Download or read book Mother Nature written by Jedidiah Jenkins and published by Random House. This book was released on 2024-11-12 with total page 241 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NATIONAL BESTSELLER • From the author of To Shake the Sleeping Self . . . “Exquisitely written and completely compelling . . . As Jedidiah Jenkins traces a 5,000-mile route with his wildly entertaining mother, Barb, he begins to untangle the live wires of a parent-child bond and to wrestle with a love that hurts.”—Suleika Jaouad, author of Between Two Kingdoms LAMBDA LITERARY AWARD FINALIST When his mother, Barbara, turns seventy, Jedidiah Jenkins is reminded of a sobering truth: Our parents won’t live forever. For years, he and Barbara have talked about taking a trip together, just the two of them. They disagree about politics, about God, about the project of society—disagreements that hurt. But they love thrift stores, they love eating at diners, they love true crime, and they love each other. Jedidiah wants to step into Barbara’s world and get to know her in a way that occasional visits haven’t allowed. They land on an idea: to retrace the thousands of miles Barbara trekked with Jedidiah’s father, travel writer Peter Jenkins, as part of the Walk Across America book trilogy that became a sensation in the 1970s. Beginning in New Orleans, they set off for the Oregon coast, listening to podcasts about outlaws and cult leaders—the only media they can agree on—while reliving the journey that changed Barbara’s life. Jedidiah discovers who Barbara was as a thirty-year-old writer walking across America and who she is now, as a parent who loves her son yet holds on to a version of faith that sees his sexuality as a sin. Along the way, he peels back the layers of questions millions are asking today: How do we stay in relationship when it hurts? When do boundaries turn into separation? When do we stand up for ourselves, and when do we let it go? Tender, smart, and profound, Mother, Nature is a story of a remarkable mother-son bond and a moving meditation on the complexities of love.

Download or read book Wild Capital written by Barbara K. Jones and published by University Press of Florida. This book was released on 2019-11-11 with total page 306 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Wild Capital, Barbara Jones demonstrates that looking at nature through the lens of the marketplace is a surprisingly effective approach to protecting the environment. Showing that policy-makers and developers rarely associate wild places with monetary values, Jones argues that nature can and should be viewed as a capital asset like any other in order for environmental preservation to be a competitive alternative to development. Jones describes how the ecosystem services model, a tool that connects human well-being with the services nature provides, can play a critical role in assigning species and their habitats measurable values. She uses five highly recognizable animal species—moose, manatees, sharks, wolves, and bald eagles—as examples to show how highly valued charismatic fauna can serve as symbolic representations of entire ecosystems at risk. Through an emphasis on branding, incentives, and ecotourism, Jones advocates for channeling the social and economic power of these and other faces of nature to inspire greater environmental awareness and stewardship. Contending that many people don’t realize how fiscally pragmatic environmental initiatives can be, Jones is optimistic that by recognizing the costs of habitat destruction and diminished biodiversity, we will make better choices regarding conservation and development. In doing so, we can more readily move toward co-existence with nature and a sustainable future.

Download or read book FATED written by Tera Clausen and published by Xlibris Corporation. This book was released on 2010-12-21 with total page 438 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Through this autobiographical piece of writing, the author takes the reader back into childhood to remind them all how lonely being a child can be, and how hard it is to grow up. As a girl, Tera had to live through the adversity of divorce, sexual exploitation, an abusive step father, and then as she became older she continued the pattern through horrible relationships. As she became an adult she started to keep secrets of her own and live a life that she didn’t want her family a part of. Come with her down the downward spiral as she tries to make sense of life, and stop the world wind that seems to rule her actions.

Download or read book Almost Anywhere written by Krista Schlyer and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2015-10-06 with total page 372 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: What do you do when your world ends? At twenty-eight years old, Krista Schlyer sold almost everything she owned and packed the rest of it in a station wagon bound for the American wild. Her two best friends joined her—one a grumpy, grieving introvert, the other a feisty dog—and together they sought out every national park, historic site, forest, and wilderness they could get to before their money ran out or their minds gave in. The journey began as a desperate escape from urban isolation, heartbreak, and despair, but became an adventure beyond imagining. Chronicling their colorful escapade, Almost Anywhere explores the courage, cowardice, and heroics that live in all of us, as well as the life of nature and the nature of life. This eloquent and accessible memoir is at once an immersion in the pain of losing someone particularly close and especially young and a healing journey of a broken life given over to the whimsy and humor of living on the road.

Download or read book Mother Nature Is Trying to Kill You written by Dan Riskin and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2014-03-04 with total page 272 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A fun exploration of the darker side of the natural world reveals the fascinating, weird, often perverted ways that Mother Nature fends only for herself. It may be a wonderful world, but as Dan Riskin (cohost of Discovery Canada’s Daily Planet) explains, it’s also a dangerous, disturbing, and disgusting one. At every turn, it seems, living things are trying to eat us, poison us, use our bodies as their homes, or have us spread their eggs. In Mother Nature Is Trying to Kill You, Riskin is our guide through the natural world at its most gloriously ruthless. Using the seven deadly sins as a road map, Riskin offers dozens of jaw-dropping examples that illuminate how brutal nature can truly be. From slothful worms that hide in your body for up to thirty years to wrathful snails with poisonous harpoons that can kill you in less than five minutes to lustful ducks that have orgasms faster than you can blink, these fascinating accounts reveal the candid truth about “gentle” Mother Nature’s true colors. Riskin’s passion for the strange and his enthusiastic expertise bring Earth’s most fascinating flora and fauna into vivid focus. Through his adventures— which include sliding on his back through a thick soup of bat guano just to get face-to-face with a vampire bat, befriending a parasitic maggot that has taken root on his head, and coming to grips with having offspring of his own—Riskin makes unexpected discoveries not just about the world all around us but also about the ways this brutal world has shaped us as humans and what our responsibilities are to this terrible, wonderful planet we call home.

Download or read book Mom Genes written by Abigail Tucker and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2022-04-05 with total page 336 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Everyone knows how babies are made, but scientists are only just beginning to understand the making of a mother. Mom Genes reveals the hard science behind our tenderest maternal impulses, tackling questions such as whether a new mom's brain ever really bounces back, why mothers are destined to mimic their own moms (or not), and how maternal aggression makes females the world's most formidable creatures."--Publisher's description.

Download or read book Free the Land written by Audrea Lim and published by St. Martin's Press. This book was released on 2024-06-25 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An eye-opening examination of how treating land as a source of profit has a massive impact on racial inequality and the housing, gentrification, and environmental crises. Climate change, gentrification, racial inequity, and corporate greed are some of the most urgent problems facing our society. They are traditionally treated as unrelated issues, but they all share a common root: the commodification of land. Environmental journalist Audrea Lim began to notice these connections a decade ago when she reported on the Native communities leading the fight against oil mining on their lands in the Canadian tar sands near her hometown of Calgary, but before long, she saw the essential role of land commodification and private ownership everywhere she looked: in foreclosure-racked suburbs and gentrifying cities like New York City; among poor, small farmers struggling to keep their businesses afloat; and in low-income communities attempting to resist mines and industrial development on their lands, only to find that their voices counted less than those of shareholders living thousands of miles away. Free The Land is a captivating and beautifully rendered look at the ways that our relationship to the land is the core cause of the most pressing justice issues in North America. Lim expertly weaves together seemingly disparate themes into a unified theory of social justice, describes how the land ownership system developed over the centuries, and presents original reporting from a wide range of activists and policy makers to illustrate the profound impact it continues to have on our society today. Ultimately, this book offers a message of hope: by approaching these socioeconomic issues holistically, we can begin to imagine just alternatives to fossil-fueled capitalism, new ways to build community, and a more sustainable, equitable world.

Download or read book The Shadow Fox written by H. K. Varian and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-01-31 with total page 176 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Going on a class trip to a Changers boarding school during spring break, Fiona, Mack, Gabriella, and Darren compete in the annual Youngling Games before Mack glimpses a fellow kitsune following him.

Download or read book Supe Slayer written by J.M. Davis and published by The Wild Rose Press Inc. This book was released on 2021-05-31 with total page 288 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Detective Kennedy "Edy" James is not your average beat cop. She's a member of an elite, secret sector called the PCI. The Paranormal Crime Investigation unit handles cases tied to supernatural beings, or supes, as the precinct likes to call them. Things go from strange to stranger when there's a sudden and drastic spike in human deaths within a nearby vampire territory. As Edy and her partner, Seth, dig deeper into the case, they discover something far more sinister than just your average rogue vampire murder spree. Supes have always been unpredictable and dangerous. Now something else is brewing under the veil of darkness—but what? They're determined to find the answer, or at least die trying.

Download or read book American Environmentalism written by J. Michael Martinez and published by CRC Press. This book was released on 2013-06-20 with total page 435 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Protecting the natural environment and promoting sustainability have become important objectives, but achieving such goals presents myriad challenges for even the most committed environmentalist. American Environmentalism: Philosophy, History, and Public Policy examines whether competing interests can be reconciled while developing consistent, coherent, effective public policy to regulate uses and protection of the natural environment without destroying the national economy. It then reviews a range of possible solutions. The book delves into key normative concepts that undergird American perspectives on nature by providing an overview of philosophical concepts found in the western intellectual tradition, the presuppositions inherent in neoclassical economics, and anthropocentric (human-centered) and biocentric (earth-centered) positions on sustainability. It traces the evolution of attitudes about nature from the time of the Ancient Greeks through Europeans in the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, the Enlightenment and the American Founders, the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and up to the present. Building on this foundation, the author examines the political landscape as non-governmental organizations (NGOs), industry leaders, and government officials struggle to balance industrial development with environmental concerns. Outrageous claims, silly misrepresentations, bogus arguments, absurd contentions, and overblown prophesies of impending calamities are bandied about by many parties on all sides of the debate—industry spokespeople, elected representatives, unelected regulators, concerned citizens, and environmental NGOs alike. In lieu of descending into this morass, the author circumvents the silliness to explore the crucial issues through a more focused, disciplined approach. Rather than engage in acrimonious debate over minutiae, as so often occurs in the context of "green" claims, he recasts the issue in a way that provides a cohesive look at all sides. This effort may be quixotic, but how else to cut the Gordian knot?

Download or read book Special Delivery written by Judi Lynn and published by Lyrical Shine. This book was released on 2017-11-07 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In Mill Pond, Indiana, neighbors always look out for each other. And even though tourists are drawn to the small town’s charms, it’s the locals who fill it with warmth . . . Traveling nurse Karli Redding doesn’t have many fond memories of her aging grandfather, Axel—or of Mill Pond. But with Axel’s health in decline and Karli on a month’s hiatus between jobs, she volunteers to set him up with the help he needs. The house and her grandfather could both use some TLC. Good thing Keagan Monroe, the very attractive mailman next door, is always ready to lend a hand . . . Not a lot slips by a mailman, and Keagan appreciates Karli’s dogged attempts to spruce up the neglected property. Painting, fixing the sagging porch, delivering a constant stream of casseroles from caring neighbors—he’ll help however he can, all while keeping his feelings under wraps. A short-term fling just doesn’t fit into his schedule. But with each passing day, Karli’s bond with the town grows a little deeper. Has fate sent her exactly where she needs to be? Karli’s willing to find out, and the first step is figuring out the perfect route to Keagan’s heart . . .

Download or read book There s No Such Thing as Bad Weather written by Linda Åkeson McGurk and published by Simon and Schuster. This book was released on 2017-10-03 with total page 304 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Bringing Up Bébé meets Last Child in the Woods in this “fascinating exploration of the importance of the outdoors to childhood development” (Kirkus Reviews) from a Swedish-American mother who sets out to discover if the nature-centric parenting philosophy of her native Scandinavia holds the key to healthier, happier lives for her American children. Could the Scandinavian philosophy of “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes” hold the key to happier, healthier lives for American children? When Swedish-born Linda Åkeson McGurk moved to Indiana, she quickly learned that the nature-centric parenting philosophies of her native Scandinavia were not the norm. In Sweden, children play outdoors year-round, regardless of the weather, and letting babies nap outside in freezing temperatures is common and recommended by physicians. Preschoolers spend their days climbing trees, catching frogs, and learning to compost, and environmental education is a key part of the public-school curriculum. In the US, McGurk found the playgrounds deserted, and preschoolers were getting drilled on academics with little time for free play in nature. And when a swimming outing at a nearby creek ended with a fine from a park officer, McGurk realized that the parenting philosophies of her native country and her adopted homeland were worlds apart. Struggling to decide what was best for her family, McGurk embarked on a six-month journey to Sweden with her two daughters to see how their lives would change in a place where spending time in nature is considered essential to a good childhood. Insightful and lively, There’s No Such Thing as Bad Weather is a fascinating personal narrative that illustrates how Scandinavian culture could hold the key to raising healthy, resilient, and confident children in America.

Download or read book Kootenai and Lolo National Forest Management Act of 1991 written by United States. Congress. Senate. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. Subcommittee on Public Lands, National Parks, and Forests and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 224 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt:

Download or read book Lassoing the Sun written by Mark Woods and published by Macmillan. This book was released on 2016-06-14 with total page 339 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "In this remarkable journey, Mark Woods captures the essence of our National Parks: their serenity and majesty, complexity and vitality--and their power to heal." --Ken Burns Many childhood summers, Mark Woods piled into a station wagon with his parents and two sisters and headed to America's national parks. Mark’s most vivid childhood memories are set against a backdrop of mountains, woods, and fireflies in places like Redwood, Yosemite, and Grand Canyon national parks. On the eve of turning fifty and a little burned-out, Mark decided to reconnect with the great outdoors. He'd spend a year visiting the national parks. He planned to take his mother to a park she'd not yet visited and to re-create his childhood trips with his wife and their iPad-generation daughter. But then the unthinkable happened: his mother was diagnosed with cancer, given just months to live. Mark had initially intended to write a book about the future of the national parks, but Lassoing the Sun grew into something more: a book about family, the parks, the legacies we inherit and the ones we leave behind.

Download or read book Berkeley to Beijing written by Karen Boutilier Kendall and published by iUniverse. This book was released on 2009 with total page 217 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: I urge you to read this book. It is the remarkable, well-written story of a young girl's coming of age in the midst of the turbulent 1960s & 1970s. It is also the untold story of a brave, committed family struggling to stay together while throwing themselves into the heart of Cesar Chavez' farm workers' movement. Rev Chris Hartmire, former Director of the California Migrant Ministry Many successful woman leaders have a fascinating story to tell, but few have a story as fascinating and inspiring as Karen's! You'll be blown away by this incredible book about a young girl growing up while navigating both family and political upheaval; traveling to Mao's China with Shirley MacLaine to explore women's liberation; and integrating herself into a boy's physical education class to prove equality required under Title IX was possible. You'll be amazed as you read about how this young girl stood up and fought for her right to determine her own destiny. It will make you want to stand up and fight for yours too! Susan Davis-Ali, PhD, President, Leadhership1, Inc., Author of How to Become Successful Without Becoming a Man In 1973, twelve-year-old Karen Boutilier was invited by Shirley MacLaine to become the youngest member of the First American Women's Friendship Delegation to China. The delegation consisted of twelve women including a four-woman film crew and Karen. The resulting Oscar nominated documentary, The Other Half of the Sky: a China Memoir aired in 1975. This extraordinary life altering experience was preceded by a most unusual childhood. She lived, breathed, and experienced history in a way that exposed her to amazing, fascinating, and sometimes frightening situations. She was a preacher's kid raised during the sixties. But, her father was not the stereotypical minister. Karen had grown up living in communal strike houses, walking United Farm Worker picket lines, working on political campaigns, surviving the violence of Washington, D.C. and the Poor People's Campaign, as well as attending marches and protest rallies for civil rights and the anti-war movement. While other kids drew in coloring books, she made picket signs. While other kids played with dolls, she took care of her brothers and sister. While other kids reveled in the innocence of childhood, she obsessively worried about the social and political problems of the day. The stories in Berkeley to Beijing will lead you on an amazing journey through a remarkable and exciting childhood.

Download or read book When Mortals Play God written by John Erickson and published by Rowman & Littlefield. This book was released on 2022-09-15 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: American history is full of examples of discrimination in all forms, but never before has the wreckage from America’s infatuation with eugenics and its state-sanctioned policy of hate toward the mentally ill been put in such personal terms. In this extraordinary debut book, Pulitzer Prize winning journalist John Erickson answers the questions that have long haunted an immigrant family: Why was a mother in her early twenties imprisoned and then sterilized? What caused her three children to be taken from her and placed in an orphanage that later preyed on children? What led her oldest son to commit an unspeakable act of violence? And, finally, whatever happened to her youngest son who disappeared from her life and was never seen by the family again? This is a tragic story, yet strangely an uplifting one. Because just as officials believed immorality and mental illness were as genetically linked as eye and hair color, various family members would prove them wrong. In a story that will make you seethe with anger and well with tears, When Mortals Play God shows how valuable life is, and how grit and determination can sometimes relegate evil and injustice to a back seat.

Download or read book Leave Only Footprints written by Conor Knighton and published by Crown. This book was released on 2021-04-06 with total page 346 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • “A delightful sampler plate of our national parks, written with charisma and erudition.”—Nick Offerman, author of Paddle Your Own Canoe From CBS Sunday Morning correspondent Conor Knighton, a behind-the-scenery look at his year traveling to each of America's National Parks, discovering the most beautiful places and most interesting people our country has to offer NAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR BY OUTSIDE When Conor Knighton set off to explore America's "best idea," he worried the whole thing could end up being his worst idea. A broken engagement and a broken heart had left him longing for a change of scenery, but the plan he'd cooked up in response had gone a bit overboard in that department: Over the course of a single year, Knighton would visit every national park in the country, from Acadia to Zion. In Leave Only Footprints, Knighton shares informative and entertaining dispatches from what turned out to be the road trip of a lifetime. Whether he's waking up early for a naked scrub in a historic bathhouse in Arkansas or staying up late to stargaze along our loneliest highway in Nevada, Knighton weaves together the type of stories you're not likely to find in any guidebook. Through his unique lens, America the Beautiful becomes America the Captivating, the Hilarious, and the Inspiring. Along the way, he identifies the threads that tie these wildly different places together—and that tie us to nature—and reveals how his trip ended up changing his views on everything from God and love to politics and technology. Filled with fascinating tidbits about our parks' past and reflections on their fragile future, this book is both a celebration of and a passionate case for the natural wonders that all Americans share.