Natural Grace: The Charm, Wonder, and Lessons of Pacific Northwest Animals and Plants

By William Dietrich

Book Overview

From the interactive clockwork world of geology, tides, Northwest weather, and snow, to the hidden roles of dirt, stream life, and mosses and lichens, Pulitzer Prize winning writer William Dietrich explores the natural splendors of the Pacific Northwest. His topics include alder and cedar; jellyfish, geoducks, crabs, and killer whales; mosquitoes and spiders; gulls, crows, and bald eagles; and sea otters, coyotes, raccoons, possums, deer, and cougars.

This informative and engaging selection of natural history essays is adapted from articles published in the Seattle Times magazine, Pacific Northwest. A native Washingtonian, Dietrich has watched the Northwest double in population during his lifetime. Our rapidly changing view of nature is an underlying theme throughout his wide-ranging essays, as is the timely and essential question of how best to share and conserve the natural world that drew us to the region in the first place.

Not a field guide nor an environmental policy book, Natural Grace is intended as a primer for people who are curious about the environment they live in and the pressures upon it. "We only care about what we know," says the author. "I've concluded that enthusiasm and commitment begin from learning just how marvelous this region is: Passion has to precede purpose." And there is much to marvel over. Dietrich has unearthed fascinating and unexpected facts about his subjects, and he has a gift for expressing complex information in clear and vivid language. He asks intriguing questions and makes good use of interviews with Northwest scientists and experts to convey current and historic attitudes and economic realities, and to consider where we go from here.

For more information about the author go to: http: //www.williamdietrich.com/

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0295982934
• ISBN13: 9780295982939
• Release Date: April 2023
• Publisher: University of Washington Press
• Length: 246 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.6" x 8.5"
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

This is a wonderful book.

If you are interested in becoming better acquainted with the flora, fauna, and other natural features of the Puget Sound area, I highly recommend this book to you. It provides fascinating information about familiar plants, animals, dirt, and other natural features. A chapter is devoted to each subject, with a few chapters discussing several together. Although most people who live in this area, have some degree of familiarity with these subjects, the book provides more in depth information about each, including how they interact, are interdependent, and how they are important to the region. The book is written in an easy to read style that is not too academic for the casual reader. The topics in the first two sections include: Jellyfish, Alder, Deer, Gulls, Sea Otters, Coyote, crow, racoon & Possum; Dirt, Stream Life, Mosses & Lichens; Mosquitoes, and Spiders. The second and third sections are about Geology, Weather, Tides, Snow, Cedar, Geoducks, Crabs, cougars, Bald Eagles, and Killer Whales. The book ends with a suggested reading list and index.