Recs if you like Gathering Moss: A Natural and Cultural History of Mosses...

A collection of non-fiction books that touch upon the stories of the natural world, and all the people who live among it. (Or, as an astronomer once said: "I love stories, and the story of our universe is the grandest one we have") Always open to suggestions!

Niche nonfiction, aka micro-histories!

This list was a winner of the Q2 2026 Community Voting event - if you'd like to participate in the Quest, a link is pinned in the comments.

Do you want to be hot and smart but are tired of trying to find a nonfiction book that appeals to you? Why don't you try finding a fun subject and become the life of the party at your next gathering👀 everyone will stand up and give you a round of applause when you share these cool facts🙂‍↕️

Shorter books (under 200 pages) that are part of at least one quest. Many are also in the public domain, making them easily accessible when you want to grind for that next badge.

Nature is Fluid & Interconnected: A perspective blending Queer Theory (challenging norms around gender/sexuality) with Ecology (the study of relationships in nature). Queer ecology questions assumptions that human norms (like heterosexuality or fixed binaries) are the only "natural" way. It invites us to see nature, ourselves, and our relationships with more nuance and complexity.

What every goblin needs to know

microhistory: the intensive historical investigation of a well defined smaller unit of research (such as an event, community, individual or a settlement); it aspires to "ask large questions in small places"

Books that are part memoir part another genre: in a way that blends multiple mediums and/or themes in unique and engaging ways. Magical, explosive and memorable narratives expressed with creativity and depth. Books that inspire me to write more.

Books dedicated to exploring how nature is all around us no matter how we try to fight it! Whether right outside our door, within our microbiomes, or deeper into our cities, nature will find us. After all, we are a part of it, not distinct from it.

Books uplifting Indigenous Herbalism, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and Ethnobotany, showing the breadth and wealth of Indigenous knowledge (Covering Indigenous people of US/Canada) Created by a Klamath Tribal Member

Books recommended by musician Lucy Dacus, a solo artist and member of the band boygenius. Pulled from her goodreads list.

“Leave no trace” wasn’t meant to be a suggestion. Nature is calling, and we need to pick up.

an invitation to pause, to breathe, to notice and adore the little things around you. (recs welcome and do not have to be nature-themed)

Nonfiction books exploring the natural world and our “place in the family of things” (Mary Oliver, Wild Geese) through radical BIPOC, queer, feminist, anti-capitalist, disability ecological perspectives. 🪲🌾🦉🌵

At 450 million years old, mosses are one of the oldest living things on the planet. They are hugely ecologically important and hold cultural significance around the world.

Here is a selection of books to help you learn about, identify and appreciate these amazing plants, and a couple that look at the wider environments in which they live.

Books in this list are in at least two quests. Thus helping to earn more badges. Books will span different genres. Once I scan through all the quests, I plan to further organize the list. I am thinking of creating a seperate list and moving the books with three or more quests to the new list and keeping the two badge books in this list. Are there other ways you would organize a list this big?

Nonfiction books exploring the natural world and our “place in the family of things” (Mary Oliver, Wild Geese). 🐦‍⬛🦋🌱🪸🦊🪷🪼🍄

Non-fiction that focuses on plants. Grow that brain🌻