The essay is a literary device for saying almost everything about almost anything. - Aldous Huxley
Denver Public Library’s Core Collections are essential titles of a genre that represent the breadth and diversity of our contemporary world. They are also available on Overdrive! We continue our blog series with essays that shine a light on our natural world and its inhabitants.
Gretel Ehrlich
A celebration of “the planet of Wyoming” and the American West, Ehrlich’s essays are a tribute to the vibrant people and natural forces of the region. Ehrlich has earned multiple awards, including a Guggenheim Fellowship.
The Anthropocene Reviewed: Essays on a Human-Centered Planet
John Green
Adapted from John Green’s popular podcast of the same name, these thought-provoking essays center around how humans have shaped the planet and its biodiversity.
Deep Creek: Finding Hope in the High Country
Pam Houston
Houston draws from her travels and her ranch in the Colorado Rockies for this collection of inspiring and candid essays. A meditation on the wonder and grief of the world.
All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, & Solutions for the Climate Crisis
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Katharine Keeble Wilkinson (editors)
These impassioned essays explore the correlation between global warming and gender inequality. This diverse collection of essays asks questions and provides possible solutions regarding our climate crisis.
Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teaching of Plants
Robin Wall Kimmerer
Robin Wall Kimmerer, a professor of plant ecology, draws on indigenous knowledge and her scientific background to explore what plants and animals can teach us. A lyrical and engaging essay collection.
A Sand County Almanac and, Sketches Here and There
Aldo Leopold
This book, first published in 1949, is lauded as some of the finest nature writing in the genre.
Earth Keeper: Reflections on an American Land
N. Scott Momaday
Awarded the National Medal of Arts and the Pulitzer Prize, N. Scott Momaday's latest book reflects on the land and its influence on indigenous people. Using childhood memories and generational knowledge he reveals how profound our connection to the earth is and how we must protect it.
World of Wonders: In Praise of Fireflies, Whale Sharks, and Other Astonishments
Aimee Nezhukumatathil
From award-winning poet Aimee Nezhukumatathil comes a transcendent collection of essays. The natural world and its inhabitants will inspire you.
Animals Strike Curious Poses: Essays
Elena Passarello
These sixteen essays explore animals made famous by humans throughout history. Poetic and startling, each essay tackles a particular animal, such as the racing pigeon, elephant, and the domesticated house cat.
Check out these titles and more from the Core Collections. You can see the other blogs in the Essay Core Collection Series Almost Anything About Almost Everything below:
Essays In Remembrance: Almost Everything About Almost Anything
Essays by Women: Almost Everything About Almost Anything
Essays for AA.NH/PI Heritage Month: Almost Everything About Almost Anything
Essays on Experience: Almost Everything About Almost Anything
This blog was written by guest contributor Gina W.
