Wild Thoughts from Wild Places [Hardcover]

David Quammen (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 16, 1998

From kayaking on a Class V river in Chile to tracking the spread of the Ebola virus to tracing the evolution of the street pigeon, the author of "The Song of the Dodo" once again thrills and enlightens his readers with a fascinating collection of essays drawn from his real-life adventures and explorations.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In this collection of "Natural Acts" columns from the pages of Outside magazine, wide-ranging ecojournalist David Quammen turns his attention to all manner of earthly matters: the physics of flowing water and the thrills of kayaking, the evolution of supercoyotes, and the lives of famous naturalists (Charles Darwin, Gilbert White). Above all, Quammen celebrates the joys of life in the outdoors, especially in his favorite haunts in the mountains and trout streams of Montana. "We never know what he have lost, or what we have found," he writes. That may be, but in these pages you'll know that you have found a lively intelligence and wonderful natural history writing.

From Library Journal

From Tasmania to Los Angeles and about a dozen other places, Quammen traveled far and wide to research this collection of essays. A former novelist, he writes with a freshness, vitality, and sense of humor unique in this genre.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 352 pages
• Publisher: Scribner; 1St Edition edition (February 16, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0684835096
• ISBN-13: 978-0684835099
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,245,456 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars surprising philosophy and natural history, July 8, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Wild Thoughts from Wild Places (Hardcover)

I bought this book just before going on a 2 week trip to Chile for scientific research. It surprised me. The essays were often on topics which I thought I had no interest-trout- but Quammen gives the subject an interesting philosphical slant.

I read alot of natural history books and these essays were not the usual style of writing that I have come to expect. Quammen incorporates science, history, and philosophy into his writing. I liked some of the essays so much I wished that he had gone into greater detail! And i will be looking up some of the references he cites at the end of his book! It was a great companion for 4 cloudy nights on a mt in chile.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quammen's always thinking, but he can write, too., March 18, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wild Thoughts from Wild Places (Hardcover)

From why so many zoos have white tigers to how whitewater resembles the human heart, David Quammen sees what the rest of us don't. Even better, he knows how to write lucidly about it. Anyone who read his masterful "Song of the Dodo" will find this an easy companion; for anyone who hasn't, perhaps this will be a tantalizing appetizer. The only drawback is that this is a collection of essays, so he rarely is able to fully explore an idea.

18 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Natural Acts is a truly incredible book., October 11, 1998

By 

[e-mail] (San Antonio, TX) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wild Thoughts from Wild Places (Hardcover)

I picked up 'Natural Acts' at the library's paperback book-swap. I only grabbed it because the first few pages seemed a bit humorous and witty. Upon further review, I realized that I was dealing with no ordinary author (if any of them can be called ordinary).

David Quammen has an unparalleled flair for putting nature in its place. By the end of 'Natural Acts' you'll be happily convinced that this world is as mystical and comical as you thought it was.

Some of my favorite topics in the book include (in my own words): The (exaggerated)Size of Anacondas, The Intelligent Crow, Why Are There So Many Damned Beetles?, and that whole 'Why Would Someone Drink Their Own Urine?' thing.

'Natural Acts' is a very intelligent and hilarious look at nature. I routinely recommend this book to anyone I find remotely interested in science.