Winter Newsletter 2023 Science & Nature

Come for the lush, thoughtful essays about the joys of birding; stay for the glimpses of our own hometown. Priyanka Kumar writes beautifully about her first encounter with a long-billed curlew at Elkhorn Slough, and how falling in love with birds made her feel at home on the trails of Nisene Marks and Wilder Ranch. As someone who also fell in love with birdlife in Santa Cruz, I couldn’t get enough of Conversations with Birds.  

—Kat

This book both celebrates asking questions (even if they may seem silly) and serves as a great introduction to abstract math concepts. There were many points where I felt like I finally understood something that had never made sense to me in math class, and I came away from the book with more of an appreciation for math. It also answered questions I never thought to ask!  

—Sofia

In Of Time and Turtles, Sy Montgomery (Soul of an Octopus) opens up to us the world of turtle rehabilitation (and really all things turtle). Montgomery works as a volunteer in a well-respected turtle rescue organization and does a wonderful job of describing the amazingness of turtles along with the hardships they face in living among humans. A snapping turtle heals himself from paralysis; a tortoise seemingly comes back from the dead; another is a picky eater who enjoys cuddles. You will find yourself holding your breath and cheering on behalf of these incredible spirited souls.  

—S.M.C.

Have you really considered the challenges of creating a viable settlement on Mars? Or do you gloss over the details because it just sounds like a cool idea? Well, the Weinersmiths have done a lot of research and they’d like you to consider staying on Earth for a while, even though things look dire at the moment. You’ll love this book, even if their logic (and humor) doesn’t sway you.  

—Glenn

In reading Fear of a Black Universe, not only do we experience the expansive mind of a brilliant physicist as we delve into cosmic potentialities, we also break away from traditional narratives to explore why creativity, imagination, and the uplifting of marginalized scientists are necessary components of making new discoveries. Quantum physics is still largely a complete mystery, and it is in the unknown that we get to dream what is possible. This book reaches far beyond the ordinary boundaries of physics and is a radical, immersive journey of the mind.  

—Tyler

Even a tree standing alone is never alone. As Ken Keffer guides us from the seed ready to fall from the branch to the broken stump, we meet the creatures and forces that turn a tree into part of a forest. Facts are gorgeously illuminated with Emily Walker’s pen-and-watercolor paintings that manage to be clear and lush at the same time. This utterly beautiful book is a perfect gift for any lover of the natural world.  

—Cat

An exploration of the profound ecological impacts caused by roads, Crossings will have you in the palm of environmental journalist Ben Goldfarb’s calloused hand. It delves into the often-overlooked consequences of roads on both human and animal environments. The noise pollution. The spoiled migration routes. The road-salt contamination. It looks toward a future that balances human convenience with the well-being of all living beings. Great for fans of the YouTube channel Not Just Bikes.  

—Lindsay

Echo Loba, Loba Echo: Of Wisdom, Wolves, and Women is a thoughtfully written and thoroughly researched look into our relationship with wolves throughout history. Through her own stories and poetry, Sonja Swift reminds us of the importance of our relationship with nature in our increasingly disconnected world. If you enjoyed reading Braiding Sweetgrass, this book is for you!  

—Maddy