by Barry Lopez
First published 2022
Barry Lopez examines a lifetime spent observing the natural world in this collection of essays written before his death in 2020. The National Book Award winner draws from childhood memories in New York City and California, scientific expeditions to study wildlife, and travels to Antarctica and other remote locations. Lopez recalls the Indigenous elders and scientific mentors who shaped his understanding of nature. He describes returning from his journeys to his Oregon home near the McKenzie River, a sanctuary later damaged by wildfire. The author confronts his own mortality while addressing the environmental threats facing the planet. Lopez weaves together personal stories with urgent warnings about climate change. Rebecca Solnit provides an introduction that highlights Lopez's spiritual connection to the world. The collection includes previously unpublished pieces, some completed in Lopez's final months.
Genres: nature, essays, environment, biography-memoir, 21st-century, climate-change
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: personal-journey, spiritual-connection
Setting: Antarctica, California, McKenzie River, New York City, Oregon
Period: 2020
352 pages · Hardcover · Random House