Nature Literature discussion

Hi everyone,

Please use this thread to nominate a book for our October Book of the Month (and try to include a link to the book if you can). This thread will be open until next Monday (Sept. 11) when the poll will go up.

Thanks!
Becky

As a reminder, here is a list of the books we've already read as part of the BOTM:
https://www.goodreads.com/group/books...

Becky

I suggest David Owen's latest book, Where the Water Goes: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01K1ATYGO/...

Review of the Book: http://www.npr.org/2017/04/11/5227781...

David is an excellent writer and experienced journalist. The themes about how we think about water, the complex laws governing a resource like the Colorado River, and how new challenges in the future require everyone to be more informed about how nature works. A fascinating read that moves along at a fast pace. David has a good sense of humor; we meet a lot of people affected by the river and its laws.

"Where the water goes" sounds fascinating. I second it.

I would additionally suggest this book: The Fellowship of the River: A Medical Doctor's Exploration into Traditional Amazonian Plant Medicine by Tafur MD, Joseph and Maté MD, Gabor (2017).
This book (I haven't read it) is about the intersection of plants ('sacred plants', 'medicine plants'), mental illness, and medicine. It's written by a former Postdoc at UCSD and takes us into the Amazonian jungle. I find this topic fascinating and I think it will be worthwhile to read this book of the intersection of Western medicine/psychiatry and plant-based healing practices and spirituality of the Amazon.

Here's the good reads link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/3...

Here's the amazon link:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/0998609501/...

I suggest the Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery. My grandson (age six) is convinced that the octopus will rule the earth ... in its own way, of course!

Link to review for Soul of an Octopus. https://www.theguardian.com/books/201...

I'm very interested in The Fellowship of the River. I've read other books by Dr. Mate, and his approach to the intersection of mental and physical illness is, to me, top quality.

Fellowship of the River does look good. It is a quirk of fate that Western medicine may discover these deep connections to the plant world right at the moment our climate may eradicate many forever.

Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
by Bill Nye
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
"Sparked by a controversial debate in February 2014, Bill Nye has set off on an energetic campaign to spread awareness of evolution and the powerful way it shapes our lives. In Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation, he explains why race does not really exist; evaluates the true promise and peril of genetically modified food; reveals how new species are born, in a dog kennel and in a London subway; takes a stroll through 4.5 billion years of time; and explores the new search for alien life, including aliens right here on Earth. With infectious enthusiasm, Bill Nye shows that evolution is much more than a rebuttal to creationism; it is an essential way to understand how nature works--and to change the world. It might also help you get a date on a Saturday night."

Joy wrote: "Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
by Bill Nye
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
"Sparked by a controversial debate in February 2014, Bill Nye has se..."

https://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress....

and

https://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/04/sc...

Andree wrote: "Joy wrote: "Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
by Bill Nye
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
"Sparked by a controversial debate in February 2014, Bil..."

I must say this book looks like a compelling read! And oh so timely!

Sher

Sher wrote: "Andree wrote: "Joy wrote: "Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
by Bill Nye
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
"Sparked by a controversial debate in Feb..."

well, to me, it seems to be written for creationists and their children. I put those two links in there as a warning.
:-(

Andree wrote: "Sher wrote: "Andree wrote: "Joy wrote: "Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
by Bill Nye
Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation
"Sparked by a controversial ..."

Oh, I missed that. I did not get that it was so biased. I just looked at the NY Times link. So, you feel much of what is in the book we would already know, or do you mean the main purpose of the book would be to convince Creationists of Evolution. If it's like any other topic in this day and age, people's views are pretty un-changeable. That's what I have personally found.

My esteem for Bill Nye, despite my students loving him, has been falling. The Jerry Coyne post describes it pretty well (except I'm not an atheist, as he is). I was thinking there were better books on evolution, and then I realized perhaps I should suggest Darwin's Species. But I doubt anybody would care for that. I find his writing style fascinating. And he is the original. ;-)

I came across this in a list of books in the "nature" genre and it looked interesting, although he would be preaching to the choir in my case. The parts I'm most looking forward to are where "he explains why race does not really exist; evaluates the true promise and peril of genetically modified food; reveals how new species are born."

So suddenly, instead of desiring to "warn" people off of this book, I'm wondering why I feel a need to do so. And I found that evolution has become so politicized that I am fearful of people being mis-informed by the "wrong book." That is very condescending of me, and I apologize. Now, I want to read two evolution books (well, three if you count Darwin). They would be Nye's and Coyne's own book, Why Evolution Is True.

I am torn whether to make this a formal suggestion for the group, though, because I am in school and have already fallen behind in my school reading. Also, I would very much like to read The Soul of an Octopus: A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness, because it has been on my to-read list for so long.

I want them all. Becky: do what you will! Thank you.

Andree wrote: "So suddenly, instead of desiring to "warn" people off of this book, I'm wondering why I feel a need to do so. And I found that evolution has become so politicized that I am fearful of people being ..."

LOL Thanks a lot, Andree! ;) We'll see how many other nominations are made and then I'll take a stab at sorting it all out!

How about

The Gulf: The Making of An American Sea by Jack E. Davis

or

Portage: A Family, a Canoe, and the Search for the Good Life by Sue Leaf

Hi everyone,

Since we had so many wonderful suggestions this time around, I've decided to limit it to one per person (and used the first book nominated in the case of one person nominating more than one).

This thread is now closed and the poll will be going up. Thanks for your enthusiastic participation!

Becky