Wyoming landscape appeared more interesting and mysterious than anything else. To his credit, Love is the only person to build a complete geological survey of an entire state. Not to mention probably one of the most complex.

McPhee wraps up the book by looking at the challenges that face a place rich in resources such as coal, shale, and uranium. As a geologist, Love reflects on the interesting role his life work plays in this regard. For me, the story reveals two competing forces. One being how a land like Wyoming can influence and shape a man's entire life, and conversely how that same man's life work can change our view and understanding of a complex landscape such as Wyoming.

Great Historical Family Story
In preparation for a motorcycle trip to the Black Hills and Yellowstone, I read this wonderful book by John McPhee. It's largely a story about the geologist John Love and the Love Ranch in Wyoming. Mixes in the story of his mother and father's trials and tribulations in building the family ranch in the early 1900's with the story of his life and the unique geography of Wyoming. This is a book I would recommend to anyone, even if they were not on their way to Wyoming. Love's mother was a graduate of Wellesley College with a Phi Beta Kappa key who came to Wyoming in 1905 as a school teacher. The frontier was still everywhere and she's one of the real hero's of the book. The story of her life is woven in with the geology and history of the region. John Love grew up on the family ranch, went to Yale for a Ph. D. in geology and became famous for his geological work in the West, and in particular the Grand Teton and Jackson Hole area. The descriptions of family life on the ranch are wonderful. You may want to skim some of the heavier geological descriptions of the state, but even they are full of interesting information. You can't read the book without a renewed appreciation of the geological wonders of our country and the resilience and tenacity of our western pioneers.

A fascinating tour of Wyoming through the geological ages
I'm not a slow reader, but I rarely read a book in the same 24 hours. This one was an exception. I was immediately drawn in (and by a subject that is not of more than general interest to me), and I more or less did not put the book down until I'd read to the last page.

As a teacher, I'm first of all impressed by how McPhee makes an academic and scientific subject (geology) not just interesting but gripping. For the most part, he personalizes it, introducing an eminent field geologist, David Love, who takes him and us on a tour around Love's home-state, Wyoming, describing over 2 billion years of the geological past as revealed in the cuts along Interstate 80 and in a side trip to Jackson Hole, outside Yellowstone Park. Love is very much a product of his upbringing on an isolated ranch in central Wyoming, his mother educated at Wellesley, his father an immigrant from Scotland who quotes William Cowper and Sir Walter Scott.

Love is independent, old school, hands-on, tireless, scrupulous, an innovative thinker who has made a significant impact over a lifetime in his field, choosing to work for the US Geological Survey after a short period of unhappy employment for an oil company. McPhee captures his very individual point of view, his dedication to science, and his Western perspective in character sketches and fragments of conversation between them. He has a dry sense of humor, colorful turns of phrase, and a toughness that goes along with long periods of field work and sleeping rough under the stars. He's also a grand-nephew of John Muir.

The book actually begins with his mother's wintery journey by horse-drawn coach from Rawlins to central Wyoming, where she has accepted a teaching job at a one-room school. It segues between the story of his parents' courtship in the first decade of the 20th century and his travels with McPhee over 70 years later, finally devoting a long section to Love's own boyhood, growing up on his parents' ranch, with an older brother, among cowboys raising both sheep and cattle. The accounts of surviving blizzards and floods that nearly wipe them out, the visitors passing through who may or may not be hunted killers, even an appearance (possibly two) by Butch Cassidy make this compelling reading for anyone with an interest in the early days of ranching in the West.

There's a brilliant section late in the book as McPhee describes Love's fascination with Jackson Hole while he's still a graduate student at Yale, and after many years of walking the ridges and summits around it, developing a scenario of how it was formed over the eons. McPhee's rendering of this scenario in words is vivid, and in the mind's eye, you can see mountain ranges and seas rise and fall in all manner of climates from tropical to ice age, until the topography assumes its present configuration, which is still changing.

I highly recommend this book. As companion volumes, I also recommend Loren Eiseley's memoir "All the Strange Hours," Geoffrey O'Gara's book about water rights in the Wind River basin, "What You See in Clear Water," and James Galvin's novel, "Fencing the Sky," in which a modern-day cowboy fugitive travels much of this same terrain on horseback.

Excellent, excellent, excellent....
Rising from the Plains in another of John McPhee's remarkable books on North American geology and quite possibly his best. McPhee has taken the geology of Wyoming, the history of the state and that of a local frontier family, and entwined them to make this lesson in earth science addictively readable.

McPhee travels the state with a host geologist from the USGS whose life's work is the study of Wyoming topography. What results is an extremely comprehensive (yet entirely pleasurable) explanation of the forces in play which created the Wyoming wonderland. Spanning from Yellowstone to the Tetons, from Medicine Bow to Flaming River Gorge, McPhee has authored a true gem and one that I enjoyed immensely. Rising from the Plains easily merits five big, bright, bountiful stars. Well done, Mr. McPhee.

Living Geology
One of McPhee's best essays is about Wyoming's geologic history and the people that settled there from prehistoric time until today. Both the geology and the lives of the people, native Americans and the Wyoming settlers, are dramatically portrayed through stories about tectonics, overthrusting and the harshness of life on the plains. The story is about the life of the land and the life of a family, including a notable geologists who takes us on a guided tour of Wyoming's unique geologic landscape while recounting stories of the land and his family. A must read. ... Read more

Amazon.com

For three decades, primatologist Roger Fouts has been involved in language studies of the chimpanzee, the animal most closely related to human beings. Among his subjects was the renowned Washoe, who was "endowed with a powerful need to learn and communicate," and who developed an extraordinary vocabulary in American sign language. Another chimpanzee, Fouts writes, "never made a grammatical error," which turned a whole school of linguistic theory upside down. While reporting these successes, Fouts also notes that chimpanzees are regularly abused in laboratory settings and that in the wild their number has fallen from 5,000,000 to fewer than 175,000 in the last century. ... Read more

Reviews (47)

The closest you'll ever come to knowing another species
Roger Fouts has written an extraordinary book that combines insight with scientific fact as he relates his experiences with a special chimpanzee who changed the direction of his life. As a graduate student in experimental psychology at the University of Nevada, Fouts is given an assistantship to "teach a chimpanzee to talk" using modified American Sign Language, and thus begins his introduction to impishly clever Washoe. Washoe is in almost every sense a "person", with specific character traits, likes and dislikes, habits and methods. When she is in danger of being dumped into a medical facility at the end of the study, Fouts fights to protect her against the woefully inadequate laws and accepted scientific procedures. His battle not only for Washoe but for all captive chimpanzees becomes the focus of his career. Because Washoe and her companions have the ability to express themselves, this is at times a heartbreaking tale as Fouts and the reader discover how closely related chimps and humans truly are. Through his passionate storytelling and his breadth of knowledge, Fouts gives readers an intimate glimpse into these fascinating non-human lives.

I cannot express adequately how moving and instructive this account is. It will affect you on a deeply emotional level - I can't imagine how anyone can emerge from this story unchanged. I highly recommend this book for all readers, from teenagers to adults, from casual to serious readers.

There is hope for humanity.
One of the problems in reading a lot is that it becomes difficult to find books that provide substance, an opportunity to learn and a riveting subject. I am pleased to advise that this book does all of this and more. Roger Fouts does not claim to be a hero. In fact, he confesses to being disappointed, confused, even weak at times. All the more reason to admire his dedication to his subjects and his refusal to buckle under severe pressure. This book gives the reader an opportunity to visit with and begin to understand another species, to develop some understanding of another language, to understand the history and development of the human species along with the workings of academia and the "scientific" mind (and you thought "Freddy" was scary!). At times it is heartwarming, at others it touches on the cold, cruel, self-absorption that humans are capable of. It well demonstrates the belief that "evil is possible where empathy is absent". This book underlines our responsibility to all life on Earth to act with respect and caring towards all species. Reading about Washoe, her family and her friends will not always be easy but it will change you for the better. They teach us about our own humanity. They also provide strong reinforcement and inspiration for those who sometimes feel isolated and alone in their journey to protect the voiceless.

Astounding
This book weaves together behavioral research, child psychology, linguistics, oncology, evolution, animal rights and a simple story of two friends who each learn incredible things from the other. The story was so intriguing no matter what topic was being covered that I read all 400 pages in 3 1/2 days. At the risk of sounding melodramatic I literally laughed out loud at points, and broke down in tears at others. Next of Kin demonstrates what man can do at his best as well as his worst.

Great Book
This was the best book I've read in years. It is extremely moving, and just changed me as a person. It made me realize that animals are just like humans, with the same simple needs, food, water, shelter, and most importantly, love and respect. They shouldn't be treated as animals just because they look different.

I think this is a must read for everyone, regardless of whether or not you like animals.

Convinces a skeptical linguist
I have just finished reading Roger Fout's Next of Kin book and was very impressed. I am a linguist and am planning to talk about Animal Communication in a Psycholinguistics course I will be teaching this Fall. I had always just accepted the conclusion found in most introductory Linguistics textbooks that what chimps can do is really not very much, doesn't resemble human language, and that people like Dr. Fouts have expanded the notion of what 'language' is to somewhat unacceptable lengths. I accepted that Terrace's work with Nim Chimpsky (which you read about in the book) showed that just those researchers who were highly emotionally involved with their animals were the ones who ridiculously thought that chimpanzees could really produce creative signs. After reading this book I am convinced that chimpanzees are highly intelligent and have been able to learn to use sign language in a way that I would consider langauge. I am also convinced, though not a great animal lover, that treating chimpanzees as research subjects is just inhumane. So I would agree with everyone else that this is an extraordinary book. I highly recommend it, especially to linguists who really have little idea of what Washoe and Loulis are able to communicate in sign language. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Contrary to popular opinion, the whole of New Jersey is not a continuous Superfund site enlivened solely by poorly labeled Turnpike exits and skanky diners. In fact, thelargest essentially untouched wilderness east of the Mississippi comprises nearly half the state: the New Jersey Pine Barrens. This more than 1,000-square-mile region has only a few thousand inhabitants--the Pineys, whose way of life has remained essentiallyunchanged since the 17th century.McPhee--one of the finest American essayists of the 20thcentury--has written an extraordinarily compelling, informative, and insightful book about the botanical, cultural, hydrological, and historical peculiarities of this region. He also details the efforts to save it from the creeping urbanization of nearby Philadelphia and New York City. Very Highly Recommended. ... Read more

Reviews (19)

New Jersey Reads The Pine Barrens
This amazing, still relevant book is the Main Selection for ONE BOOK NEW JERSEY- a state wide reading initiative that supports literacy and celebrates New Jersey's Libraries. John McPhee's elegant hand offers the whole world focused through the filter of the New Jersey Pine Barrens
** Check out all the details at www.OneBookNewJersey.org**
  1999 Pulitzer Prize Winner and native New Jerseyan John McPhee spoke compellingly at the 'kick-off' press conference recently at the Princeton Public Library and mentioned that having the chance to revisit "The Pine Barrens" through the new statewide reading program has presented him with a rare opportunity. "One of the things in my work," he said, "is that you have to move on to the next thing. But I have a lot of nostolgia for the things I write about."
  In "The Pine Barrens," Mr. McPhee combines detailed descriptions of the region's culture, ecology and history with anecdotes gleaned from meeting its residents through his travels.
  Born and raised in Princeton and a professor at his alma mater, Princeton University, Mr. McPhee said the selection of his book is terrific. "I was really quite amazed that 40 years after I started in on it," it's still relevant, he said. "I'm glad it's alive."
  A friend from his days at Princeton High School suggested the Pine Barrens as a subject, Mr. McPhee said. "He said there are holes in the ground so deep there's no bottom and the people, they're dangerous and all that," Mr. McPhee recalled.
  The Pinelands, totaling 1.1 million acres and encompassing 22 percent of New Jersey's land area, is host to legends, myth and intrigue about its residents, sometimes referred to as the Pineys.
  Mr. McPhee found no bottomless holes and discovered the Pine Barrens residents were "wonderful," and many strongly believed in the Jersey Devil and other myths.
  Fortunately the Pine Barrens, a spectacular and unique part of the beautiful and varied state of NJ, has changed little in the 37 years since the book was published and ONE BOOK NEW JERSEY 2004 offers people a chance to read, re-read and discuss this essential and beautifully written piece of non-fiction.
  At age of 15 it opened me up to the powerful world of non-fiction -- let it do the same for you!!

Charming and Informative
This is not the kind of book I normally read but, since it is being promoted by the NJ Library Association and the NJ State Library as the One Book New Jersey selection for 2004, and I am a New Jersey librarian, I felt I ought to. Having said that, and having read the book, I must say that those librarians who lobbied for The Pine Barrens, certainly chose wisely. The book is utterly charming. Mr. McPhee's prose style is elegant in an unshowy way and thoroughly engaging. I felt as if I was gliding through the book and picking up the most interesting information about the Pine Barrens and its inhabitants along the way. I can't imagine anyone not liking this book.

Non-Fiction for Fiction Readers
I really dislike non-fiction. In general, I read sci-fi, mysteries and horror. A friend of mine handed me this book and insisted that I read it. I finally gave in, read it and loved it. This book is superbly written, moves quickly, and gives a wonderful glimpse into the history and people of a region without getting overly sentimental or mushy. Very nice. I read this book over and over again and would recomend it to anyone. This book will let you learn more about blueberries, cranberries, the New Jersey Devil, charcoal-making and many other interesting topics. Run out and read this book!

outdated, but very informative
John McPhee's book about the still-wild region of New Jersey called the Pine Barrens is a must-read for anyone interested in ecology or regional culture. When it was written in 1967, a great disservice had been done to the people of the Pines (called "Pineys") through the release of studies claiming they were all slow, stupid, and inbred; McPhee did much to dispell these harmful myths. He also discusses the unique flora and fauna of the area, and the possibility of development, which fortunately never occured. I also recommend _Cranberry Queen_ by Kathleen DeMarco for a fictional taste of the Pine Barrens region.

Wonderful writer
I was introduced to the author when I was in college, in a class
about journalism and literature. McPhee isn't as well-known as he should be (unless you read _The New Yorker_). He is truly a
wonderful stylist, whose style is so smooth you barely know it's there. And his subjects! Here he deals with a huge forest--the "Pine Barrens" of the title--and those who live in it. And yet he is able to make this slim book fascinating from the first
page to the last (one of the reasons is because he digresses so much, and his digressions are engrossing). Pick up nearly
anything by McPhee. You won't be disappointed, I promise. ... Read more

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Peaceful Kingdom chronicles amazing true stories of devotion and bravery from the animal world. Included are both well-publicized cases, such as the gorilla who tenderly carried an injured child to safety, and the more obscure--the German shepherd who visited the grave of his deceased owner every day at the same hour. Even ants are caught in heroic acts: they're observed pulling a thorn from an injured comrade. The animals in this book are viewed as compassionate, thinking creatures that experience real emotions--hardly news to animal lovers. Peaceful Kingdom also reflects human acts of kindness to animals. Edward Lear, the famous author of "The Owl and the Pussycat," built his new house as an exact replica of his old one to keep from traumatizing his beloved cat. Peaceful Kingdom is an intriguing and heartwarming journey into the lives of some astonishing animals. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Treasure chest of a book!
I can't believe this book is out of print. Reading it is like opening up a treasure chest and finding one gem after another. Each animal story touched me and opened my eyes and my heart to the world of animals. The stories are short and easy to read, and I found myself having a hard time stopping to take a break sometimes, I kept wanting to hear more stories. A great book to read outloud to your children too, my son was also awed by the stories. I was amazed at how smart and how compassionate animals really are. There are some interesting animal facts included too as side notes. I highly recommend this book!

Incredible
The first time I read this book I thought it was one of the most wonderful books I ever read. I thought the same thing the second time I read it. I loved every story. And the best part is it doesn't just give you stories about animals and what they've done to people to change their lives, or save them. But it also gives you notes on how to return the kindness. And even stories on how people helped animals. Some of the stuff in this book is almost to hard to belive, but if you think animals are wonderous creatures that deserve the love and respect that all living things want, then you will belive everything in this book. I did. After you read the stories in this book, you'll have a different out look on all creaturs, even ants. All the stories in this book are just wonderful and amazing. My 5th grade teacher read two of the stories in this book to my whole class, after that I looked for the book. And obviously found it. Anybody who loves and cherishes their animals will love this book. Or if you just love animals and want a good read, this book would be a perfect choice.

Really good
This book is a must-have if you know an animal lover or if you are one yourself. It tells many wonderful stories on animals acting in brave ways to show kindness to people and to other animals. It's very inspirational and it makes you respect animals a lot more.

An Must-Read for All Animal Lovers!
This book will leave a mark on your heart and your soul. It has always been said that the animal kingdom treats its members with much more kindness than humans do and this book is a testament to the compassion and love that our animal world has for itself and all the rest of us!

This book will make you smile, laugh, and cry, all at once.
The stories in this book will make you realize the lessons, gifts, and teachings available from all of God's creatures. This is a book for the simple pet owner to the most avid animal right's activist. No household bookshelf should be without a copy. ... Read more

Book Description

On July 4, 1845, Henry David Thoreau moved into the cabin he had built on the shore of Walden Pond. Now, on the 150th anniversary of that event, Houghton Mifflin is proud to publish an exceptional new edition of what is perhaps the most important book in our history as a publisher. Walden: An Annotated Edition features the definitive text of the book with extensive notes on Thoreau's life and times by the distinguished biographer and critic Walter Harding. In the third chapter, Thoreau writes, "How many a man has dated a new era in his life from the reading of a book?" For many readers, Walden is that book. Written a century and a half ago, it grows more meaningful every day, and whether you are reading it for the first time or the hundredth, Walter Harding's insightful comments will open your eyes to the true depths of this masterpiece. ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Indispensable for Walden readers
Walter Harding was one of the greatest Thoreau scholars. His annotations include explanations of puns I hadn't understood, sources of quotes and references in the text, and information about Thoreau's time. I also learned that one of my favorite places in Concord was referred to by Thoreau as Fairyland Pond.

The book also includes a map of the area in Thoreau's time, reproductions of HDT's manuscript pages, drawings and excerpts from his journal, and his map of Walden Pond with water depths he determined.

I wouldn't say the book is perfect--there are still a few obscure references without notes, and some notes for points that are obvious--but it's as close as anyone is likely to come.

Be sure to also read Harding's The Days of Henry Thoreau, a great biography.

INSOMNIA'S CURE
I first read Solitude in high school(over 10 years ago), not as part of the regular curriculum but for US Academic Decathlon. To think about it even now still bores me. Reading Solitude may have been the most boring part of USAD, & that ain't a little bit of boredom. Thoreau, Emerson, those other guys I can barely differentiate, especially the 'fire & brimstone' types were some of the reasons I took British lit instead of American lit in college. I also took British lit rather than American because it is 800+ years vs. 200+. (Thanks Mr. M, my h.s. English lit teacher). But back to Walden.

Think of it. You decide to live in solitude for a couple of years, in the 19th century! The very idea is boring. Let's not get into no t.v., et.c. But not even the daily news? Didn't they have newspapers back then? Before some make the mistake of thinking I don't understand, I (yawn) say I can appreciate one's desire to engage himself by the near total exclusion of others. I just don't believe its something you need to read about some guy doing over 150 years ago. On the other hand, if you wanted to avoid those very interesting times, you'd do what Thoreau did if you could so afford. If not you'd read about it, to quiet the debate going on outside one person's journey of self-discovery. Specifically, if I wanted to learn more about those times I'd check up on abolitionist writings, women's suffrage, and other things from the period that were more topical.

Nevertheless, I could use a copy though, for those troublesome nights when I can't get to sleep.

P.S. Thoreau is one of those authors you list that maintains your "with it-ism" in our increasingly 'my country, right or wrong' times.

What an inspiration!
Even though I live in Australia in 2004, I found this 19th century book sensational!

I cannot reccomend it highly enough: witty, intelligent, honest, articulate and timeless.

the most imspirational book ever.....
When I first heard about this author in one of my classes, I felt that it was the most boring pices of information that I haveever heard. But, when I started to actually lusten to what he was actually saying it really got me thinking. I was the only onbe in my class that actually understood what he was saying in his stories. His writing has got me thinking different ways on everyday situation. I had never thought that I would start to think like this. His writing has got me to see things different than I ever thought that I would. What he did in his life is cool, going to live at a pond all by himself for about 2 years and find the essintials of life, is brilient. In resistance to civil government, I had never read better writing in my life. When he had to spend a night in jail and realized that it was not even a hard punishnment, for not paying his taxes. There are really no words that I can use that can explain my love for his writing, because it has just moved me to no end. I really wish that I could have been alive when he was so I could have gotten to know him better.

The better part of a man will be soon ploughed beneath the s
Thoreau is great. Even if you don't agree with him, even if you see his contradictory nature towards his teachings, even if you can't understand him, you can't deny that he is an amazing thinker and an influential character of American history. Thoreau's quiet voice of solitude and non conformity provides refreshing alternatives of perception and observation which strengthens inner freedom and personal growth. I have read numerous essays by Thoreau and I have to say this could be the most enlightening. His ideas of progressing back to nature is beautiful inspiration to reevaluate our contemporary life.

I recommend everyone read this book...Actually I take that back...I recommend everyone Henry David Thoreau and all of his beautiful work. ... Read more

Book Description

In Soul of Nowhere, Craig Childs answers the call of fierce places—the more desolate the landscape, the more passionately he is drawn to it. Childs tracks a broad territory: the Sierra Madre mountains in northern New Mexico, the canyons of Utah, the White Mountain Apache Reservation, a deserted island in the Sea of Cortez. In his much-anticipated follow-up to The Secret Knowledge of Water, Childs reconfirms his singular voice and discovers the passion and grace of desolate places. ... Read more

Reviews (4)

For the Adventurous Spirit
I have a long-standing interest in the desert, having lived there for years and having done some explorations of my own. But never did I dream of taking the kind of trips Craig Childs recounts in his books. After reading The Secret Knowledge of Water, I eagerly dove into Soul of Nowhere expecting more spellbinding tales of survival on the margins of life.
When I finished, I felt a little disappointed. Yes, there are some harrowing tales but there is also a little too much new-age prose and speculation for my taste. And I agree with the reviewer who complained of too much personal information.
Still, Soul of Nowhere is overall an enjoyable read. My favorite chapters are Passage, Labrynth, and Island. It is in these three chapters that Childs' storytelling comes alive. Emotion leaps off the page, the reader feels at one with the narrator as he traverses this wild and dangerous country. Since I have hiked in some of this same country, albeit on marked trails, I could very nearly feel the trembling fear Childs felt when he lost momentum climbing the sandstone arch or when the rock crumbled beneath his boots as he decended the old Anasazi passage into the Grand Canyon, or when he found himself nearly lost in a thicket of cactus in the searing mid-day heat as his every avenue of escape seemed blocked.
Childs has a definite talent for painting a life-like picture with his words, but he also has a talent for obscuring that picture with a lot of pseudo-intellectual mumbo-jumbo that gives the reader the impression that he is just trying too hard to write a "serious" book.
Despite those drawbacks, Childs' otherworldly escapades are like a magnet to the adventurous spirit. I look forward to reading more of his work because he sure does seem to have an interesting lifestyle.

Fascinating, Absorbing, Well Written
I read a lot of outdoor books, and I have to say this is one of the best that I have read in ages. Craig Childs lives, breaths, eats "wild." He writes with a clarity that makes me feel like I am alongside him -- and with a passion that is contagious. I am already planning a trip to visit some of the places he writes about. In the meantime, I'll nurse my desires by trying some of his other books.

a great book about the desert southwest
I heard about this book on NPR and living in the area decided to read it. I have read several books about this area and the desert, in general and this is one of the best. Up there with Edward Abbey's books, but nowhere near as acidic. I have not yet read Child's other books, but he gives a great insight into the vastness of this area, both phyiscally and mentally. From someone who came to this area from back east, I recommend this book to anyone who would wonder why people would want to come to this area to live and work.

I couldn't believe I didn't love this book
Craig Childs' writng is lyrical, personal, dramatic.He lives a life I wish I'd known I wanted to live when I was able to do so.Every one of his books is in my library. Last year I gave at least a half-dozen copies of 'The Secret Knowledge of Water' to friends and family. I look forward with keen anticipation to vicariously participating in his next set of adventures.

So what happened this time?Craig finds and reveals to his readers what it is that he searches for out there in the desert wilderness.Maybe I didn't like so much introspection.I know more about his friends and their private lives than I want to know.And(I don't want to sound prudish...everything has its place) I really don't want to know the color of his wife Regan Choi's various body parts.

That said, I must also say that I think it would be impossible to read anything by this author that does not inspire and impress.He is a gifted, very gifted, writer.And he is a crazy-man explorer of the wild places that are left in this world. ... Read more

Book Description

"The real masterwork that Sue Hubbell has created is her life," David Quammen wrote in the New York Times. This book is, like its author, a unique achievement. Weaving a vivid portrait of her own life and her bees' lives through the seasons, Hubbell writes "about bees to be sure, but also about other things: the important difference between loneliness and solitude . . . the accommodating of oneself to nature" (Philadelphia Inquirer). ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Great nature writing and commentary on contemporary life
As an avid reader and enthusiast of the "nature writing" genre', I became an immediate fan of Sue Hubbell's after reading this book. Like the other commentator here, I've bought several copies only to end up giving my current one away again. Hubbell has a genuinely unique insight into nature that is fresh and original while her writing is well crafted. Being a beekeeper of over ten years, I was attracted to the book for that reason but came away with much more. Hubbell's musings on life in general and her backwoods alternative to the modern drum on the digital age is a good escape. An insightful read for anyone interested in a deeper perspective on one aspect of rural life. Enjoy.

A book about how to live fully, with expert bee info. extra!
I first read this book several years ago and bought and gave away three copies. I'm so glad it has been republished. Sue Hubbell recounts a year in her life as a beekeeper, with musings on nature, and with a loving portrait of her honeybees. Bees are wondrous and if you don't think so, Hubbell will help you see the light. I have finally succumbed to the urge to keep bees myself, and now I value the book for it's information and wisdom on beekeeping. One thing, though. The insect pictured on the cover...is not a honeybee! I bet she was not pleased! This is a peaceful read, a good summer book, and a keeper.

Bee Knees
Back in early April, I mentioned one of Sue Hubbell's other books, A Country Year: Living the Questions on my blog, where she writes about her time living in the Ozarks and raising bees as a profession.

While A Country Year was meant as entertaining reading, this book is Hubbell giving you clean and excellent information on the keeping of bees, along with some of the poetic language from A Country Year. Just like that book, I will finish this book in a day or two, as it pulls me through the various seasons of the beekeeper. Winter is prep time. Spring brings hard work and maintenance. Fall is harvest and preparing the hives for Winter.

I get fixated on ideas somehow, and Hubbell's books are feeding my current fixation on bees. My neighbors hive, clearly visible from my back yard, has grown more interesting. It gives me a life model to explore my newly gained knowledge without completely suiting up in bee gear. It is heartening to know that the flowers and trees in my garden benefit from these bees, as much as the bees benefit from them.

The days in the life of a year of bee keeping
Buffalo Sue says this book is delightful. I'd like to find a different word to be original but I can't.
It is delightful in the way Sue Hubbell somehow manages to be both down to earth as somebody making a living with bees must yet is also as bright eyed as a kid experiencing something wonderfully new every day which is in fact what you get with bees.
If you are into bees buy it.
If you are not into bees but enjoy the idea that even today there is a satisfying way to live that does not require destruction of the environment or the death or discomfort of your charges you would enjoy it.

Beautiful!
Unique, well-written -- poignant, humorous -- subtle, yet compelling. Hubble's comic timing and keen storytelling are second to none. This is one of the most wonderful gifts I've ever received. Read it! Give it to every person you know. It's unique and so very lovely. I am grateful to the person who recommended this gem. A Book of Bees is a wonderful revelation. Ostensibly about bee-keeping, but really about life. ... Read more