Worlds within a World

by Paul Gruchow

Compilation of essays about various Scientific and Natural Areas located in Minnesota. Also includes beautiful color photographs.

136 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Paul Gruchow was an American author, editor, and conservationist from Minnesota. A student of poet John Berryman, he is well known for his strong support of rural communities.

Gruchow died by suicide soon after completing the first draft of a book about depression. In memory of his literary contributions, an annual Paul Gruchow Essay Contest is conducted by Writers Rising Up to Defend Place, Natural Habitat and Wetlands through the University of Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.

Reviews

[William Kelley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Enjoyable light read, collection of a dozen short essays on outings to as many of Minnesota's SNA's. Nothing particularly inspired but a welcome addition to my growing collection of naturalist musings. Perhaps a lesser member of the pantheon of notable American naturalist-writers of the last century, but a member nevertheless.

[Christian Klatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good intro to some of Minnesota's wild places that have escaped or are recovering from the meddling of western civilization. More Scientific and Natural Areas have been set aside and added to the SNA network since the publication of these essays, each for their own reasons. I'm looking forward to exploring some of these places on my own someday - in order to, if possible without doing harm, interact with precariously positioned biota before they are gone. Perhaps it would lead to inspiration and insights that would allow for restoration of their habitats beyond these protected refugia.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winner of the MN book award, and illustrated by my photos--what more can I say?