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The Nature Instinct: Relearning Our Lost Intuition for the Inner Workings of the Natural World
“A captivating guide to finding one’s way in the wild.”— The Wall Street Journal
The culmination of everything Tristan Gooley, New York Times - bestselling author of How to Read a Tree and The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, has written so How to take what you learn about the outdoors—and make it second nature
Readers of master outdoorsman Tristan Gooley have learned that the world is filled with clues to look for—we can use the Big Dipper to tell time, for example, and a budding flower to find south. But what about the innate survival instincts that told Gooley to move on one night, just as he was about to make camp? Everything looked perfect, but something felt wrong. When Gooley returned to his abandoned campsite to search for clues, there they All of the tree trunks were slightly bent. The ground had already shifted once in a storm—and could easily shift again, becoming treacherous in heavy rain.
The Nature Instinct shows us how Gooley and other expert observers—from hunters in the English countryside to the Pygmy people in the Congo—have recovered and rekindled this lost “sixth sense;” a subconscious, deeper understanding of our surroundings. By training ourselves through slow, careful observation, we too can unlock this kind of intuition—for finding the forest’s edge when deep in the woods, or knowing when a wild animal might pose danger—without even having to stop to think about it.
Publisher's The Nature Instinct was published in the UK under the title Wild Signs and Star Paths.
The culmination of everything Tristan Gooley, New York Times - bestselling author of How to Read a Tree and The Lost Art of Reading Nature’s Signs, has written so How to take what you learn about the outdoors—and make it second nature
Readers of master outdoorsman Tristan Gooley have learned that the world is filled with clues to look for—we can use the Big Dipper to tell time, for example, and a budding flower to find south. But what about the innate survival instincts that told Gooley to move on one night, just as he was about to make camp? Everything looked perfect, but something felt wrong. When Gooley returned to his abandoned campsite to search for clues, there they All of the tree trunks were slightly bent. The ground had already shifted once in a storm—and could easily shift again, becoming treacherous in heavy rain.
The Nature Instinct shows us how Gooley and other expert observers—from hunters in the English countryside to the Pygmy people in the Congo—have recovered and rekindled this lost “sixth sense;” a subconscious, deeper understanding of our surroundings. By training ourselves through slow, careful observation, we too can unlock this kind of intuition—for finding the forest’s edge when deep in the woods, or knowing when a wild animal might pose danger—without even having to stop to think about it.
Publisher's The Nature Instinct was published in the UK under the title Wild Signs and Star Paths.
400 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2018
364 people are currently reading
2638 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 76 reviews
June 29, 2018
This is on a par with the other of his books. It’s a delight to read of itself but the subject matter is fascinating as it deals with the unconscious and automatic reactions and instincts we have as humans which are essentially the same as those of other sentient beings. Some I recognised; some I found from the book and having read about them, I realised that I knew them and some were new. I can only recommend it to both a casual reader and to those who travel in the country, fields and woods.
August 18, 2018
"The Nature Instinct" is about how the author learned to be more aware of nature, especially about how animals act. He started each short chapter by describing a time when he observed a certain thing or used a skill. In the case of learning to navigate by using the sun or stars or becoming more aware of the wind direction, he described how the reader can learn to do this (even if you don't live in England). In the chapters about animal behavior, he talked about how certain animals--mostly wild animals--act and why.
I had thought the book would be more about practical skills rather than things like how to anticipate which tree a squirrel will run up when it feels threatened. It seemed like most of the book was either about animal behavior or why we should take the time to closely observe nature. I already enjoy observing nature, and it felt like the book was more trying to intrigue and educate people who normally don't spend much time doing so.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
I had thought the book would be more about practical skills rather than things like how to anticipate which tree a squirrel will run up when it feels threatened. It seemed like most of the book was either about animal behavior or why we should take the time to closely observe nature. I already enjoy observing nature, and it felt like the book was more trying to intrigue and educate people who normally don't spend much time doing so.
I received an ebook review copy of this book from the publisher through Netgalley.
December 4, 2018
It's an interesting book, but it all struck me as a bit too superficial, kinda like TV news: we're going to tell you about this story next, but they spend more time telling you about what they're going to cover than actually covering it. Not really what I was hoping.
December 5, 2025
“The world is full of magic things, patiently waiting for our senses to grow sharper.” – W.B. Yeats
I remember the first time I went mushroom hunting, nearly 15 years ago, and the moment when it was like a light switched “on” and, all of a sudden, I could see the chanterelles everywhere, peeping out from under the duff. More than an “instinct” – it’s having a patient teacher to explain what to look for and spending time looking and absorbing one’s surroundings until it feels like an instinct.
Tristan Gooley is a gifted writer -- sharing his stories of his observations of signs of plants and animals and diving into details of scientific findings. His writing is so detailed – I wonder if he just spends time writing after he gets back home or if he jots down notes while he is afield.
While his writing is not as wild and captivating as some of John Muir’s stories – Gooley is providing a level of detail and making connections in a way that weave a story of the cloth of existence and how all creatures are connected. I never knew, for example, that robins could hear earthworms popping up out of the ground. While I have always known that cats, dogs and other animals have mood and character – I enjoyed the story about how dogs “play” humans with the head tilt and science confirming that many animals possess an awareness of mind and think about what other animals may be thinking/doing in the future.
I enjoyed reading about the differences in the way animals (prey/predator) see things – and have long ago learned the value of sidelong glances toward shy feral cats and other wild things. I love the term “jink” and have noticed this behavior in animals when hiking on trails but didn’t know it had a name. The story about raptors hunting away from their nests – and songbirds nesting near raptor nests – was brilliant.
My favorite story was about how the author went hiking in a new area, drumlins covered with zones of bracken and heather – and found himself compelled to walk in one area and return via the other, realizing later that he’d instinctively chosen the routes based on maintaining comfortable body temperature (without a jacket, on the return, the higher bracken provided a break from the wind). I also learned a lot about hedges – which we don’t have here in the US.
Gooley is a huge fan of the slow/fast thinking and references Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow” several times (it’s on my pile to read, right after this one!).
It’s interesting that many people consider knowledge of the plants, animals and environment around the to be inaccessible. I remember asking a Spanish friend who lives on a small island called Mallorca, in a quaint small town of Palma, about some flowers. She insists that she is a “city girl” and really doesn’t know much about farming and plants. Even identifying the orchards on the side of the road as we whizzed by was outside her realm of knowledge. When showing a friend who lives in a gated-community in Colorado my 6 different types of basil, he commented “You’re the only botanist I know” (though I imagine as a fly fishing aficionado, he could tell me much about fish behavior). Another friend recently revealed to me that he hates the outdoors and avoids nature as much as possible.
There is much to see an analyze in modern urban, “civilized” life – as demonstrated from the breadth of effort expended on mindfulness, meditation, understanding human motivation and behavior (even the Kahneman book) – that one might make the argument that most humans have had to make the choice of paying attention to select things in their immediate environment that yield the most reward or benefit for the lifestyle to which they aspire.
Perhaps, what Gooley is implying, is that we need to step outside of our own minds and away from human society to pay attention to the greater web of plants, animals and environment around us to preserve those things we most value. There’s so much to learn -- and humans so easily get trapped into thinking they are the most important and interesting thing around. Maybe cats do, too.
I would have liked to have seen the author dive into more parallels between the human thought and observation process of the natural environment with the human and human-constructed environment, and perhaps a greater focus on the potential impact of our disconnect with the rest of the non-human world around us. Or, at least, the richness and reward of greater connection. Overall – quite an enjoyable book – my takeaways include a renewed commitment to memorizing constellations, “vegetalistas” of the Amazon, the “gokotta” – Swedish practice of rising early to experience people-free environments, “ikus” and “allelomimesis.” Zig-zagging off to read my next book…
ORIGINAL URL: http://www.livegreenwearblack.com/201...
© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.
I remember the first time I went mushroom hunting, nearly 15 years ago, and the moment when it was like a light switched “on” and, all of a sudden, I could see the chanterelles everywhere, peeping out from under the duff. More than an “instinct” – it’s having a patient teacher to explain what to look for and spending time looking and absorbing one’s surroundings until it feels like an instinct.
Tristan Gooley is a gifted writer -- sharing his stories of his observations of signs of plants and animals and diving into details of scientific findings. His writing is so detailed – I wonder if he just spends time writing after he gets back home or if he jots down notes while he is afield.
While his writing is not as wild and captivating as some of John Muir’s stories – Gooley is providing a level of detail and making connections in a way that weave a story of the cloth of existence and how all creatures are connected. I never knew, for example, that robins could hear earthworms popping up out of the ground. While I have always known that cats, dogs and other animals have mood and character – I enjoyed the story about how dogs “play” humans with the head tilt and science confirming that many animals possess an awareness of mind and think about what other animals may be thinking/doing in the future.
I enjoyed reading about the differences in the way animals (prey/predator) see things – and have long ago learned the value of sidelong glances toward shy feral cats and other wild things. I love the term “jink” and have noticed this behavior in animals when hiking on trails but didn’t know it had a name. The story about raptors hunting away from their nests – and songbirds nesting near raptor nests – was brilliant.
My favorite story was about how the author went hiking in a new area, drumlins covered with zones of bracken and heather – and found himself compelled to walk in one area and return via the other, realizing later that he’d instinctively chosen the routes based on maintaining comfortable body temperature (without a jacket, on the return, the higher bracken provided a break from the wind). I also learned a lot about hedges – which we don’t have here in the US.
Gooley is a huge fan of the slow/fast thinking and references Daniel Kahneman’s “Thinking, Fast and Slow” several times (it’s on my pile to read, right after this one!).
It’s interesting that many people consider knowledge of the plants, animals and environment around the to be inaccessible. I remember asking a Spanish friend who lives on a small island called Mallorca, in a quaint small town of Palma, about some flowers. She insists that she is a “city girl” and really doesn’t know much about farming and plants. Even identifying the orchards on the side of the road as we whizzed by was outside her realm of knowledge. When showing a friend who lives in a gated-community in Colorado my 6 different types of basil, he commented “You’re the only botanist I know” (though I imagine as a fly fishing aficionado, he could tell me much about fish behavior). Another friend recently revealed to me that he hates the outdoors and avoids nature as much as possible.
There is much to see an analyze in modern urban, “civilized” life – as demonstrated from the breadth of effort expended on mindfulness, meditation, understanding human motivation and behavior (even the Kahneman book) – that one might make the argument that most humans have had to make the choice of paying attention to select things in their immediate environment that yield the most reward or benefit for the lifestyle to which they aspire.
Perhaps, what Gooley is implying, is that we need to step outside of our own minds and away from human society to pay attention to the greater web of plants, animals and environment around us to preserve those things we most value. There’s so much to learn -- and humans so easily get trapped into thinking they are the most important and interesting thing around. Maybe cats do, too.
I would have liked to have seen the author dive into more parallels between the human thought and observation process of the natural environment with the human and human-constructed environment, and perhaps a greater focus on the potential impact of our disconnect with the rest of the non-human world around us. Or, at least, the richness and reward of greater connection. Overall – quite an enjoyable book – my takeaways include a renewed commitment to memorizing constellations, “vegetalistas” of the Amazon, the “gokotta” – Swedish practice of rising early to experience people-free environments, “ikus” and “allelomimesis.” Zig-zagging off to read my next book…
ORIGINAL URL: http://www.livegreenwearblack.com/201...
© Jennifer R Clark. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. You may share and adapt this content with proper attribution.
November 29, 2018
Tristan Gooley’s books always make me want to go outside and explore! They are packed full of great tips for anyone who spends time outdoors. The Nature Instinct is no exception.
This book is one that every outdoor enthusiast has to have on their shelf. But, don’t let it sit on the shelf! Read it! The information in here is amazing!
As a wildlife tracker, I have completely fallen in love with Gooley’s books. The skills of observation and interpretation of the landscape that he uses are very similar to the skills a tracker uses. Gooley outlines how to use subtle clues on the landscape to not only navigate, but to read past events on the land too.
Many of these skills can’t be explained well. To an observer it almost looks like a sixth sense, which is what Gooley calls it. How else can you explain the intuitive way that he sees things and can explain them? Do you want to learn how to do this too? Then, you must read this book. It is packed with tips on how to do these things. It’s an excellent learning tool and also provides a starting point for you to begin your own local observations and start to know your environment in this kind of detail.
Nature is right outside your door. Go out there and start learning about it, and take this book with you!
This book is one that every outdoor enthusiast has to have on their shelf. But, don’t let it sit on the shelf! Read it! The information in here is amazing!
As a wildlife tracker, I have completely fallen in love with Gooley’s books. The skills of observation and interpretation of the landscape that he uses are very similar to the skills a tracker uses. Gooley outlines how to use subtle clues on the landscape to not only navigate, but to read past events on the land too.
Many of these skills can’t be explained well. To an observer it almost looks like a sixth sense, which is what Gooley calls it. How else can you explain the intuitive way that he sees things and can explain them? Do you want to learn how to do this too? Then, you must read this book. It is packed with tips on how to do these things. It’s an excellent learning tool and also provides a starting point for you to begin your own local observations and start to know your environment in this kind of detail.
Nature is right outside your door. Go out there and start learning about it, and take this book with you!
November 19, 2025
This book has two titles - I read it as "Wild Signs and Star Paths: The keys to our lost sixth sense", and there's "The Nature Instinct". Both titles are false advertising. The description reads: "Tristan Gooley (...) shows how it is possible to achieve a level of outdoors awareness that will enable you to sense direction from stars and plants, forecast weather from woodland sounds and predict the next action of an animal from its body language - instantly."
Wrong.
Tristan Gooley talks about himself. I, I, I, me, me, me, throughout this book, that's about 300 pages too long. Endless humble bragging about all those distant countries he's visited and name dropping obscure tribes, which once you notice it becomes so, so obvious. The snobbish way in which he lets you know he's so much smarter than you and has seen so much cooler things than you ever will.
"You had to be there" should have been the title of this book. This is an entirely self-centered book. It's not a book on how to "read" nature at all. I counted 4 (!) tips on how to find your way in nature, which I will explain below so you don't have to wade through the endless repetitions of the same point Gooley wants to make. "Animals will flee in different ways" and "if you do something long enough it will become an automatism aka instinct" are both repeated ad nauseam. Delete those, and you end up with 50 pages. And those are not worth it, trust me.
4 tips on how to find your way in nature:
1. In the Northern Hemisphere, trees grow more limbs/branches on their South side, and less on their North side, which appear more vertical as they reach for the light. The top looks kind of like an inverted ✔. A picture: https://i.redd.it/z4j586j9zt821.jpg
2. To find the true wind direction look at clouds. The top will slope farther than the base as the wind pushes it, like a stack of cards that falls. It can be subtle: https://cdn.boldmethod.com/images/blo... or obvious: https://www.naturalnavigator.com/wp-c...
3. In winter, Orion will point direction. When it rises, the stars that make up his sword (the vertical line below his belt), will point to the East. When it is at its highest point, these stars will point to the South. When it is at its lowest point at the end of the night, they will point West. Image from book:
4. In summer, you can use the "Summer Triangle": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_... - image from book:
Wrong.
Tristan Gooley talks about himself. I, I, I, me, me, me, throughout this book, that's about 300 pages too long. Endless humble bragging about all those distant countries he's visited and name dropping obscure tribes, which once you notice it becomes so, so obvious. The snobbish way in which he lets you know he's so much smarter than you and has seen so much cooler things than you ever will.
"You had to be there" should have been the title of this book. This is an entirely self-centered book. It's not a book on how to "read" nature at all. I counted 4 (!) tips on how to find your way in nature, which I will explain below so you don't have to wade through the endless repetitions of the same point Gooley wants to make. "Animals will flee in different ways" and "if you do something long enough it will become an automatism aka instinct" are both repeated ad nauseam. Delete those, and you end up with 50 pages. And those are not worth it, trust me.
4 tips on how to find your way in nature:
1. In the Northern Hemisphere, trees grow more limbs/branches on their South side, and less on their North side, which appear more vertical as they reach for the light. The top looks kind of like an inverted ✔. A picture: https://i.redd.it/z4j586j9zt821.jpg
2. To find the true wind direction look at clouds. The top will slope farther than the base as the wind pushes it, like a stack of cards that falls. It can be subtle: https://cdn.boldmethod.com/images/blo... or obvious: https://www.naturalnavigator.com/wp-c...
3. In winter, Orion will point direction. When it rises, the stars that make up his sword (the vertical line below his belt), will point to the East. When it is at its highest point, these stars will point to the South. When it is at its lowest point at the end of the night, they will point West. Image from book:
4. In summer, you can use the "Summer Triangle": https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_... - image from book:
June 17, 2018
From the description of this book I couldn't wait to read it. I love to learn more about intuition or 6th sense. I was disappointed though with this book. It should state this is more one man's story about his experiences in nature.
May 9, 2019
I found this book a bit dull, but perhaps that is because I also go on walks in nature and make observations of my surroundings. Most of the walks and observations in this book take place in England, therefore some of the patterns noticed don't apply elsewhere in the world.
January 28, 2019
Will change the way you look at nature - fascinating and wise
February 17, 2021
Setting out to “touch the sea on the north coast of Crete, then head south until they could touch it on the south coast” sans the use of any navigational instruments other than nature itself, we are taken along this journey, learning as we go, along with the author and co-hiker. Mind you, there is an 8,000 foot mountain in the way and lots of private properties. Much to be learned. More to be experienced.
By sun, stars, inner compass, they guide themselves along, honing their mindset and delighting when it becomes a natural reliance. (Diagrams for Orion as a guide was helpful.)
The limbic system shares its expertise, as does several brain contents. This is an all encompassing guide.. all with out an actual compass. (Pun, yeah.) A travel journal, of sorts, as their (almost) daily accomplishments and downfalls are shared.
Scientific, philosophical, and a bit spiritual, it’s an in-depth trek of many encounters, endless observations, revelations, and disgruntlements. It’s a fascinating read, albeit long-winded at time, that most any outdoors enjoyer would find interest in. Hell, even us not so muchers (moi) will enjoy this armchair journey.
May 13, 2019
A wonderful book about the lost art of mastering our ability to have a deeper connection to the world around us, especially in nature. At first, a slow and methodical approach to understanding terrain, weather patterns, animal behavior, wind direction and star guidance is required, but after repeated practice, Gooley shows us that it can become second nature—or fast-thinking—and we can see the patterns innately. I really enjoyed this book!
February 22, 2021
Another really inciteful book from the wonderful Tristan Gooley. Great stuff
July 29, 2020
The premise is to allow us to start to re-connect with the natural world around us. A readable book written (as all of Gooley’s works are) for the lay-person
Although divided into sections, each chapter can be read as a stand alone unit. Each chapter begins with Gooley ‘in the field’ and noticing a change in his surroundings or the behaviour of animals he observes that leads into a detailed analysis of what is going on.
Some of the information (but only a small amount) has been covered in others of Gooley’s books (such as what the ‘tick’ of a tree can tell us). But, on the whole, the text is useful for those keen to notice more of what is going on around them in nature.
One if the lessons I have learnt and a, noticing more is the ‘branch bounce’ of a bird leaving a tree compared to the ‘leaf shake’ when a bird goes deeper into a tree canopy. And...from this, as Gooley points out, you soon learn to determine a rough size for an unseen bird due to the severity of the bounce/shake and this, therefore, leads you to start determining possible species.
The only real short-coming with this book, is that it’s size precludes it from being carried in a pocket when out and about, so that if anything does catch your eye, you can reference what may be happening as it happens.
Although divided into sections, each chapter can be read as a stand alone unit. Each chapter begins with Gooley ‘in the field’ and noticing a change in his surroundings or the behaviour of animals he observes that leads into a detailed analysis of what is going on.
Some of the information (but only a small amount) has been covered in others of Gooley’s books (such as what the ‘tick’ of a tree can tell us). But, on the whole, the text is useful for those keen to notice more of what is going on around them in nature.
One if the lessons I have learnt and a, noticing more is the ‘branch bounce’ of a bird leaving a tree compared to the ‘leaf shake’ when a bird goes deeper into a tree canopy. And...from this, as Gooley points out, you soon learn to determine a rough size for an unseen bird due to the severity of the bounce/shake and this, therefore, leads you to start determining possible species.
The only real short-coming with this book, is that it’s size precludes it from being carried in a pocket when out and about, so that if anything does catch your eye, you can reference what may be happening as it happens.
February 4, 2019
There's nothing new age or supernatural about the sixth sense referred to in the title. It is the ability to make predictions without conscious thought which comes with a close observation of nature and an understanding of the relationship between natural phenomena.
The book is well written with plenty of examples from the author's forays into the wild. It took a while to get going as he spent too much time making the case for a sixth sense, but is worth sticking with and putting into practice. The simple technique of noticing things and making connections is quite rewarding. Since reading the relevant chapter I've become much more aware of the night sky simply by noting where Orion is when I get home from work. Rather than simply spotting birds in the woods, I now see them in terms of their behaviour and was pleased when I managed to find someone by hearing and seeing the pigeons fly away from them.
The book is well written with plenty of examples from the author's forays into the wild. It took a while to get going as he spent too much time making the case for a sixth sense, but is worth sticking with and putting into practice. The simple technique of noticing things and making connections is quite rewarding. Since reading the relevant chapter I've become much more aware of the night sky simply by noting where Orion is when I get home from work. Rather than simply spotting birds in the woods, I now see them in terms of their behaviour and was pleased when I managed to find someone by hearing and seeing the pigeons fly away from them.
June 23, 2020
I really wanted to like this book after reading How to Read Water. I felt that book got a little repetitive and since this book covered a broader area, the repetitiveness would be minimal. That was not the case. As an example, there are a solid 7 chapters in the middle of the book about animals freezing or fleeing when they sense danger. Each blurb that starts each chapter is basically the same story about a deer or bird encounter in which the animal freezes and then flees or continues what it was doing. The lessons throughout the book are not really lessons. I expected to learn while reading the book and to see new insights into nature but that didn’t happen.
May 24, 2020
Don’t get me wrong I liked this book, but I have to admit I couldn’t get further than 50 pages in the first two times I attempted it. On the third reading, however, I had a light bulb moment while walking in the Durham Dales during which I spotted something he mentions in the early chapters of the book. Maybe that’s why I managed to stick with it. At times it felt a bit like a book about giving the author a big clap on the back for being able to navigate naturally - but maybe he deserves it, I’d love to be able to, that’s for sure. Shout out to the beautiful illustrations.
July 13, 2019
While there are some really good concepts in here, I found the book a pretty dull read that was trying to cover too much at once. Some of the ideas dealing with trees and other plants I found pretty interesting. However, I felt some topics were explained much better than others. Many of the animal chapters I ended up skimming because they just weren't focused enough.
Note: author is British so many of the species discussed are specific to that area.
Note: author is British so many of the species discussed are specific to that area.
December 16, 2021
I actually stopped reading this about two thirds of the way through. It was quite interesting, but ultimately disappointing. I felt it was getting a bit repetitive, and some of the 'keys' to our lost sixth sense he writes about are a bit sort-of-obvious. Maybe I was expecting too much. Maybe I was the wrong audience for the book.
March 18, 2023
I thought this would have more practical skills, but as I recall, that material is pretty well covered in an early chapter. The book seems to pad out the rest of the space by being inefficient and vaguely spiritual. I might be inaccurate since I'm writing this 5 years layer. I was disappointed because it didn't meet my hopes and expectations.
April 7, 2019
Came to this having listened to an interview with the author on the radio and thinking some of his anecdotes were quite interesting.
This is indeed quite an interesting collection of anecdotes, but it is also far, far too long and at times repetitive.
This is indeed quite an interesting collection of anecdotes, but it is also far, far too long and at times repetitive.
July 23, 2022
Me decepcionó mucho este libro. Intento pensar que quizás perdió su esencia al traducirse (yo lo leí en español) pero yo, amante de la naturaleza y con ansias de aprender más sobre ella me topé con un libro repetitivo y pesado de leer. En muchas ocasiones quise dejarlo a medias.
February 22, 2024
The information in this book is shoddy at best it is filled with half truths or observations that require extensive experience and nuance to be useful in any practical application. Would be an ok read for a 12 year old.
June 8, 2023
Wonderful book. Will need to revisit to get full value from it.
October 12, 2019
Think I need to re read this in a few months. Nice little moments
December 5, 2020
This book could have been done as a short newspaper article instead of a 300 page book. It grew very tedious by the end of the first section.
October 10, 2023
Such a good book. The things we miss, the things we see but do not observe. I read it slowly (for me) and annotated in the margins. That’s a sign of a great book.
May 15, 2021
This is the kind of book I'll have to keep flicking through to remind myself and confirm things, almost like a 'nature' bible or something.
I've already used some of the tips in this book. I estimated I was facing southwest at a particular place based on the windswept grasses direction. To confirm my hunch, I used a compass app on my phone, and I was correct, which, based on that tiny anecdotal bit of evidence, seems to confirm what I read in this book; whether it'll hold up regularly is yet to be seen. But I felt like maybe I'd learnt something from what I read that I seem able to use.
I also spotted crows circling, then landing and circling again. It was an obvious sign that I might have been curious to figure out what they were circling over even without this book. But I think reading this book urged me to be even more conscious of it and more curious. I then spotted what the crows were interested in, carrion. So I got some photographs of a crow having a bit of feast.
The carcass looked almost meatless already; most of what I could see was a spine. But the crows were finding some flesh on it on one particular end and feasting.
The invisible handrail chapter, though, I struggled to understand and still don't fully follow what he meant, so that chapter is lost on me, it seems.
I especially like the chapter 'The edge and the musit' just because I'd never considered that the edge was the best place to look; rather, I just looked everywhere only to often come away disappointed. I'm hoping concentrating more edges rather than trying to look everywhere will get me more sightings.
I've started to take more notice of edges since.
'Whenever we identify a wall that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom, it soon crumbles.' pg 292
I've already used some of the tips in this book. I estimated I was facing southwest at a particular place based on the windswept grasses direction. To confirm my hunch, I used a compass app on my phone, and I was correct, which, based on that tiny anecdotal bit of evidence, seems to confirm what I read in this book; whether it'll hold up regularly is yet to be seen. But I felt like maybe I'd learnt something from what I read that I seem able to use.
I also spotted crows circling, then landing and circling again. It was an obvious sign that I might have been curious to figure out what they were circling over even without this book. But I think reading this book urged me to be even more conscious of it and more curious. I then spotted what the crows were interested in, carrion. So I got some photographs of a crow having a bit of feast.
The carcass looked almost meatless already; most of what I could see was a spine. But the crows were finding some flesh on it on one particular end and feasting.
The invisible handrail chapter, though, I struggled to understand and still don't fully follow what he meant, so that chapter is lost on me, it seems.
I especially like the chapter 'The edge and the musit' just because I'd never considered that the edge was the best place to look; rather, I just looked everywhere only to often come away disappointed. I'm hoping concentrating more edges rather than trying to look everywhere will get me more sightings.
I've started to take more notice of edges since.
'Whenever we identify a wall that separates us from the rest of the animal kingdom, it soon crumbles.' pg 292
March 14, 2024
This book, and others by Tristan Gooley, have inspired me to take ever longer walks, in ever more unknown and remote places.
You genuinely sense he wants to share his passion and knowledge, and his enthusiasm is infectious. This book, like others, is teeming with little gems of knowledge that you want to see if you can spot, and even better, most are very easy to do so, if you take the time and look.
Since reading his books, I've often paused on a walk, and looked around to see if I could judge which way is south, using the clues he has written about, and almost without fail, and to my constant surprise, I'm right! I have even started to 'sense it's on occasion, and that is what a lot of this book is about.
A lot of the themes are around gaining a more intuitive sense of what is around you, and what it suggests you would expect to see next. Whether it is predicting a squirrel's next move, or what the presence of ferns may indicate you will see in a few steps time, there is a myriad of things you can learn in this book.
Whether you are someone who already enjoys being out in nature, or are someone looking for inspiration to get out there, this book really will change the way you see what is around you.
You genuinely sense he wants to share his passion and knowledge, and his enthusiasm is infectious. This book, like others, is teeming with little gems of knowledge that you want to see if you can spot, and even better, most are very easy to do so, if you take the time and look.
Since reading his books, I've often paused on a walk, and looked around to see if I could judge which way is south, using the clues he has written about, and almost without fail, and to my constant surprise, I'm right! I have even started to 'sense it's on occasion, and that is what a lot of this book is about.
A lot of the themes are around gaining a more intuitive sense of what is around you, and what it suggests you would expect to see next. Whether it is predicting a squirrel's next move, or what the presence of ferns may indicate you will see in a few steps time, there is a myriad of things you can learn in this book.
Whether you are someone who already enjoys being out in nature, or are someone looking for inspiration to get out there, this book really will change the way you see what is around you.
March 9, 2023
“A sense of wonder is more likely when we learn to read nature, allowing a practical understanding to be twinned with aesthetic pleasure.”
Gooley (what a name) helps his readers to understand the language of nature. After reading his book, I notice - and interpret - things like tree shapes and wind direction and bird sounds with excitement. Signs I’ve been taking for granted are now, slowly and imperfectly, showing themselves in the world around me.
Granted, the world around me is New York City, not Gooley’s English countryside, but I think it’s a testament to his writing that I still felt the book relevant.
Gooley’s chapters range in length and, while cohesive, are not part of one extended narrative. This made the amount of information less tiring to consume. In addition to teaching his readers practical how-to lessons, he spends some time philosophizing about our once innate connection with nature (“our” meaning all people’s throughout time). I appreciated the reminder that our modern, industrialized world is relatively new within the timeline of human existence.
Gooley is not condescending, but passionate. He’s not interested in clunky scientific terms that create a sense of knowledge, but relationship building techniques that create a sense of belonging. I recommend this to anyone even slightly interested in what the natural world has to “say.”
Gooley (what a name) helps his readers to understand the language of nature. After reading his book, I notice - and interpret - things like tree shapes and wind direction and bird sounds with excitement. Signs I’ve been taking for granted are now, slowly and imperfectly, showing themselves in the world around me.
Granted, the world around me is New York City, not Gooley’s English countryside, but I think it’s a testament to his writing that I still felt the book relevant.
Gooley’s chapters range in length and, while cohesive, are not part of one extended narrative. This made the amount of information less tiring to consume. In addition to teaching his readers practical how-to lessons, he spends some time philosophizing about our once innate connection with nature (“our” meaning all people’s throughout time). I appreciated the reminder that our modern, industrialized world is relatively new within the timeline of human existence.
Gooley is not condescending, but passionate. He’s not interested in clunky scientific terms that create a sense of knowledge, but relationship building techniques that create a sense of belonging. I recommend this to anyone even slightly interested in what the natural world has to “say.”
July 8, 2022
Really interesting reading, more looking a ways of observing and thinking about our interactions with the natural world than factual information. Some parts feel a little repetitive where it keeps reiterating the same points, but I think that's mainly to emphasise that the senses and awareness being described within the book aren't anything supernatural or extraordinary - they are something achievable with practice and intention, and were a part of the daily lives of our ancestors, and are still part of the lives of many cultures today. It doesn't quite give practical tips about how to develop a better awareness of the world around you, but does give you some tools to begin learning how to develop those skills, how to observe and connect signs in the landscape, wildlife and plant life around you. It definitely makes for an interesting read, and gives a bit more insight into just what we might be capable of noticing if we begin to pay a bit more attention.
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