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The Common Uncommon: A Forest Journey
From the renowned author of A Year in the Maine Woods, the intimate, thoughtful reflections of a lifetime spent observing the natural world.
For forty years, Bernd Heinrich has been ensconced in the woods of the northern, or boreal, forest, a vast sea of spruce, fir, and larch in the mountains of western Maine. All life confronts vast and occasionally rapid environmental changes, as one day, and one season, is to the next a completely different environment. Heinrich’s narrative illuminates the complete experience of his seasonal life—with the ups and downs of not just the leaves and snow, but also the problems, solutions, and frustrations of unblinking immersion in nature. He observes the “common uncommon” of spiders, ants, chestnut trees, porcupines, owls, and mice as his story branches out into five Being, Becoming, Interbeing, Remembering, and Returning. The Common Uncommon is a narrative of small surprises in nature, some delightful and some—brought on by climate change—devastating, all seen through the sharp eye of a world–renowned naturalist.
For forty years, Bernd Heinrich has been ensconced in the woods of the northern, or boreal, forest, a vast sea of spruce, fir, and larch in the mountains of western Maine. All life confronts vast and occasionally rapid environmental changes, as one day, and one season, is to the next a completely different environment. Heinrich’s narrative illuminates the complete experience of his seasonal life—with the ups and downs of not just the leaves and snow, but also the problems, solutions, and frustrations of unblinking immersion in nature. He observes the “common uncommon” of spiders, ants, chestnut trees, porcupines, owls, and mice as his story branches out into five Being, Becoming, Interbeing, Remembering, and Returning. The Common Uncommon is a narrative of small surprises in nature, some delightful and some—brought on by climate change—devastating, all seen through the sharp eye of a world–renowned naturalist.
224 pages, Hardcover
Published April 21, 2026
About the author
Bernd Heinrich
66 books721 followersBernd Heinrich was born in Germany and moved to Wilton, Maine as a child. He studied at the University of Maine and UCLA and is Professor Emeritus of Biology at the University of Vermont.
He is the author of many books including Winter World, Ravens in Winter, Mind of the Raven, and Why We Run. Many of his books focus on the natural world just outside the cabin door.
Heinrich has won numerous awards for his writing and is a world class ultra-marathon runner.
He spends much of the year at a rustic cabin that he built himself in the woods near Weld, Maine.
He is the author of many books including Winter World, Ravens in Winter, Mind of the Raven, and Why We Run. Many of his books focus on the natural world just outside the cabin door.
Heinrich has won numerous awards for his writing and is a world class ultra-marathon runner.
He spends much of the year at a rustic cabin that he built himself in the woods near Weld, Maine.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
July 22, 2026
"Traditionally a story starts from a problem or a place and continues to an ending or conclusion. This one is not traditional. It starts at a place but reaches out from there forward, back, and in between." The Common Uncommon hits a sweet spot for me - it conveys a deep scientific exploration and examination of the natural world along with an abiding sense of the awe and beauty of nature. Bernd Heinrich has spent over 40 years living in a cabin in the Maine woods. This work is a reflection of sorts of the ways that learning and noticing the common things in our environment provides the opportunity for us to revel in the uncommon. It's a beautiful read that makes me want to take a walk in the woods.
May 24, 2026
I loved this book. It's just charming and fun and slow. It often reads like a diary, which I enjoy. Heinrich tells the reader in the preface that it isn't a traditional novel, it "starts at a place but reaches out from there forward, back, and in between". Which is fun and unique, and it definitely reads that way. It can be a little hard to follow, but I think that's sort of the point. He's not telling a linear story, which aligns with his philosophy that things ebb, flow, adapt, and surprise us if we pay attention. So I'm down for it, but it might throw off readers who need structure.
Heinrich focuses on the world around his cabin throughout the decades and across the seasons. He reflects on his life, his philosophy, his approach to learning and understanding, his connection with nature, his observations about birds, trees, insects etc. and it's just a refreshing read overall.
Two main principles really resonated with me. I'll share the associated quote that captures the idea.
1) "Substance itself has its own beauty if we know it. Otherwise, we don't see it either" page 25
2) Absence of a goal is freedom to notice the new that comes along, rather than continuing on a path one had preconceived" -preface
The reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is that the book at times felt a little incomplete. On the one hand, he'd tell the story of a species, remark on it's behaviour and what he noticed, and then he'd pivot to a memory or something else. As mentioned, that's sort of the point and the fluidity is deliberate, but it did leave me wanting at times. Especially with some subjects or stories, I craved more depth, but now I have a list of topics to research further so it's all good.
4/5 I'm very glad I picked this book off a display at my local library. It's not the kind of book I'd typically gravitate towards, but I'm glad I did and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a book that will force them to slow down a bit. The book has a very cozy, peaceful, and intelligent vibe.
Heinrich focuses on the world around his cabin throughout the decades and across the seasons. He reflects on his life, his philosophy, his approach to learning and understanding, his connection with nature, his observations about birds, trees, insects etc. and it's just a refreshing read overall.
Two main principles really resonated with me. I'll share the associated quote that captures the idea.
1) "Substance itself has its own beauty if we know it. Otherwise, we don't see it either" page 25
2) Absence of a goal is freedom to notice the new that comes along, rather than continuing on a path one had preconceived" -preface
The reason this isn't a 5 star read for me is that the book at times felt a little incomplete. On the one hand, he'd tell the story of a species, remark on it's behaviour and what he noticed, and then he'd pivot to a memory or something else. As mentioned, that's sort of the point and the fluidity is deliberate, but it did leave me wanting at times. Especially with some subjects or stories, I craved more depth, but now I have a list of topics to research further so it's all good.
4/5 I'm very glad I picked this book off a display at my local library. It's not the kind of book I'd typically gravitate towards, but I'm glad I did and I'd recommend it to anyone looking for a book that will force them to slow down a bit. The book has a very cozy, peaceful, and intelligent vibe.
July 20, 2026
There is a lot of fascinating information presented in this book. The author, who was 84 at the time of the book’s writing has travelled a most unusual journey. He was born in Germany to entomologist and ornithologist, Gerd Heinrich. Gerd fought for the Germans in both WWI and WWII. The family lived in a small forester's hut in Hahnheide Forest from 1945 until 1951, when they emigrated to the United States. Bernd earned his Ph.D. in 1970 from the University of California, Los Angeles. In 1971, he accepted a position at the University of California, Berkeley where he became a professor of entomology. In 1980 he accepted a position as a professor of zoology/biology at the University of Vermont. He has won numerous long-distance running events and set a number of open U.S. ultramarathon and masters records.
This was the first of the many books he has written that I read. It’s a slim volume, but a meandering read. He relates stories primarily from his cabin in Maine where he currently resides, living simply, letting his observations and curiosity guide his ongoing experiments of the natural world around him. Were that we all as vigorous as this octogenarian who chops his own firewood, swims in the Alder Stream, pulls a dead cow moose out of his well, hunts deer, etc. The book made me more cognizant of nature. I now check out the details and location of spiders on their webs and have looked into the possibility of growing chestnut trees in my yard. I now know that squirrels as well as sapsuckers tap into maple trees. I may attempt some of his other books, in hopes that they flow better than this one did.
“Understanding and empathy are never far apart.” Pg. 45
"What will happen when we all wake up, realize that we are each one part of the great creation that is Life of this Planet Earth, which affects every part in the long run? The "run" that is measured not just in our own lifetimes, but in the lives intertwined into one interactive all." Pg 78
Author
https://www.uvm.edu/cas/biology/profi...
https://www.outsideonline.com/running...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernd_H...
https://youtu.be/_PUYSJeAmNM
https://www.mshof.com/bios/biodetails...
https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/edu...
https://www.umainealumni.com/classnew...
https://radioopensource.org/bernd-hei...
https://www.npr.org/2003/03/02/117750...
https://www.mainetree.org/post/bernd-...
https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced...
https://smry.ai/www.sunjournal.com/20...
PERC in Maine
(The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) explores how aligning incentives for environmental stewardship produces sustainable outcomes for land, water, and wildlife.)
https://www.perc.org/2026/05/27/conse...
Movie trailer
https://web.archive.org/web/201107130...
https://web.archive.org/web/201102231...
Feller-buncher
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FsEYWiO...
Woodcock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodcock
Goshawks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a unique type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species unable to withstand competition or predation by fish
Pelage-The coat of a mammal, consisting of hair, fur, or wool, as distinct from bare skin
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds, although bats may also be considered for display. Unlike birdcages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages in the United Kingdom. Aviaries often contain plants and shrubbery to simulate a natural environment.
Sapsucker damage
https://youtu.be/VQ3DyLO8nQM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zfqcGgu...
Xylem carries water and minerals up, phloem transports food substances in both directions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides...
Tree swallows
Swallows are often found nesting in areas where beavers are present because beavers create wetland habitats that attract a variety of insects, which are a primary food source for swallows. Additionally, the structures built by beavers can provide suitable nesting sites for these birds
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uf9XXz0...
In biology, a cuckold is a male who unwittingly invests parental effort in juveniles who are not genetically his offspring.[1]
If a man is cuckolded, his wife has a sexual relationship with another man
fledge
To take care of (a young bird) until it is ready to fly.
To cover with or as if with feathers.
To provide (an arrow) with feathers.
A clutch of eggs is the group of eggs produced by birds, amphibians, or reptiles, often at a single time, particularly those laid in a nest.
Redpoll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redpoll
Ground nesting songbirds remove all poop from their young as predators learn to associate it with fresh meat pg. 62
https://www.audubon.org/news/what-are...
https://www.birdful.org/what-do-birds...
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/do-bir...
Broad-leaved trees are adapting better to environmental change than conifers pg. 71
SPEAKING OF NATURE: Red, gray squirrels differ in food storage habits | Lifestyle | fltimes.com https://share.google/cpDd7EL0Ym4PfOm77
Larder hoarder vs scatter hoarder
Tagging bumblebees
https://youtu.be/Bn33l_0GJ94
American chestnut - Wikipedia https://share.google/W1OdHPfSkn1QE6hvo
The team’s observations arose from the growing seasons of 2019 and 2020 and built upon previous monitoring done by Heinrich. The Northeastern Naturalist article documented the effects of scatter hoarding, a process by which red squirrels and blue jays cache chestnut seeds underground throughout the forest to save food for the winter months. If the jays and squirrels don’t make it back to their caches, the seeds will germinate into saplings. With the assistance of these animals for transport, the chestnut saplings counted in the survey had an average dispersal distance of approximately 124 meters from the parent trees with a nearly 90 percent survival rate between the two growing seasons. In total, the scientists counted 1,348 trees, the second-largest known population of American chestnut trees in the country today
Weld, Maine, is north of the historical range of the American chestnut, but climate change trends mean that chestnut trees can now grow where they couldn’t before. The findings in the Northeastern Naturalist paper may be especially helpful in the widespread effort by organizations such as The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) to repopulate northern New England forests with chestnuts, including areas outside of the tree’s historical range, where they could potentially avoid the influence of the blight.
Bernd Heinrich started with 15 chestnuts, and 2 survived to reproduce. “And now there’s nearly 1,500 young trees,” Mazurowski said. “So, yeah, I might only have a dozen or so seeds, but who knows?” Packing the seeds carefully into his bag, he added, “I don’t know if any of these will make it to reproductive age, but if I end up with two reproductive trees, I could end up with a forest, too.”
https://northernwoodlands.org/article...
https://tacf.org/
https://www.rescuingtheamericanchestn...
Promothea moth
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AkuqFYy...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callosa...
Lifecycle
These four moth species all emerge from their cocoons in late May or June. They mate and lay eggs in the next day or two – adult moths don’t eat, so they only live for a few days. The caterpillars hatch within a week or so after the eggs were laid. The caterpillars eat and grow all summer, and make their cocoons in August or September. They go through the pupa stage – the change from a caterpillar to an adult – inside their cocoons. They over winter in their cocoons, and the adults emerge the following spring.
https://www.prairiehaven.com/?page_id...
Ancillary means providing necessary support, help, or extra value to a primary activity, function, or main product
Alder Stream
https://newildernesstrust.org/project...
samara
A dry, indehiscent, winged one-seeded or two-seeded fruit, as of an ash, elm, or maple.
The winged indehiscent fruit of trees such as the ash, elm or maple.
Burying beetles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burying...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CUOPx1q...
Beetles have symbiotic relationship with the mites they carry. Mites feed on the fly maggots which would otherwise compete with the beetle larvae for the carcass
Coyote singing
https://youtu.be/q0dBWkiEdE0
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xKksJ3f...
Wolves are dogs. Wolf and German shepherd or poodle are so similar they can and sometimes do interbreed, pg. 107
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf
Coeval means existing during the same period of time, or being of the same age or date of origin
"Humankind was coeval with the raven ever since Homo sapiens ventured out of Africa...when they spotted caribou, they would lead humans to the herd..." Pg. 115
Precocial describes animal offspring that are relatively mature, mobile, and capable of independent activity shortly after birth or hatching. [1, 2]
Lycopodiopsida is an ancient class of seedless vascular plants commonly known as club mosses and firmosses
Abscission is the natural process by which a plant sheds parts like leaves, fruits, flowers, or seeds.
Circannual means a biological process or cycle that happens or repeats in approximately a yearly period
Leaf senescence is the final, highly regulated developmental stage of aging in plant leaves where cells systematically break down and recycle vital nutrients
Senescence is the biological process of growing old, where cells permanently stop dividing and changing shape without dying.
Why Do Some Leaves Persist On Beech and Oak… by Michael Snyder https://share.google/ZoVeDCq2ai59gOXPP
Marcescence is the botanical phenomenon where deciduous trees retain their dead, withered leaves through the winter and into the spring instead of dropping them in autumn
It is notable in that it is one of the few venomous mammals
Northern short-tailed shrew - Wikipedia https://share.google/NLtCCkW6ys7GXoy0d
Author's town
Wilton, Maine - Wikipedia https://share.google/BB4PuOiEUu5gYraPi
Making fusion work https://share.google/VMb8GyA4W80VmXd86
Lichen, example of species melding, amalgam of fungus, alga and yeast acting and being one
Ichneumon (medieval zoology) is a legendary creature from medieval bestiaries and classical writings known as the sworn enemy and killer of dragons, snakes, and crocodiles
Ichneumon wasps are parasitoids, meaning their larvae feed and develop on or within the bodies of other arthropods. They parasitize many insect groups, especially Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Coleoptera (beetles), and other Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps). Some utilize spiders as hosts.
This was the first of the many books he has written that I read. It’s a slim volume, but a meandering read. He relates stories primarily from his cabin in Maine where he currently resides, living simply, letting his observations and curiosity guide his ongoing experiments of the natural world around him. Were that we all as vigorous as this octogenarian who chops his own firewood, swims in the Alder Stream, pulls a dead cow moose out of his well, hunts deer, etc. The book made me more cognizant of nature. I now check out the details and location of spiders on their webs and have looked into the possibility of growing chestnut trees in my yard. I now know that squirrels as well as sapsuckers tap into maple trees. I may attempt some of his other books, in hopes that they flow better than this one did.
“Understanding and empathy are never far apart.” Pg. 45
"What will happen when we all wake up, realize that we are each one part of the great creation that is Life of this Planet Earth, which affects every part in the long run? The "run" that is measured not just in our own lifetimes, but in the lives intertwined into one interactive all." Pg 78
Author
https://www.uvm.edu/cas/biology/profi...
https://www.outsideonline.com/running...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bernd_H...
https://youtu.be/_PUYSJeAmNM
https://www.mshof.com/bios/biodetails...
https://www.encyclopedia.com/arts/edu...
https://www.umainealumni.com/classnew...
https://radioopensource.org/bernd-hei...
https://www.npr.org/2003/03/02/117750...
https://www.mainetree.org/post/bernd-...
https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced...
https://smry.ai/www.sunjournal.com/20...
PERC in Maine
(The Property and Environment Research Center (PERC) explores how aligning incentives for environmental stewardship produces sustainable outcomes for land, water, and wildlife.)
https://www.perc.org/2026/05/27/conse...
Movie trailer
https://web.archive.org/web/201107130...
https://web.archive.org/web/201102231...
Feller-buncher
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=FsEYWiO...
Woodcock
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Woodcock
Goshawks
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/America...
Vernal pools, also called vernal ponds or ephemeral pools, are seasonal pools of water that provide habitat for distinctive plants and animals. They are considered to be a unique type of wetland usually devoid of fish, and thus allow the safe development of natal amphibian and insect species unable to withstand competition or predation by fish
Pelage-The coat of a mammal, consisting of hair, fur, or wool, as distinct from bare skin
An aviary is a large enclosure for confining birds, although bats may also be considered for display. Unlike birdcages, aviaries allow birds a larger living space where they can fly; hence, aviaries are also sometimes known as flight cages in the United Kingdom. Aviaries often contain plants and shrubbery to simulate a natural environment.
Sapsucker damage
https://youtu.be/VQ3DyLO8nQM
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=zfqcGgu...
Xylem carries water and minerals up, phloem transports food substances in both directions
https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides...
Tree swallows
Swallows are often found nesting in areas where beavers are present because beavers create wetland habitats that attract a variety of insects, which are a primary food source for swallows. Additionally, the structures built by beavers can provide suitable nesting sites for these birds
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=uf9XXz0...
In biology, a cuckold is a male who unwittingly invests parental effort in juveniles who are not genetically his offspring.[1]
If a man is cuckolded, his wife has a sexual relationship with another man
fledge
To take care of (a young bird) until it is ready to fly.
To cover with or as if with feathers.
To provide (an arrow) with feathers.
A clutch of eggs is the group of eggs produced by birds, amphibians, or reptiles, often at a single time, particularly those laid in a nest.
Redpoll
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Redpoll
Ground nesting songbirds remove all poop from their young as predators learn to associate it with fresh meat pg. 62
https://www.audubon.org/news/what-are...
https://www.birdful.org/what-do-birds...
https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/do-bir...
Broad-leaved trees are adapting better to environmental change than conifers pg. 71
SPEAKING OF NATURE: Red, gray squirrels differ in food storage habits | Lifestyle | fltimes.com https://share.google/cpDd7EL0Ym4PfOm77
Larder hoarder vs scatter hoarder
Tagging bumblebees
https://youtu.be/Bn33l_0GJ94
American chestnut - Wikipedia https://share.google/W1OdHPfSkn1QE6hvo
The team’s observations arose from the growing seasons of 2019 and 2020 and built upon previous monitoring done by Heinrich. The Northeastern Naturalist article documented the effects of scatter hoarding, a process by which red squirrels and blue jays cache chestnut seeds underground throughout the forest to save food for the winter months. If the jays and squirrels don’t make it back to their caches, the seeds will germinate into saplings. With the assistance of these animals for transport, the chestnut saplings counted in the survey had an average dispersal distance of approximately 124 meters from the parent trees with a nearly 90 percent survival rate between the two growing seasons. In total, the scientists counted 1,348 trees, the second-largest known population of American chestnut trees in the country today
Weld, Maine, is north of the historical range of the American chestnut, but climate change trends mean that chestnut trees can now grow where they couldn’t before. The findings in the Northeastern Naturalist paper may be especially helpful in the widespread effort by organizations such as The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) to repopulate northern New England forests with chestnuts, including areas outside of the tree’s historical range, where they could potentially avoid the influence of the blight.
Bernd Heinrich started with 15 chestnuts, and 2 survived to reproduce. “And now there’s nearly 1,500 young trees,” Mazurowski said. “So, yeah, I might only have a dozen or so seeds, but who knows?” Packing the seeds carefully into his bag, he added, “I don’t know if any of these will make it to reproductive age, but if I end up with two reproductive trees, I could end up with a forest, too.”
https://northernwoodlands.org/article...
https://tacf.org/
https://www.rescuingtheamericanchestn...
Promothea moth
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=AkuqFYy...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Callosa...
Lifecycle
These four moth species all emerge from their cocoons in late May or June. They mate and lay eggs in the next day or two – adult moths don’t eat, so they only live for a few days. The caterpillars hatch within a week or so after the eggs were laid. The caterpillars eat and grow all summer, and make their cocoons in August or September. They go through the pupa stage – the change from a caterpillar to an adult – inside their cocoons. They over winter in their cocoons, and the adults emerge the following spring.
https://www.prairiehaven.com/?page_id...
Ancillary means providing necessary support, help, or extra value to a primary activity, function, or main product
Alder Stream
https://newildernesstrust.org/project...
samara
A dry, indehiscent, winged one-seeded or two-seeded fruit, as of an ash, elm, or maple.
The winged indehiscent fruit of trees such as the ash, elm or maple.
Burying beetles
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burying...
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=CUOPx1q...
Beetles have symbiotic relationship with the mites they carry. Mites feed on the fly maggots which would otherwise compete with the beetle larvae for the carcass
Coyote singing
https://youtu.be/q0dBWkiEdE0
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=xKksJ3f...
Wolves are dogs. Wolf and German shepherd or poodle are so similar they can and sometimes do interbreed, pg. 107
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolf
Coeval means existing during the same period of time, or being of the same age or date of origin
"Humankind was coeval with the raven ever since Homo sapiens ventured out of Africa...when they spotted caribou, they would lead humans to the herd..." Pg. 115
Precocial describes animal offspring that are relatively mature, mobile, and capable of independent activity shortly after birth or hatching. [1, 2]
Lycopodiopsida is an ancient class of seedless vascular plants commonly known as club mosses and firmosses
Abscission is the natural process by which a plant sheds parts like leaves, fruits, flowers, or seeds.
Circannual means a biological process or cycle that happens or repeats in approximately a yearly period
Leaf senescence is the final, highly regulated developmental stage of aging in plant leaves where cells systematically break down and recycle vital nutrients
Senescence is the biological process of growing old, where cells permanently stop dividing and changing shape without dying.
Why Do Some Leaves Persist On Beech and Oak… by Michael Snyder https://share.google/ZoVeDCq2ai59gOXPP
Marcescence is the botanical phenomenon where deciduous trees retain their dead, withered leaves through the winter and into the spring instead of dropping them in autumn
It is notable in that it is one of the few venomous mammals
Northern short-tailed shrew - Wikipedia https://share.google/NLtCCkW6ys7GXoy0d
Author's town
Wilton, Maine - Wikipedia https://share.google/BB4PuOiEUu5gYraPi
Making fusion work https://share.google/VMb8GyA4W80VmXd86
Lichen, example of species melding, amalgam of fungus, alga and yeast acting and being one
Ichneumon (medieval zoology) is a legendary creature from medieval bestiaries and classical writings known as the sworn enemy and killer of dragons, snakes, and crocodiles
Ichneumon wasps are parasitoids, meaning their larvae feed and develop on or within the bodies of other arthropods. They parasitize many insect groups, especially Lepidoptera (moths and butterflies), Coleoptera (beetles), and other Hymenoptera (ants, bees, and wasps). Some utilize spiders as hosts.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
This book was provided pre-publication by NetGalley.
This (I hope) will not be the last work by Bernd Heinrich, but in it the 85 year old writer and scientist provides sort of a summing up of his life and career. He revisits some of his past research work as well as discussing new observations and investigations.
I think it works very well as a book and makes great sense from the perspective of an aging writer and scientist (and naturalist). I suspect that at his age he realized that it would be impractical to pick up a new and wide ranging idea to study. But that does not mean he has stopped thinking, learning or teaching. He has just limited his research to the world he lives in: his cabin in the Maine woods. That does not in any way limit the range of ideas or the wealth of knowledge in this book.
His focus is a little wider than some of his past works. Rather than focus on Ravens, or Honey Bees or trees, he looks at all of the elements of his environment and narrows in on specific ideas animals and plants based on what he sees that leads him to wonder why, or how.
I loved the writing and the combination of hard science with a humane viewpoint. I think that is will be a great addition to those who have read and enjoyed his previous books, but could also be a good introduction to new readers who can then jump into his other books that focus on a remarkably wide range of subjects.
Highly recommend.
This (I hope) will not be the last work by Bernd Heinrich, but in it the 85 year old writer and scientist provides sort of a summing up of his life and career. He revisits some of his past research work as well as discussing new observations and investigations.
I think it works very well as a book and makes great sense from the perspective of an aging writer and scientist (and naturalist). I suspect that at his age he realized that it would be impractical to pick up a new and wide ranging idea to study. But that does not mean he has stopped thinking, learning or teaching. He has just limited his research to the world he lives in: his cabin in the Maine woods. That does not in any way limit the range of ideas or the wealth of knowledge in this book.
His focus is a little wider than some of his past works. Rather than focus on Ravens, or Honey Bees or trees, he looks at all of the elements of his environment and narrows in on specific ideas animals and plants based on what he sees that leads him to wonder why, or how.
I loved the writing and the combination of hard science with a humane viewpoint. I think that is will be a great addition to those who have read and enjoyed his previous books, but could also be a good introduction to new readers who can then jump into his other books that focus on a remarkably wide range of subjects.
Highly recommend.
August 19, 2026
2.5 stars.
Meh. I wanted to love this and I certainly found parts of it incredibly interesting. I think that Heinrich has lived a very fulfilling life and would be lovely to sit and chat with. I also looked up pictures of his cabin in Maine and it looks beautiful and idyllic.
However, this book, (to be fair I haven't read his others) felt meandering and not in the fun way.
Perhaps it is because he was 84 when he wrote this book or perhaps it is just his style. Either way I really struggled to finish this despite the fact that I love reading Naturalist books. I don't mind a slow, mellow read but this just felt disjointed and jumped around a lot without tying everything back in together. I did learn some interesting factoids though, so there is that.
Another thought, and it is probably just a pet peeve of mine: at the beginning of each chapter there was a quote but each quote was from one of his own books. I don't know.. felt a little self indulgent to me but he is the author and this is his book.
I started this book by reading it physically but ended up finishing it on audio. I still didn't love it or even particularly like it but I felt it easier to get through in the audio format.
Not sure who I would recommend this book to.
Meh. I wanted to love this and I certainly found parts of it incredibly interesting. I think that Heinrich has lived a very fulfilling life and would be lovely to sit and chat with. I also looked up pictures of his cabin in Maine and it looks beautiful and idyllic.
However, this book, (to be fair I haven't read his others) felt meandering and not in the fun way.
Perhaps it is because he was 84 when he wrote this book or perhaps it is just his style. Either way I really struggled to finish this despite the fact that I love reading Naturalist books. I don't mind a slow, mellow read but this just felt disjointed and jumped around a lot without tying everything back in together. I did learn some interesting factoids though, so there is that.
Another thought, and it is probably just a pet peeve of mine: at the beginning of each chapter there was a quote but each quote was from one of his own books. I don't know.. felt a little self indulgent to me but he is the author and this is his book.
I started this book by reading it physically but ended up finishing it on audio. I still didn't love it or even particularly like it but I felt it easier to get through in the audio format.
Not sure who I would recommend this book to.
May 1, 2026
In The Common Uncommon, Bernd Heinrich documents forty years of living in a log cabin tucked away in the deep woods of Maine. He records his observations of species like beavers, spiders, and owls, while diving deep into the complex social behaviors of ravens and the ways climate change is currently damaging the ecosystem. From tiny organisms to the wood frog that survives by freezing solid, these observations explore how all life is connected through the cycles of nature.
The ex-zoology student in me had a nice time with this. I learned a few new things about animals and the environment, and some of the scientific deep-dives were interesting. I also really enjoyed reading about his experience with maple sugaring and the process of tapping the trees. However, I would have liked a little more focus on the memoir aspect of his life in the woods. But maybe he has another book dedicated to his personal life.
I think if you're interested in nature and the science of foliage and animals, you will enjoy this. However, if you're looking for a full memoir with lighter nature writing, this might not be for you.
Thank you W.W. Norton for the gifted copy!
The ex-zoology student in me had a nice time with this. I learned a few new things about animals and the environment, and some of the scientific deep-dives were interesting. I also really enjoyed reading about his experience with maple sugaring and the process of tapping the trees. However, I would have liked a little more focus on the memoir aspect of his life in the woods. But maybe he has another book dedicated to his personal life.
I think if you're interested in nature and the science of foliage and animals, you will enjoy this. However, if you're looking for a full memoir with lighter nature writing, this might not be for you.
Thank you W.W. Norton for the gifted copy!
May 27, 2026
3.5 stars
At times it feels like we're just following Heinrich's mind bouncing from one thing to the next and back in slightly disconnected ways, occasionally seeming to not close the loop on an idea; and there were moments where he seemed to repeat something he'd explained just a handful of pages earlier. But when he focuses in on his close observations it's a joy to feel his enthusiasm for the natural world come through. It's a relatively quick read and I enjoyed the vibes.
At times it feels like we're just following Heinrich's mind bouncing from one thing to the next and back in slightly disconnected ways, occasionally seeming to not close the loop on an idea; and there were moments where he seemed to repeat something he'd explained just a handful of pages earlier. But when he focuses in on his close observations it's a joy to feel his enthusiasm for the natural world come through. It's a relatively quick read and I enjoyed the vibes.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Reading about the seasons of nature is one of my favorite ways to survive the winter and dream of the new year's gardens.
Heinrich is a top-notch observer and writer who checks all the boxes. His understanding of human entanglements with the rest of nature is deeply appreciated.
Heinrich is a top-notch observer and writer who checks all the boxes. His understanding of human entanglements with the rest of nature is deeply appreciated.
July 19, 2026
Bernd Heinrich has written 20 books in English and I think I have read them all! I just love how he explains difficult subjects in such simple language and uses the scientific method to solve mysteries. We are lucky he has shared his love of nature with all of us! I hope he is not done writing!😎
Read
January 18, 2026Review to come
May 24, 2026
Lovely nature writing, as ever, but I wanted it to be a little more tied together, I think.
May 31, 2026
Reads almost like a diary very quick read
June 2, 2026
Interesting ecological observations about life in the north woods, both flora and fauna.
August 25, 2026
Believe it or not, this is a romance.
July 25, 2026
“Feeling the beauty and wonder of nature is a prelude to loving it.“ -Bernd Heinrich
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This is my fifth Heinrich book, the third I’ve completed. (God bless the deadline of a library loan which applies just enough gentle pressure for me to finish before the book must be returned.) I own two more of his books which are still in-progress and sitting in various book piles at home; I’ll get through them eventually and will undoubtedly rank them as high as these other three.
I enjoyed this one as much as the other two I’ve finished (Summer World; Winter World), where he continues to describe in great detail and through the lens of a Mainer, naturalist, scientist and nature-lover his close observations of the flora and fauna around his Maine cabin. I also appreciated his sharing details about other, earlier parts of his life - his childhood and family in Germany, as well as brief references to other exotic research locations around the world, (more of this, please!).
I’ll admit that I struggle with and am a bit squeamish about his descriptions of the many animals he’s sacrificed over the years for scientific or mere curiosity purposes; as a scientist, naturalist and carnivore myself, having benefited from knowledge (and protein!) obtained via the sacrifice of animals, I realize my own hypocrisy in passing that judgment on another. And given his simple rural life with a relatively small carbon footprint, his contributions to scientific knowledge, discourse and thought, contributions to his local ecosystem (he’s brought back a fungal-resistant American Chestnut to the Maine woods!), perhaps the whole is greater than the sum of his parts.
Heinrich’s writings, and his life, are fascinating and often delightfully witty, and I’ve only scratched the surface of his oeuvre. He’s now in his 80’s but is clearly still strong as an ox, given the rugged life he lives at his Maine cabin, so there may still be more books in him. When the sad, inevitable time does come for someone else to write his biography, I don’t envy them that task - he’s lived quite a full life. But I’ll read that biography eagerly. In the meantime, Heinrich has a robust body of work of which I can continue to plow through - a good problem.
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This is my fifth Heinrich book, the third I’ve completed. (God bless the deadline of a library loan which applies just enough gentle pressure for me to finish before the book must be returned.) I own two more of his books which are still in-progress and sitting in various book piles at home; I’ll get through them eventually and will undoubtedly rank them as high as these other three.
I enjoyed this one as much as the other two I’ve finished (Summer World; Winter World), where he continues to describe in great detail and through the lens of a Mainer, naturalist, scientist and nature-lover his close observations of the flora and fauna around his Maine cabin. I also appreciated his sharing details about other, earlier parts of his life - his childhood and family in Germany, as well as brief references to other exotic research locations around the world, (more of this, please!).
I’ll admit that I struggle with and am a bit squeamish about his descriptions of the many animals he’s sacrificed over the years for scientific or mere curiosity purposes; as a scientist, naturalist and carnivore myself, having benefited from knowledge (and protein!) obtained via the sacrifice of animals, I realize my own hypocrisy in passing that judgment on another. And given his simple rural life with a relatively small carbon footprint, his contributions to scientific knowledge, discourse and thought, contributions to his local ecosystem (he’s brought back a fungal-resistant American Chestnut to the Maine woods!), perhaps the whole is greater than the sum of his parts.
Heinrich’s writings, and his life, are fascinating and often delightfully witty, and I’ve only scratched the surface of his oeuvre. He’s now in his 80’s but is clearly still strong as an ox, given the rugged life he lives at his Maine cabin, so there may still be more books in him. When the sad, inevitable time does come for someone else to write his biography, I don’t envy them that task - he’s lived quite a full life. But I’ll read that biography eagerly. In the meantime, Heinrich has a robust body of work of which I can continue to plow through - a good problem.
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