The Boilerplate Rhino

by David Quammen

First published 1200

From the wilds of Texas to the jungles of Indonesia, writer David Quammen embarks on a series of intriguing explorations. He encounters rattlesnake handlers, lizard specialists, and the elusive durian fruit, using these encounters as springboards to ponder the deep, often unsettling relationship between humanity and nature. Quammen's insatiable curiosity and gift for vivid storytelling transport readers to far-flung places, unraveling the mysteries and contradictions that lie at the heart of the natural world.

Genres: nature, travel, adventure, non-fiction

Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking

Tropes: fish-out-of-water

Setting: Texas, Indonesia

287 pages · Hardcover · Scribner

More by David Quammen

• Natural Acts
• Spillover
• SONG OF THE DODO
• The Reluctant Mr. Darwin
• Monster of God
• The Tangled Tree
• The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2000
• The Flight of the Iguana

Readers who liked The Boilerplate Rhino also liked

• The Best American Science And Nature Writing 2017
• Rustic sounds and other studies in literature and natural history . By
• The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2006 (The Best American Series)
• The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2004 (The Best American Series)
• The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2020
• The Best American Science and Nature Writing 2023