42 New Nature Books to Connect You with the Wild

Posted by Cybil on April 15, 2022


Spring is finally here, thank the gods. That was a rough winter.
 
To celebrate the year’s greenest season, we’ve gathered here the best new nature books that have hit shelves since 2020. We’ve taken a relatively broad approach to the concept of nature, but as you’ll see below, it really pays off.
 
Take, for instance, the innovative nonfiction book Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law. Author Mary Roach is both a very funny writer and a ridiculously gifted science communicator. With Fuzz, she finds a unique approach vector to the complicated and perpetual conflicts between humans and wildlife.
 
Other highlights in this collection include an exhaustive historical profile of America’s favorite raptor. Or check out NPR reporter Lulu Miller’s personal adventures in piscine taxonomy, Why Fish Don’t Exist. If you’re feeling despair about our culture’s current relationship with nature, don’t miss this hopeful vision from world-famous anthropologist Jane Goodall.  

Scroll over the book covers to learn more about each title, and add the ones that pique your interest to your Want to Read shelf



Have a favorite nonfiction nature book? Share it with your fellow readers in the comments below! 

Check out more recent articles:
Readers' Most Anticipated Books of April
72 of the Most Popular Mysteries and Thrillers of the Past Three Years
The 60 Most Reviewed New Books of the Past Five Years

Comments Showing 1-21 of 21 (21 new)

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message 1: by Ryan (new)

Ryan I would say Beloved Beasts is an interesting read on the history of conservation.

Worlds of Wonder, Life's Edge and The Insect Crisis sounds more like the subjects I could get into more. Can't go wrong with Sir David Attenborough either.


message 3: by alex. (new)

alex. I think both ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ and ‘Gathering Moss’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer also belong on this list


message 4: by Paul (new)

Paul Read everything that you can by Kathleen Jamie


message 5: by jessie (new)

jessie Wholeheartedly agree with Alex re: Braiding Sweetgrass. Although not new, ‘The spell of the sensuous’ by David Abrams is my top ‘connect to nature’ book


message 7: by Thomas (new)

Thomas I really enjoyed The Secret Life of Trees.


message 8: by Amy (new)

Amy A couple years old now, but Wilding by Isabella Tree is remarkable.


message 10: by Amy (last edited Apr 19, 2022 08:07AM) (new)

Amy Curtiss Dirty Chick: Adventures of an Unlikely Farmer

The Wild Trees: A Story of Passion and Daring

I don't know if Dirty Chick is exactly a "nature" book, but it deals with truly fascinating farm animals and humans interacting with them hilariously.


message 11: by Mat (new)

Mat Gone by Michael Blencowe is wonderful


message 12: by Cathryn (new)

Cathryn Soul of an Octopus kept me very intrigued.


message 13: by Catherine (new)

Catherine Puma alex. wrote: "I think both ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ and ‘Gathering Moss’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer also belong on this list"

I agree! Braiding Sweetgrass was amazing, and Gathering Moss is high on my To Read list.


message 14: by Terryls (new)

Terryls I echo the recommendations for Braiding Sweet Grass and The Soul of an Octopus. I would also add Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter by Ben Goldfarb as well as The Invention of Nature: Alexander von Humboldt's New World by Andrea Wulf.


message 15: by Jordi (new)

Jordi Ill nature by Joy Williams


message 16: by Will (new)

Will Byrnes A couple that are worth checking out - Earth's Wild Music looks at the auditory environment in which we live, decrying the loss of sonic diversity as species vanish. The Ghost Orchard tracks the history of apples. Fascinating


message 17: by Thomas (new)

Thomas Mulrooney All these look fantastic! I'll never complete my to-read list :-(

First world problems I guess!


message 18: by Jasmine (new)

Jasmine Thomas wrote: "All these look fantastic! I'll never complete my to-read list :-(

First world problems I guess!"


One of my biggest problems!


message 19: by Sarah (new)

Sarah Anything by Douglas Tallamy. Start with Nature’s Best Hope.


message 20: by Pat (new)

Pat Parkhurst I agree Doug Tallamy’s books. Natures Best Hope and The Nature of Oaks
Lots of great books here too- now on my RBR 👍🏻


message 21: by Beth (new)

Beth M alex. wrote: "I think both ‘Braiding Sweetgrass’ and ‘Gathering Moss’ by Robin Wall Kimmerer also belong on this list"

Couldn't agree more.


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