First published 1997
Seeking a refuge from the modern world, writer Michael Pollan embarks on a two-year odyssey to design and construct a simple wood-frame hut in the forest near his home. As he navigates the challenges of hands-on carpentry, Pollan reflects on the history and philosophy of architecture, uncovering the deep connection between the material and the spiritual. Through this intimate portrait of a single building, he illuminates the universal human need to create a space of our own.
Genres: biography, nature, philosophy, memoir, non-fiction, architecture
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: man-vs-nature, self-discovery
352 pages · Paperback · Penguin Books