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What do you think of when you think of Nature? Prolific author and
National Geographic writer Doug Chadwick's fresh look at human's
place in the natural world. In his accessible and engaging style,
Chadwick approaches the subject from a scientific angle, with the
underlying message that from the perspective of DNA humans are not
all that different from any other creature. He begins by showing
the surprisingly close relationship between human DNA and that of
grizzly bears, with whom we share 80 percent of our DNA. We are 60
percent similar to a salmon, 40 percent the same as many insects,
and 24 percent of our genes match those of a wine grape. He
reflects on the value of exposure to nature on human biochemistry
and mentality, that we are not that far removed from our ancestors
who lived closer to nature. He highlights examples of animals using
"human" traits, such as tools and play. He ends the book with two
examples of the healing benefits of turning closer to nature:
island biogeography and the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation
Initiative. This book is a reflection on man's rightful place in
the ecological universe. Using personal stories, recounting how he
came to love and depend on the Great Outdoors and how he learned
his place in the system of Nature, Chadwick challenges anyone to
consider whether they are separate from or part of nature. The
answer is obvious, that we are an indivisible from all elements of
a system that is greater than ourselves and should never be
neglected, taken advantage of, or exploited. This is a fresh and
engaging take on man's relationship to nature by a respected and
experienced author.
“These cats are like emissaries from the raw landscapes out West,
probing the rest of the nation, showing us where patches of
wildness remain, and bring a fuller dimension of wildness to them.
It’s as if they’re testing to find out just what folks have in
mind when they say they want to preserve natural settings. How
natural? How toothy?” -- From the Foreword During a time when
most wild animals are experiencing decline in the face of
development and climate change, the intrepid mountain lion -- also
known as a puma, a cougar, and by many other names – has
experienced reinvigoration as well as expansion of territory. What
makes this cat, the fourth carnivore in the food chain -- just
ahead of humans – so resilient and resourceful? And what can
conservationists and wild life managers learn from them about the
web of biodiversity that is in desperate need of protection? Their
story is fascinating for the lessons it can afford the protection
of all species in times of dire challenge and decline. With
hands-on experience in both the Rocky Mountains and the wilds of
Patagonia in South America, wildlife manager Jim Williams tracks
the path of the puma, and in doing so, challenges readers to
consider humans’ role in this journey as well as what commitment
to nature and conservation means in this day and age.
The largest creatures to inhabit the Earth, whales have long
inspired awe in human beings. Because they spend almost 95 percent
of their time beneath the ocean surface, however, little has been
known about their lives--until recently. With advances in
technology and more intense study, fresh facts are coming to light
about these magnificent mammals, and to be a whale watcher now,
says acclaimed author and wildlife biologist Douglas Chadwick, is
to have a front-row seat to stunning discoveries.
Chadwick has followed and reported on whales for more than a
decade, and in "The Grandest of Lives" he offers a fascinating
insider's view of modern-day scientific whale observation--from
data gathering to spirited scientific debate to expedition
storytelling. In detailed portraits of five whale species that
represent a cross-section of the forms and lifestyles of cetaceans
worldwide--the humpback, northern bottlenose, blue whale, minke
whale, and orca--Chadwick moves deftly from natural history to more
personal observations, clearly communicating his fondness and
admiration for these mammoth masters of the sea, as well as the
sheer joy of being among them.
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