OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  We are big fans of forests and the Very Short Introduction book series from Oxford University Press. They are fabulous books that provide serious introductions in a tiny package. Written by experts in the field, these books combine facts, analysis, and exploration of ideas in an enthusiastic manner that makes them easy to read.

In Forests: A Very Short Introduction, readers will discover how crucial woodland areas are to our planet and our well-being.  Forests provide food, energy, and resources to Earth’s inhabitants.  Even today, we heavily rely upon sylvan areas for a wide range of goods and services.

Take a whirlwind tour of forest origins and their connection with human culture.  Then learn how disturbances like tropical deforestation and temperate reforestation impact our livelihood.  Woodland areas will continue to be a central part of our future, which is why it’s more important than ever that we understand their cultural significance.  Forests must be protected and cherished.  If you would like to learn more about forests, this book is a great place to start.

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Backyard Birding for Kids is a terrific guide book with activities to get children excited about birds.  Fran Lee invites children to create backyard habitats, which help attract birds to their bird feeders.  The book also includes easy birdfeeder recipes, and how to even create a birdbath for drinking and bathing.  Backyard Birding for Kids includes several charts to make identifying birds easy for the beginning birdwatcher.  There’s also a tutorial for how to structure a journal to document different bird species sightings.  A wonderful way to introduce your children to the bird world!

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Rebirding paints a vision of a wild Britain and then shares provocative actions and hope that the future can be a place of great biodiversity.  Benedict takes the long view starting with how Britain was tamed.  This bold and hopeful book acknowledges Britain’s environmental challenges and offers a proactive approach for ecological restoration.  He advocates for the development of large-scale habitats to preserve bird species and prevent their extinction.  What we fail to recognize is that birds, trees, and animals operate collectively and need ecosystems of scale to flourish.

In Chapter 7, Benedict shares his thoughts on the “Wild Economy.”  He compels us to think of the economic benefit of wild areas and how it can create jobs for rural communities.  It is interesting and helpful to link rewilding with economic factors.  By thoughtfully creating jobs and opportunities for people to care for nature, we can preserve more habitat and biodiversity and allow more visitors to experience its benefits.  As the world becomes more urban, it is important to make sure wild nature and rural economies thrive.

MacDonald envisions a different Britain full of nature and wildlife.  It is not a crowded country – 82% of the population lives in urban areas – and has plenty of space for nature. He outlines how to invest in habitats of scale and create new outcomes.

Benedict’s book is a splendid read.  The vision of rewilding on a grander scale is possible.

Available at Amazon.com.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Owls have inhabited the Earth for an estimated 55 to 65 million years. Today, scientists recognize about 260 species — a number that continues to grow as new ones are identified. These nocturnal predators are masters of silent flight. They tend to keep to themselves, and much about their lives remains a mystery. In What an Owl Knows, Jennifer Ackerman invites readers deep into fascinating discoveries that reveal how owls live, hunt, communicate, and thrive.

“Owls have this kind of duality,” Ackerman writes. “They’re tender and deadly, cute and brutal, ferocious and funny, sometimes even playing the mischievous clown, stealing camera equipment or snatching hats.” Across cultures worldwide, owls occupy a unique symbolic space. They are often seen as a bridge between the earthly and the ethereal.

Most of us rarely glimpse an owl. Their elusive nature and nighttime habits keep them hidden from view. Yet they are found on every continent except Antarctica. Southeastern Brazil stands out as one of the world’s owl hotspots, home to seventeen of the country’s twenty-six species. Similar concentrations occur in parts of southern Asia, the borderlands of Arizona and Mexico, sub-Saharan Africa, and China.

Why such diversity in these regions?

The answer lies in deep time. These areas have remained environmentally stable for millions of years and contain a rich mosaic of habitats, from sandy coasts and grasslands to dense forests. As top predators, owls occupy the highest tiers of the food web, where space is limited. Their diversity depends on the presence of varied ecological niches that have persisted over long stretches of evolutionary history.

Take an unforgettable journey with Jennifer Ackerman into the captivating world of owls.  Discover what an owl knows—and how much there is still to learn about these extraordinary birds.

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY: Birds are everywhere.  They existed from prehistoric times and have evolved with incredible talents. Let David Allen Sibley guide your journey into the bird world in his book What It’s Like to Be a Bird.  You just may find yourself gazing into the sky and admiring the birds of North America afterwards!

As a recipient of the lifetime achievement award from the American Birding Association, David has a wealth of bird knowledge to share. What It’s Like to Be a Bird is packed with pictures and information while remaining readable for all. Reading this book is like a meandering walk in nature.  On this walk, you can explore 96 birds common to North America. Each bird section starts with a life-size picture, bird information, and short essays on how birds think and live. It is easy to start with one bird and then follow the references to other pages.  It is a wandering path about birds and their connections to us.

For example, we learn that turkeys and all birds have ears. The feather-covered ears are just below the eyes.  Many birds have better hearing than people. The name turkey comes from the mistaken impression that they arrived in Europe from Turkey. Turkeys were first domesticated in South Mexico and brought to Europe in the 1500s by Spanish explorers. In the year 1620, the Mayflower set sail for Massachusetts with several live turkeys among the cargo.

What It’s Like to Be a Bird is enjoyable for adults and children to learn about birds and how we are connected. Afterward, you will have a new appreciation for birds and their magnificent lives.

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Get a glimpse of how Darwin must have felt when he saw the variety of life on the Galapagos Islands. Chapter by chapter, readers are dazzled with new worlds beyond their perceptions in Ed Yong’s An Immense World.

Yong debunks the common misunderstanding that animals experience the world in the same way humans do. Readers learn the unique senses animals use to guide how they live, feed, and procreate. From taste buds all over their bodies to blue eyes on the rim of their shells, from animals who can see ultraviolet light to those who sense infrared radiation and subtle surface vibrations, this book will leave you looking at wildlife in a new way.

Each organism has its umwelt: its world as they experience it. This book is a great exploratory journey into the different worlds around us. As you read, you can expand beyond your senses and begin to perceive the world and all life in a new and inspiring way. An Immense World is a joyful discovery.

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Nature is a connected network of life that we rarely notice. in The Secret Network of Nature, Peter Wohlleben shares many examples of nature’s interconnected-ness so we can begin to see the world in all its beautiful complexity.  Based on science he leads us through life cycles where salmon, rivers, and trees support each other.  We learn how wolves, bears, and fish need each other in Yellowstone National Park.   To our surprise trees take loving care of their young. In one chapter he explores our role in nature.

Peter opens our eyes and we will never look at nature the same again. It is magical and deserves our understanding and care.

On page 186 he shares scientific knowledge on trees and how they care for their families. “Beeches, as well as Douglas first and other socially-oriented species, love their families. If that sounds exaggerated it’s worth taking a moment to listen to the Canadian scientist Dr. Suzanne Simard. She discovered that mother trees can sense through their roots whether the seedlings at their feet are their own children or the offspring of other trees of their own species. They support only their own children, by providing them with sugar through connected root systems – effectively by suckling them. But that is not all. To help the young trees, the parents step back underground, leaving the little ones more room, water and nutrients.”

Available at Amazon.com.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Our need for nature is enduring. Wild places deserve our awe, respect, and protection. Take a trip with Terry –  with humility, with a deep recognition of all that you do not know – and celebrate 12 national parks. Terry shares her insights on how nature can help us change from a narrative of independence to interdependence. As a world, as nations and people, we are at a crossroads –  and moving forward in an interconnected way is the only way. Connectedness is in full display in natural places like our national parks.

“Restoration is what is required today.”  Terry pleads forcefully on behalf of the natural world. She inspires us to explore the national parks. Absorb the sights, sounds, and feel of the natural world.  Respect what is interconnected in ways we don’t fully understand. Protect nature.  Now is the hour of the land.

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Dr. Qing Li shares the science behind our deep need to be connected to nature. Two-thirds of Japan is covered in forest, even though it is one of the most densely populated countries. Over the years, Japan has realized humans’ need to stay connected with nature even while living in cities.

In the 1980s, the Japanese National Health Program added Forest Bathing (Shinrin-yoku) as a beneficial form of wellness. A forest bath is a 2-hour slow walk on a lovely forest path with no cell phones and no talking.  Walkers engage with the forest through all their senses, bringing them into the present moment and alleviating stress. Many in Japan practice Shrinrin-Yoku regularly. Studies show that forest bathing can reduce blood pressure, lower stress, lift depression, improve energy, and more.

Learn how to practice forest bathing and how to bring the forest indoors.

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.

OPL BOOK SUMMARY:  Jonathan Drori brings botany, culture, and history together to weave a love letter to trees in his book.  In Around the World in 80 Trees, Drori masterfully weaves information about trees, their history, and how humanity is interconnected. Trees inexplicably play a part in every aspect of human life, and Drori’s book brings that to the forefront.

Drori’s prose combined with Lucille Clerc’s elegant illustrations takes readers on an inspiring journey.  From lime trees in Berlin to Australian eucalyptus trees, this beautiful book invites readers to lose themselves in the natural beauty of trees.  We promise reading this book will inspire you to look differently at the trees around you!  Open your eyes to humanity’s connection with trees. The book is a joy to behold, and we hope you accept the invitation.

Jonathan Drori is a Trustee of the Eden Project, an educational charity and social enterprise focused on connecting us and the living world. The Eden Project is located in England, where an aging china clay pit was transformed into many enclosed biomes which house thousands of plants.  This clay pit is able to emulate nature while giving plants separated space to thrive. Drori is also featured in Ted Talks and is lauded by many other organizations for his work. For more information, please visit his website.

Available used at BetterWorldBooks.