At MyWoodlot, we’re passionate about always learning more about the woods. This holiday season, we put our heads together to create a list of ten great nature books we would recommend as gifts for the outdoor lover in your life.
At MyWoodlot, we’re passionate about always learning more about the woods. This holiday season, we put our heads together to create a list of ten great nature books we would recommend as gifts for the outdoor lover in your life. Whether their interest is history, wildlife, growing food, or just spending time outside, there’s something on this list for them.
1. A Walk in the Woods: Rediscovering America on the Appalachian Trail by Bill Bryson
By turns funny and poignant, this travelogue tells the story of two ill-prepared friends who set out to hike the entire Appalachian Trail.
2. A Sand County Almanac by Aldo Leopold
Few authors capture the experience of living on the land as well as Aldo Leopold. This classic book features a year’s worth of events on Leopold’s farm as well as an exploration of Leopold’s land ethic philosophy.
3. The Big Burn: Teddy Roosevelt and the Fire that Saved America by Timothy Egan
In this thrilling narrative history book, Pulitzer Prize-winning author Timothy Egan delves into the battle against the largest wildfire in American history, the Big Burn of 1910, which destroyed 3 million acres.
4. Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder by Richard Louv
Credited with inspiring the get-outside movement, this book explores the value of time in nature on children’s development and mental health. If you’re a parent or grandparent, this book is a must read.
5. More than a Woodlot: Getting the Most from Your Family Forest by Stephen Long
Like MyWoodlot? This book by the former editor of Northern Woodlands magazine is a valuable addition to any woodland owner’s shelf. More than a Woodlot discusses topics like how to sell timber, improve wildlife habitat, and what to look for in a logger and forester.
6. Farming the Woods: An Integrated Permaculture Approach to Growing Food and Medicinals in Temperate Forests by Ked Mudge and Steve Gabriel
Don’t let its big subtitle scare you. Farming the Woods is an excellent, photo-filled primer for landowners interested in growing food in their woods, including topics like maple syrup, ginseng, mushrooms, and berries.
7. American Canopy: Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation by Eric Rutkow
This US history book tells the story of America through the lens of trees and forests. With stories like the Liberty Tree, the origin of the Catskill and Adirondack Parks, and the birth and change of the National Forest System, this book is a solid choice for lovers of forests and US history.
8. Nature Wars: The Incredible Story of How Wildlife Comebacks Turned Backyards into Battlegrounds by Jim Sterba
Two of our team members saw Jim Sterba present at a workshop about a year ago, and they were impressed at his take on the clash between our love for wildlife and our frustration at the damage they can cause. This is a provocative book to be sure, but a fascinating read nonetheless.
9. Deerland: America’s Hunt for Ecological Balance and the Essence of Wildness by Al Cambronne
We’ve recommended this book before, but it’s worth a second mention. Whatever your feelings are toward deer, Al Cambronne’s thorough, well-researched book will provide new information and perspective on an often emotional topic.
10. The Forest Unseen: A Year’s Watch in Nature by David George Haskell
Proof that there’s always more to see in your woods, this Pulitzer Prize finalist documents David George Haskell’s year-long observation of a one square meter patch of old-growth Tennessee woods.
