Recs if you like An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us...

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!

All of his picks since 2008, both summer reading lists and yearly round-ups.

“We have no clear definition of consciousness—even though it must be the most important element of our own experience on the planet.

Why do we fear so much in the other this thing we so little understand in ourselves?”

books that explore and grapple with the nature of human and non-human consciousness (animal, machine, or otherwise alien).

mostly science non-fiction, speculative fiction and literary fiction.

recs very much welcome :)

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

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

science-y books that highlight different aspects of non-human intelligence, perception, behavior and cognition! mainly highlighting ethology and neurobiology research that i find super cool!

This list is made possible by all the 🫛🐝’ers who came through for me during a terrible breakup. I asked the club for joyful nonfiction recs because fiction is too emotionally fraught for what I’m going through.

I hope these books can bring you some hope, relief, or perspective. Together, we can get through this 😊

Non-fiction for the planet - plants and animals, ecology, biology, climate change and inspiring reads from those trying to save the beautiful world that we live on.

This podcast might not actually kill you, but it covers so many things that can.

A compilation of the selections found in the special book club episodes of This Podcast Will Kill You, a podcast about disease ecology, history, and medical mysteries! (Hosted by Erin Welsh and Erin Allmann Updyke.)

Nonfiction books to understand our fellow animals and, through them, ourselves

reciprocity, understanding, earth wisdom

Nonfiction books about environmental ethics and philosophy, human/environment relations, cultural ways of knowing, and understanding wildlife. Essentially, books that will make you think about your role as a fellow creature of this earth🌱🐾🐚 (Check pinned comment for more recs!) [created Sep '25]

get to know the natural world around you. discover little wonders to fill your time outside

If you love any type of documentary that has to do with the beautiful planet we live on, then this list is for you. Books that explore nature and all the creatures big and small that live there from all corners and biomes of the world. Inspired by the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough. I happily accept recommendations.

🐋 dive into reflective reads that will make you cry, laugh, and reimagine the future of the human condition and our relationship to the natural world.

this list is a diverse mix of science, climate, foodways, migration, social and political organizing, and history that has shaped our present. fans of alie ward's olologies podcast welcome here.

These books have all been quoted in Margaret Renkl's The Comfort of Crows. Although some poems quoted in The Comfort of Crows are not included in this list.

The perfect biology book blends informative science and an interesting writing style. This ideal blend is hard to find and I’m thankful every time. I hope you like these, too!

“The Booker Prize of science writing”

One of the world’s most prestigious science book prizes, awarded by the Royal Society to excellent and accessible works of science nonfiction written for a non-specialist audience — spanning all fields of science or technology.

(winners listed oldest to newest, from 2009)