The Edges of the Civilized World: A Journey in Nature and Culture

Rating:
Summary: stunning writing by a thoughtful writer
Review: Alison Deming is both a scientist and a poet. She is kind of like Mulder & Scully wrapped into one. In this book, Deming explores several natural habitats--a small coastal town in Oregon is my personal favorite, since I've actually been to that one--and her relationship to them. How can we involve ourselves in nature without corrupting it? Is it possible? If not, then how do we learn about it? How can we enjoy it? Don't get me wrong though; this is not a prescriptive book on how to effectively enjoy nature without leaving behind unsnipped six-pack holders, but more a thoughtful, lyrical train of thought about our world and our place in it. Wonderful reading.