Have you ever wondered why we stop to watch the orange glow that arrives before sunset, or why we flock to see cherry blossoms bloom in spring? Is there a reason that people -- regardless of gender, age, culture, or ethnicity -- are mesmerized by baby animals, and can't help but smile when they see a burst of confetti or a cluster of colorful balloons? We are often made to feel that the physical world has little or no impact on our inner joy. Increasingly,...

"Will to Wild is an instruction manual to adventure. Your guide: enthusiastic outdoorswoman Shelby Stanger. Shelby has been teaching folks how to leap into the unknown since she taught her first surf class over twenty years ago. Over the years, she watched many of her students quit their jobs, end dysfunctional relationships, and move across the country for a healthier work-life-balance--all after spending a bit of time in nature. Shelby marveled...

"The word "terroir" refers to the climate and soil in which something is grown. Natasha Sajé applies this idea to people and the environments that nurture and challenge them. In exploring her identity as the child of European refugees alongside her life in the United States, she offers incisive commentary on nationality, race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, and class. From a winter waitressing in Switzerland to marriage to a Jamaican man...

"H Is for Hawk meets Joan Didion in the Pyrocene in this arresting combination of memoir, natural history, and literary inquiry that chronicles one woman's experience of life in Northern California during the worst fire season on record. Told in luminous, perceptive prose, The Last Fire Season is a deeply incisive inquiry into what it really means-now-to live in relationship to the elements of the natural world. When Manjula Martin moved from the...

"When you walk in the woods, do you use all five senses to explore your surroundings? For most of us, the answer is no--but when we do engage all our senses, a walk in the woods can go from pleasant to immersive and restorative. Forest Walking teaches you how to get the most out of your next adventure by becoming a forest detective, decoding nature's signs and awakening to the ancient past and thrilling present of the ecosystem around you. What can...

"Ice is melting, causing polar bears' hunting grounds to shrink. Storms are growing more severe, putting human life at risk. The Effects of Climate Change examines the many ways climate change is affecting the entire planet and making life more challenging for all living things. Easy-to-read text, vivid images, and helpful back matter give readers a clear look at this subject. Features include a table of contents, infographics, a glossary, additional...

"Why human beings have a powerful and fundamental need--mental, spiritual, and physical--for the natural world; the profound impact it has on our consciousness and ability to heal our soul and bring solace to the heart, and the new cutting-edge scientific evidence proving nature as nurturer. In Losing Eden, Lucy Jones interweaves her deeply personal story of recovery from addiction and depression, with that of discovering the natural world and how...

Our connection to nature is deeply rooted in the history of our evolution. And yet, we have less contact with green space now than ever, and our stress and anxiety levels are at an all-time high. "The secret therapy of trees" helps us rediscover the restorative value of our natural environment and presents the science behind green therapies like forest bathing and bioenergetic landscapes, explaining which are the most effective and how to put them...