World Around Us - Adults

"Accompanying a new series of the hit BBC podcast, a fascinating exploration of how the animal world has inspired human progress via new inventions and solutions that impact our daily lives. Did you know that mosquitoes' mouthparts are helping to develop pain-free surgical needles? Who'd have thought that the humble mussel could inspire so many useful things, from plywood production to a 'glue' that cements the crowns on teeth and saves unborn babies...

"In Bird Brother, Rodney [Stotts] shares his remarkable journey to becoming a conservationist and one of America's few Black master falconers. For Rodney, a job pulling trash from the Anacostia River with the Earth Conservation Corps began as a side gig to dealing drugs--a way to get a paystub necessary to rent his own apartment. But then something incredible happened: the river's health began improving, and he was part of a small group who helped...

"Camping appears to be a simple proposition, a time-honored way of getting away from it all. Yet, as this book demonstrates, the simplicity of camping is deceptive, its history and meanings far from obvious. Why do some Americans find pleasure in sleeping outside, particularly when so many others, past and present, have had to do so for reasons other than recreation? A closer look at the history of camping since the Civil War reveals unexpected connections...

"In the tradition of Workman's Every Body Yoga, we're bringing a proud, plus-sized, body-positive attitude to the world of hiking and outdoor recreation. Summer Michaud-Skog, founder of the Fat Girls Hiking community, offers a book brimming with heartfelt stories, practical advice, personal profiles of FGH community members, and trail reviews. It all serves to spread the Fat Girls Hiking message of inclusivity in the outdoors. Equal parts empowering...

"In an era of cell phone addiction and ever-expanding cities, many of us fear we've lost our connection to nature--but Peter Wohlleben is convinced that age-old ties linking humans to the forest remain alive and intact. Whether we observe it or not, our blood pressure stabilizes near trees, the color green calms us, and the forest sharpens our senses. Drawing on new scientific discoveries, The Heartbeat of Trees reveals the profound interactions humans...

"[A] book of projects, wisdom, and ideas that will ... inspire you to get outside and enjoy this beautiful planet ... [and] to find meaningful interactions with nature that cultivate a happier headspace"--Page 4 of cover.

"A fascinating and richly illustrated exploration of the natural history of fungi. We know fungi are important, for us as well as the environment. But how they live, and what they can do, remains mysterious and surprising. Filled with stunning photographs, The Lives of Fungi presents an inside look into their hidden and extraordinary world. The wonders of fungi are myriad: a mushroom poking up through leaf litter literally overnight, or the sensational...

"Across 193 million acres of forests, mountains, deserts, watersheds, and grasslands, national forests provide a multitude of uses as diverse as America itself. Welcoming 170 million visitors each year to hike, bike, paddle, ski, fish, and hunt, "the people's lands" offer more than just recreation. Timber is harvested, lost habitats are recovered, and endangered wildlife is protected as part of the Forest Service's enduring mission. In Our National...

"From MindBodyGreen's Senior Sustainability Editor and the co-author of The Spirit Almanac comes a four-color guide to reconnecting with the outdoors, with new research on how nature heals us as well as tools for becoming stewards of the earth that nurtures us"--

"A guide to uncovering the mysteries of weather using close observation-decoding the ever-shifting alchemy of heat, water, and air to understand how it shapes our cities, woods, and hills"-- Why do pine cones close up in high humidity? Can perching birds tell you the direction of the wind? Gooley shows you how to "read" nature in order to detect what the weather is doing-- and predict what's coming. You'll discover distinct microclimates as you walk...