|
|
|
|
Nature and Science February 2026 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Meaning of Life: Answers to Life's Biggest Questions from the World's Most Extraordinary People
by James Bailey
Over 100 extraordinary people. One profound question. Countless life-affirming answers. When James Bailey was feeling lost in life, he was inspired by philosopher Will Durant's project, conducted in the 1930's, to write to one hundred luminaries in arts, politics, religion, sport, and sciences, challenging them to respond to a direct yet fundamental question--What is the meaning of life? The response was more remarkable than he could have ever imagined. A decade on, James had garnered an incredible collection of replies, collated here for the first time. By turns thought-provoking, amusing, and enlightening, these letters from scientists, writers, campaigners, athletes, political leaders, entertainers, survivors, and philosophers are a wonderful source of inspiration. Some are about happiness and heartbreak, some are about purpose, some are funny, and some will change the way you think. The Meaning of Life is a gift from people of all walks of life with incredible experience, connecting through one meaningful question that broadens our understanding of what it really means to be human and happy. It is more than just a collection of letters--it's a roadmap to finding your own path.
|
|
| Poppy State: A Labyrinth of Plants and a Story of Beginnings by Myriam GurbaLatine author Myriam Gurba’s poetic essay collection -- structured around 20 plants of her native California -- is intentionally designed to disorient the reader. The process of finding one’s way through the book’s “labyrinth” entails careful attention to Gurba’s observations about life and nature, which range from the scientific to the deeply personal. For fans of: Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer. |
|
| Undammed: Freeing Rivers and Bringing Communities to Life by Tara LohanEnvironmental journalist Tara Lohan uplifts in her report on United States waterways and the growing movement to remove dams blocking their courses. Incorporating the perspective of Indigenous tribespeople whom she met while chronicling the health of rivers in the Pacific Northwest, Lohan clearly explains the benefits, both environmental and communal, of undamming our rivers in her hopeful, inspiring book. Read-alike: Everything Is Water: A River-Walking Journey by Simon Cleary. |
|
| Tigers Between Empires: The Improbable Return of Great Cats to the Forests of Russia... by Jonathan C. SlaghtIn conservation biologist Jonathan C. Slaght’s Tigers Between Empires, he describes a coordinated effort between Russian and American scientists to rescue the wild tigers of the Amur River basin -- a forested area straddling Russia and China -- from unchecked hunting and habitat loss. After decades of work, the population of these magnificent predators is robust and growing. For fans of: The Tiger: A True Story of Vengeance and Survival by John Vaillant. |
|
| The Breath of the Gods: The History and Future of the Wind by Simon WinchesterAuthor and journalist Simon Winchester presents a celebration of wind. Drawing fascinating references from science, engineering, and literature, Winchester is clearly enraptured by this natural force, evidenced by his vivid depictions of its role in civilization’s destruction (typhoons, tornadoes, wildfires) and salvation (wind-powered energy solutions). This is a captivating ode to elemental nature in the vein of Cynthia Barnett’s Rain: A Natural and Cultural History. |
|
|
|
Birds, Sex & Beauty: The Extraordinary Implications of Charles Darwin's Strangest Idea
by Matt Ridley
To prepare for the ordeal, they grow, preen and display fancy, twisted, bold-colored feathers. When achieved, consummation with a female takes seconds. So why the months of practice and preparation that is elaborate, extravagant, exhausting and elegant?The full answer remains a mystery. Evolutionary biologists can explain why males are generally the eager sellers, females the discriminating buyers. But they struggle to explain why, in some species, this extravagance goes beyond the mere gaudy, taking on bizarre shapes, postures, and behavior. And further, why these bird displays seem beautiful to us humans, a species with seemingly no skin in the game.Using an early morning lek as his starting point, Ridley explores the scientific research into the evolution of bright colors, exotic ornaments, and elaborate displays in birds around the world. Charles Darwin thought the purpose of such displays was to charm females. Though Darwin's theory was initially dismissed and buried for decades, recent scientific research has proven him newly right--there is a powerful evolutionary force quite distinct from natural selection: mate choice.
|
|
|
|
Bird Talk: Hilariously Accurate Ways to Identify Birds by the Sounds They Make
by Becca Rowland
A hilarious, informative, and vibrantly illustrated guide to 101 bird songs that sound surprisingly familiar. Combining illustrations of 101 birds from around the world--from the common to the rare--with fascinating facts and memorable and whimsical descriptions of their calls, this book is full of humor and charm. From space lasers to cheeseburgers, Bird Talk introduces you to the weird and wonderful world of bird songs-- Provided by publisher.
|
|
| The Feather Detective: Mystery, Mayhem, and the Magnificent Life of Roxie Laybourne by Chris SweeneyJournalist Chris Sweeney's richly detailed debut profiles pioneering forensic ornithologist and Smithsonian Institution taxidermist Roxie Laybourne (1910-2003), who utilized her avian expertise to solve murders, investigate poaching activities, and inspect bird-related plane crashes, the latter of which led to aircraft safety reforms. For fans of: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century by Kirk Wallace Johnson. |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
|
|
|
.png)
.png)
.png)