All of us are part of the natural world and when we commune with nature, something deeper comes alive, leaving us rejuvenated and inspired. If you can’t be in the great outdoors, one of the next best things is to read books on nature. Nature books fill us with wonder at the joys of our world and the harshness within its beauty. You’ll also find a sobering reminder that our environment is precious and precarious. Here are some of the books on nature!
The Snow Child by EOWYN IVEY
One of the best books about nature for fiction lovers is Eowyn Ivey’s modern classic, The Snow Child. In 1920, Jack and Mabel are struggling to homestead Alaska. When the first snowflakes fall, they build a small child out of snow. The next morning their snowman is gone, replaced by a little girl named Faina who lives in the woods with only a fox as a friend.
Where the Crawdads Sing by DELIA OWENS
For years, Kya Clark has survived alone in the marshes of the North Carolina coast. Dubbed “The Marsh Girl” by the locals, she raises herself in nature after her family abandons her. Now, as she comes of age, she begins to yearn for something more than her loneliness – maybe even a connection with the locals. An exquisitely written tale, Where the Crawdads Sing is one of the best books on nature for you to read.
Wild by CHERYL STRAYED
Sometimes it takes doing something crazy, like hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, for you to truly put your life in order. By 22, Cheryl Strayed’s life felt out of control, so she decided to make a life-changing decision to hike the PCT. You’ll laugh at Strayed’s mishaps, be in awe had her stupidity and bravery, and, if you are like me, really want to go for a hike.
The Overstory by RICHARD POWERS
Richard Powers was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in Fiction for this innovative literary fiction book about nature. Simulating the growth of a tree, Powers breaks with traditional formatting and arranges his work in interlocking segments. You start with short stories about nine different characters and then watch as their stories interweave together in a novel that explores humankind’s relationship with nature.
Damnation Spring by ASH DAVIDSON
For generations, Rich Gunderson’s family has logged the redwood forest on California’s coast. After a streak of miscarriages and infertility, his wife Colleen begins to wonder if there’s something in the water. As Colleen investigates the environmental impacts of logging, her search for answers might tear her marriage, and the town, apart. With over 400 pages, Damnation Spring is a challenging read with a slow build, but one that is worth it in the end for people who love books on nature.
