Pilgrim at Tinker Creek sounds really interesting! I've not yet ventured into nature nonfiction but you've made it pretty enticing! Wild has always intrigued me but I've been unsure thus far, maybe I'll have to give that one a go too!
Wild is a great place to start with outdoorsy books, especially because it's about so much more than nature while also being intensely about nature (if that makes sense) - I think you'd really like it! :)
Wild is one of my favorite memoirs. When I read it the movie had already come out and I picked it up expecting it to be really shallow and like you I was humbled and appreciative of how raw and self aware she was.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who went into Wild a bit skeptically...but I so agree with you! I loved that book, and there's something about Cheryl Strayed writing that feels so honest and powerful. If you like her and haven't heard it already, I really recommend her episode of the Longform podcast: longform.org/posts/longform-podcast-144-cheryl-strayed It's a great discussion, and she seems wonderful!
Thank you for creating this video! I have devoured James Herriot's memoirs this year (I'm on volume 3/5 and have to resist referencing the collection in EVERY video) in large part due to his rich descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside. 'A Walk in the Woods' sounds like it would have a similar lush/cozy/outdoorsy vibe! I'm also super interested in 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' - just put it on hold at my library!
Thank you for watching! I will have to check out James Herriot - thanks for the recommendation! (Also, isn't it so great when you find a book you love so much you can't shut up about it? 😊 ) A Walk in the Woods and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek are both wonderful - I hope you enjoy them if you end up reading them!
I adore how eloquent and nutritious your videos are. I want to read the book by Annie Dillard! I enjoy Bill Bryson writing so I might give A walk in the Woods a go. I'm barely dipping my toes into nature writing, so this recommendations are pretty awesome. I'll check out the essay! Thank you!
Thank you so much, Valentina! You are too kind :) Annie Dillard is wonderful! I really love her. And I think Bill Bryson is hilarious, so if you're looking for a lighter, fun read A Walk in the Woods is a great pick!
I love love love nature non-fiction! If you haven't yet tried Robert MacFarlane, I'd recommend 'Landmarks', it's one of the best books I've read this year. xx
Love the sound of Going it Alone, definitely a perspective that you don’t ever get to see in this genre. Will definitely be checking that out. Great video :)
I love Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - it taught me so much about writing. I never expected to be as absorbed as I was by that book. And I'm definitely going to read "Going It Alone", it sounds fascinating! Even despite it not counting for goodreads hahah
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is definitely one of those "best books of all time" books...so good. And I'm so glad you're going to check out "Going It Alone" :D
What a great video, and well articulated thoughts! I've had Pilgrim at Tinker Creek on my radar for a while, but now I'm just dying to get my hands on it. The identity of the hiker (in terms of either gender or ethnicity) and how that affects the experience is something I had never really considered before, so the essay you mentioned sounds fantastic - will definitely check it out.
I really loved Woodswoman I and I hope to continue the series soon. I also like Bernd Heinrich’s books although they tend to be about minutiae as well :)
Bill Bryson has been one of my to-read authors so maybe I shall start with A Walk in the Woods. I loved Wild when I read it a couple years ago & the movie is fantastic too. I think the closest I've gotten to nature writing has been hiking books and mountain-climbing books. I kind of don't get the granular/microscopic things like you mentioned, it is not really what hypes me up. I rather have adventure stories in the outdoors I suppose. Have you read mountain-climbing books in the past?? (This is me sneakily looking for more recs if you have them lol!)
A Walk in the Woods was my first Bill Bryson, and I think it's a great place to start with him (although I've found him to be very funny in pretty much all of his books). And I haven't read many mountain-climbing books, but I really want to! I know you've read some and definitely want to read Into Thin Air because my dad has a copy and says it's great, but if you have other favorites definitely let me know (I'm sorry I don't have any of my own!). One mountain-climbing book that I do want to read someday is The Mountains of My Life by Walter Bonatti, who was this famous Italian mountaineer who seems really cool and kind of like this climbing stud guy (if you look up pictures, haha), but I'm not sure if it's on the same thrill level as Jon Krakauer or something like that.
As a recommendation, check out, "48 to Alaska and Back- The Journal and The Journey", it is a great short fictional read, captures the spirit of nature, wilderness and adventure well.
I LOVE outdoor books! If you're interested in reading and discussing more about the Appalachian Mountains, or the AT, I have a few recommendations, but you should also check out this article: coalfieldstocornfields.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/appalachia-the-pronunciation-matters/ Also, I want to like Bill Bryson, I do, but I couldn't get on with A Walk in the Woods. He incorrectly names plants and things from parts of a trail that is almost quite literally in my backyard! He also comes across extremely condescendingly in my mind, which was a real shame. Have you read anything else of Bryson's that you'd recommend I try? (I know I'm late to the game with this video, but I was very excited to see it when I searched for nature books!) Have you read any Mary Oliver? I don't typically find myself loving poetry, but hers, I very much enjoyed.
Thanks so much!! I do love learning more about hiking trails and thru hikes because I'd love to be able to do one some day. And I can definitely understand why you might find Bill Bryson annoying in A Walk in the Woods - I don't know if it's because he's lived a lot of his adult life in the UK, but he looooooves to condescend to stupid, fat Americans (even though he's a plump American himself!)...and yeah, he's very much a day hiker who has embarked on a more rigorous hiking journey without a ton of preparation, haha. I still find him funny, though - and I do like his book The Lost Continent, which is about his travels across America...he's definitely still a little bit snide in some of his humor, but it might be worth checking out. And I just got some Mary Oliver books for Christmas! I haven't read her before but am really excited to dive in! :)
This video is so good. Embarrassed to say I've never read any of these authors This list is so thorough & definitive (meaning: perfect for me): this whole video goes on my tbr. Thanks for saving Wild for me -- I have the same skepticism but now I'll give it a try. I don't remember if you've read Mary Oliver's poetry (sorry!) -- but she writes about nature in the way you describe for Annie Dillard & her poetry is accessible, fairly simple, & straightforward. Skimming at the libe or bookshop will give you a good picture of her work. Armchair is my favorite outdoorsy-ness! It's warm & dry w/proper porcelain facilities & fewer bugs.
I'm so glad you're interested in some of these titles! If you read Wild I'll definitely be curious to hear what you think - I had my doubts, and I can understand why it's not for everyone (actually, I'm reading her Tiny Beautiful Things advice columns right now and am finding it a little grating in the way I expected Wild to be...so I don't think that skepticism is necessarily misplaced). And I have not heard of Mary Oliver - I will have to check her out ASAP! Thanks for the recommendation :)
Thanks for the video! I gotta say Muir and Thoreau are my favorites when it comes to nature books. Really excited to read a sand county almanac!
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek sounds really interesting! I've not yet ventured into nature nonfiction but you've made it pretty enticing! Wild has always intrigued me but I've been unsure thus far, maybe I'll have to give that one a go too!
Wild is a great place to start with outdoorsy books, especially because it's about so much more than nature while also being intensely about nature (if that makes sense) - I think you'd really like it! :)
Wild is one of my favorite memoirs. When I read it the movie had already come out and I picked it up expecting it to be really shallow and like you I was humbled and appreciative of how raw and self aware she was.
I'm glad I wasn't the only one who went into Wild a bit skeptically...but I so agree with you! I loved that book, and there's something about Cheryl Strayed writing that feels so honest and powerful. If you like her and haven't heard it already, I really recommend her episode of the Longform podcast: longform.org/posts/longform-podcast-144-cheryl-strayed It's a great discussion, and she seems wonderful!
Thank you for creating this video! I have devoured James Herriot's memoirs this year (I'm on volume 3/5 and have to resist referencing the collection in EVERY video) in large part due to his rich descriptions of the Yorkshire countryside. 'A Walk in the Woods' sounds like it would have a similar lush/cozy/outdoorsy vibe! I'm also super interested in 'Pilgrim at Tinker Creek' - just put it on hold at my library!
Thank you for watching! I will have to check out James Herriot - thanks for the recommendation! (Also, isn't it so great when you find a book you love so much you can't shut up about it? 😊 ) A Walk in the Woods and Pilgrim at Tinker Creek are both wonderful - I hope you enjoy them if you end up reading them!
I adore how eloquent and nutritious your videos are. I want to read the book by Annie Dillard! I enjoy Bill Bryson writing so I might give A walk in the Woods a go. I'm barely dipping my toes into nature writing, so this recommendations are pretty awesome. I'll check out the essay!
Thank you!
Thank you so much, Valentina! You are too kind :) Annie Dillard is wonderful! I really love her. And I think Bill Bryson is hilarious, so if you're looking for a lighter, fun read A Walk in the Woods is a great pick!
I love love love nature non-fiction! If you haven't yet tried Robert MacFarlane, I'd recommend 'Landmarks', it's one of the best books I've read this year. xx
Thank you so much for this recommendation!! Adding it to my TBR right now :)
You really sold me on Pilgrim at Tinker Creek. It's now at the top of my TBR!
That makes me so happy! It's such a great read! :)
Love the sound of Going it Alone, definitely a perspective that you don’t ever get to see in this genre. Will definitely be checking that out. Great video :)
Absolutely! It's a great piece, and I hope there will be more outdoor writing from a variety of voices in the future :)
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - my all time nature writing of all time!
Thanks ☺️
Great post, glad to see others out there actively reading and thinking!
Thanks!
I love Pilgrim at Tinker Creek - it taught me so much about writing. I never expected to be as absorbed as I was by that book. And I'm definitely going to read "Going It Alone", it sounds fascinating! Even despite it not counting for goodreads hahah
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is definitely one of those "best books of all time" books...so good. And I'm so glad you're going to check out "Going It Alone" :D
I need to read some these. Thanks for the recommendations.
Thanks for watching! :D
Great content! Trying to get into reading and your video is helpful
Yay! No time to fall in love with reading than when we’re all stuck inside 😭 hope you’re staying well and finding some good books to transport you 🙏🏼
What a great video, and well articulated thoughts! I've had Pilgrim at Tinker Creek on my radar for a while, but now I'm just dying to get my hands on it. The identity of the hiker (in terms of either gender or ethnicity) and how that affects the experience is something I had never really considered before, so the essay you mentioned sounds fantastic - will definitely check it out.
Pilgrim at Tinker Creek is so fantastic! I hope you love it if you do end up reading it. And "Going It Alone" is great, too :)
I must keep my eye out for Tinker Creek and the the Bill Bryson.
They're both wonderful! Bill Bryson is especially great if you're looking for a really fun read - I laughed out loud several times while reading it :)
I really loved Woodswoman I and I hope to continue the series soon. I also like Bernd Heinrich’s books although they tend to be about minutiae as well :)
Thanks so much for these recommendations! I hadn't heard of either of them, so I'm excited to check them out :)
Thanks for yours! I'm just dipping my toe into Mary Oliver's poetry and finding it quite delicious as well :)
Bill Bryson has been one of my to-read authors so maybe I shall start with A Walk in the Woods. I loved Wild when I read it a couple years ago & the movie is fantastic too. I think the closest I've gotten to nature writing has been hiking books and mountain-climbing books. I kind of don't get the granular/microscopic things like you mentioned, it is not really what hypes me up. I rather have adventure stories in the outdoors I suppose. Have you read mountain-climbing books in the past?? (This is me sneakily looking for more recs if you have them lol!)
A Walk in the Woods was my first Bill Bryson, and I think it's a great place to start with him (although I've found him to be very funny in pretty much all of his books). And I haven't read many mountain-climbing books, but I really want to! I know you've read some and definitely want to read Into Thin Air because my dad has a copy and says it's great, but if you have other favorites definitely let me know (I'm sorry I don't have any of my own!). One mountain-climbing book that I do want to read someday is The Mountains of My Life by Walter Bonatti, who was this famous Italian mountaineer who seems really cool and kind of like this climbing stud guy (if you look up pictures, haha), but I'm not sure if it's on the same thrill level as Jon Krakauer or something like that.
As a recommendation, check out, "48 to Alaska and Back- The Journal and The Journey", it is a great short fictional read, captures the spirit of nature, wilderness and adventure well.
Thanks so much, I'll check it out!
I don't understand the english but the arabics don't make anything about nature books so i'm gonna read one of those and try to translate it
I LOVE outdoor books! If you're interested in reading and discussing more about the Appalachian Mountains, or the AT, I have a few recommendations, but you should also check out this article: coalfieldstocornfields.wordpress.com/2013/01/30/appalachia-the-pronunciation-matters/
Also, I want to like Bill Bryson, I do, but I couldn't get on with A Walk in the Woods. He incorrectly names plants and things from parts of a trail that is almost quite literally in my backyard! He also comes across extremely condescendingly in my mind, which was a real shame. Have you read anything else of Bryson's that you'd recommend I try? (I know I'm late to the game with this video, but I was very excited to see it when I searched for nature books!)
Have you read any Mary Oliver? I don't typically find myself loving poetry, but hers, I very much enjoyed.
Thanks so much!! I do love learning more about hiking trails and thru hikes because I'd love to be able to do one some day. And I can definitely understand why you might find Bill Bryson annoying in A Walk in the Woods - I don't know if it's because he's lived a lot of his adult life in the UK, but he looooooves to condescend to stupid, fat Americans (even though he's a plump American himself!)...and yeah, he's very much a day hiker who has embarked on a more rigorous hiking journey without a ton of preparation, haha. I still find him funny, though - and I do like his book The Lost Continent, which is about his travels across America...he's definitely still a little bit snide in some of his humor, but it might be worth checking out.
And I just got some Mary Oliver books for Christmas! I haven't read her before but am really excited to dive in! :)
This video is so good. Embarrassed to say I've never read any of these authors This list is so thorough & definitive (meaning: perfect for me): this whole video goes on my tbr. Thanks for saving Wild for me -- I have the same skepticism but now I'll give it a try. I don't remember if you've read Mary Oliver's poetry (sorry!) -- but she writes about nature in the way you describe for Annie Dillard & her poetry is accessible, fairly simple, & straightforward. Skimming at the libe or bookshop will give you a good picture of her work. Armchair is my favorite outdoorsy-ness! It's warm & dry w/proper porcelain facilities & fewer bugs.
I'm so glad you're interested in some of these titles! If you read Wild I'll definitely be curious to hear what you think - I had my doubts, and I can understand why it's not for everyone (actually, I'm reading her Tiny Beautiful Things advice columns right now and am finding it a little grating in the way I expected Wild to be...so I don't think that skepticism is necessarily misplaced). And I have not heard of Mary Oliver - I will have to check her out ASAP! Thanks for the recommendation :)
Do you live in Idaho? Isee the book in the background
No, but I've read the book - it's really good!