Science & Nature

Wild New World:

The Epic Story of Animals and People in America

by Dan Flores

available now, hardcover, W.W. Norton

Flores’s ambitious history chronicles the epoch in which humans and animals have coexisted in the “wild new world” of North America—a place shaped both by its own grand evolutionary forces and by momentous arrivals from Asia, Africa, and Europe. With portraits of iconic creatures such as mammoths, horses, wolves, and bison, Flores describes the evolution and historical ecology of North America like never before and shows the arrival of humans precipitated an extraordinary disruption of this teeming environment.

How Far the Light Reaches:

A Life in Ten Sea Creatures

by Sabrina Imbler

available in December, hardcover, Little,Brown

Imbler discovers that some of the most radical models of family, community, and care can be found in the sea, from gelatinous chains that are both individual organisms and colonies of clones to deepsea crabs that have no need for the sun. Exploring themes of adaptation, survival, sexuality, and care, and weaving the wonders of marine biology with stories of their own family, relationships, and coming of age, How Far the Light Reaches is a book that invites us to envision wilder, grander, and more abundant possibilities for the way we live.

A Nature of Writing Series Event Saturday, November 19, 7pm Josephine Woolington

Where We Call Home:

Land, Seas, and Skies of the Pacific Northwest

by Josephine Woolington

available in November, paperback, Ooligan Press Reconnect with the natural world through essays that blend science and prose. In her debut work, journalist Josephine Woolington sheds light on diverse flora and fauna of the Pacific Northwest. From the coastal tailed frog to yellow cedar, these stories encourage a more collective understanding of our natural wonders in a rapidly changing world. Josephine Woolington is a writer, musician, and educator.

The Song of the Cell:

An Exploration of Medicine and the New Human

by Siddhartha Mukherjee

available now, hardcover, Scribner

The discovery of cells—and the reframing of the human body as a cellular ecosystem—announced the birth of a new kind of medicine based on the therapeutic manipulations of cells. In The Song of the Cell, Mukherjee tells the story of how scientists discovered cells, began to understand them, and are now using that knowledge. Told in six parts, laced with Mukherjee’s own experience as a researcher, a doctor, and a prolific reader, The Song of the Cell is both panoramic and informative.

Darwin’s Love of Life:

A Singular Case of Biophilia

by Kay Harel

available now, hardcover, Columbia University Press Biophilia—the love of life—encompasses the drive to survive, a sense of kinship with all life-forms, and an instinct for beauty. In this unconventional book, Kay Harel uses biophilia as a lens to explore Charles Darwin’s life and thought in deeply original ways. Her meditative, playful, and lyrical musings draw on the tools of varied disciplines—aesthetics, astronomy, biology, philosophy, and more. She argues that much of what Darwin described, envisioned, and felt was biophilia in action, informed by little-known material from his private notebooks.

A Great Gift

The New York Times Easy Crossword Puzzles, Volume 23

edited by Will Shortz

available now, spiral-bound, St. Martin's Griffin

“I absolutely love these books of crosswords, they offer a nice simple challenge, without being too easy. Whether you're a crossword puzzle expert or have never completed a puzzle, these books are a ton of fun and a great entrance into the puzzle world!” –Andrew

The Wild Year:

A Field Guide for Exploring Nature All Around Us

by Kristyna Baczynski

available now, paperback, TarcherPerigee Artist Kristyna Baczynski blends writing, research, and illustrations that celebrate more than ninety plant specimens, drawn in detail for identification, along with historical, scientific, and folkloric information highlighting the unique backstory and beauty of these everyday natural wonders. You’ll also find checklists, foraging tips, and room for field notes and sketches.

How to Read the

Wilderness: An Illustrated Guide to the Natural Wonders of North America

by The Nature Study Guild

available in November, hardcover, Chronicle Books

From the mountains to the ocean shores, from the wetlands to the deserts, North America teems with flora and fauna in delicately balanced ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth. With this book in hand, you will understand the language of nature and see those wild places with new eyes. You'll learn to recognize the lobed leaf of an Oracle Oak, the webbed tracks of a River Otter, and the fine, cream-colored tentacles of a Frilled Anemone. For more than sixty years, the Guild's pocket guidebooks have helped hikers, campers, foragers, and explorers navigate the great outdoors. Now, the best of the guides' informative text and iconic illustrations are gathered in one handsome hardcover: the perfect reference for today's ramblers.

A Great Gift

Hydroflasks

“Keep your loved ones hydrated this holiday season” –Lindsey

The Open-Air Life: Discover

the Nordic Art of Friluftsliv and Embrace Nature Every Day

by Linda Åkeson Mcgurk

available in November, hardcover, TarcherPerigee From the pleasures of foraging for wild berries and birding to how to stay warm and cozy outside in the middle of winter, this charmingly illustrated, inspirational guide shows readers how to harness the power-of-nature to improve their physical and mental health, as well as their relationships with both other people and Mother Nature.

A Great Gift

The Soul of an Octopus:

A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness

by Sy Montgomery

available now, paperback, Atria Books “Let The Soul of an Octopus be your gift recipient's personal octopus teacher. This book is both delightful and scientific as it reveals many astounding capabilities and individual personalities of these remarkable beings.“ –Rick