12 Reads for the Outdoor Type

A guest post celebrating the beauty of nature

Photo by Simon Berger on Unsplash

I’m happy to share a guest post today from my friend Mary Fruchter. Mary is Outdoorsy with a capital O. She hikes, skis, gardens, bikes to work, and is probably frolicking through a field of wildflowers as I write this. All those activities horrify me as I am the most indoorsy person who has ever lived. I can appreciate the beauty of the natural world, but I’ll do it through a window as I sit in my air-conditioned house.

Despite our differences, Mary and I bond over a shared passion for reading and writing. Today, she’s sharing 12 reads for the outdoor type. Unsurprisingly, I’ve only read one of them, but Mary has a sharp eye for good writing, so I trust her recommendations wholeheartedly. Make sure to subscribe to her Substack, Pocketful of Prose, to read more of her thoughts on nature, family, writing, and how she finds meaning and beauty in everyday life. I’ll let Mary take it away now.

Always had a roof above me, always paid the rent,
And I never set foot inside a tent
I couldn’t build a fire to save my life
I lied about being the outdoor type

- The Lemonheads

My friend Andrea is an excellent curator, an avid reader, and a thoughtful writer. When I’m looking for a new book, show, or makeup product, I always start with Andrea. I was honored when she asked me to write this guest post, but I was also a little stumped. How do I suggest books to someone who has more ideas about the books I’d like to read than I do? Then, while I was puttering around in the garden one afternoon listening to The Lemonheads, a lightbulb went off. Andrea would never lie about being the outdoor type. She delights in so many things, but she is clear about what she likes and what she doesn’t like, and she does not like the outdoors. She recently sent me a meme that read, “I don’t know who needs to hear this, but living your life to the fullest does not have to involve hiking.” While Andrea and I differ in our ideas on how best to spend a Saturday, we both agree that living our best lives means reading books that we love. So, I have put together a list of 12 reads for outdoor types like me. If you, like Andrea, prefer a roof above your head and central air, have no fear, there are some great recommendations on the list that will take you into nature without having to actually go there yourself.

I have organized this post into categories, which I think Andrea will appreciate. Feel free to skip around and find what you need. The categories are:

• outdoor adventure

• gardening

• birds

• classic nature books

• Substacks

In terms of outdoor reading material, I’m only skimming the surface of what is out there. I chose to stick with books and Substacks that, as Rumi says, stir the life in me. If there’s an outdoor book that you love that I didn’t include, please share in the comments.

Outdoor Adventure

Photo by lucas Favre on Unsplash

Wild by Cheryl Strayed: Cheryl Strayed is one of my favorite writers, and Wild is the first book I read by her. Wild is a memoir about Cheryl’s 1,000-mile journey hiking the Pacific Crest Trail from the Mojave Desert through California, Oregon, and Washington State. It is also about her deep grief over the loss of her mother, the subsequent failure of her marriage, and her hope that she will find some healing and find herself again through her journey. Wild is a riveting read, full of warmth and wit, and whether you read it on the trail or on your couch, you will not want to put it down.

All the Things: Mountain Misadventure, Relationshipping, and Other Hazards of an Off-Grid Life by Ammi Midstokke: In Ammi Midstokke’s debut essay, she explains her choice to purchase an off-grid fixer-upper in rural Idaho. Ammi’s adventures include battling with mice, getting lost in the mountains after dark, and finding herself stuck beneath a boulder, but the scariest adventure of all is when she allows herself to fall in love again. These stories of mishap and personal growth made me laugh aloud, but also inspired me to contemplate what a beautiful life of my own creation would look like.

The Trail by Meika Hashimoto: The Trail is a beautiful coming-of-age novel about Lucas, a boy, who is determined to hike the Appalachian trail because it is on the list of things he and his best friend Toby dreamed of doing together. Toby is no longer around to make the journey with Lucas, so Lucas sets out alone, accompanied by his dog Moose. Lucas encounters heat, hunger, and bears, but the biggest challenge is working through his memories of the friend he lost. Similar to Wild, but G-rated and appropriate for all ages, Lucas’ hiking adventure helps him heal.

Too scared to let you know that you knew what you were looking for,
I lied until I fit the bill; God bless the great indoors

Gardening

Photo by Elaine Casap on Unsplash

The Humane Gardener: Nurturing a Backyard Habitat for Wildlife (How to Create a Sustainable and Ethical Garden that Promotes Native Wildlife, Plants, and Biodiversity) by Nancy Lawson: More and more, I find myself drawn to books that share how we can care for Mother Earth through gardening. The Humane Gardener is one such book which includes practical advice for choosing native plants, welcoming bees, butterflies, and wildlife into your garden, and incorporating gardening practices that work alongside nature’s rhythms, not against them. When so much feels out of control in the world, it feels good to create a haven for the earth’s creatures and for myself right in my backyard.

The Pacific Northwest Native Plant Primer by Kristin Currin and Andrew Merritt: I live in the Inland Northwest, and since we moved here, the importance of place has been pressed upon me. Just as I try to eat locally and support our local farms, I also try to read locally. I attend events that support local authors. I buy books from my local bookstores. When it comes to gardening, it helps to find books geared towards your growing area, full of native plants specific to your growing region. I chose this book because it has beautiful photos and clear descriptions. Before I go to the nursery or a local plant sale, I peek at my book, and sometimes I even bring it with me to remind me what I’m looking for. Most local bookstores will have books like these geared toward your region, but if that’s not an option for you, I’m sure you can find them online.

I lied about being the outdoor type.
I never owned a sleeping bag, let alone a mountain bike.

Birds

Photo by Boris Smokrovic on Unsplash

Birding to Change the World: A Memoir by Trish O’Kane: I loved this book because it shows what is possible when people work together to protect something they love. Trish, unable to save her home and her community from the destruction of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, moves to Madison, Wisconsin, and becomes passionate about saving her neighborhood park, Warner Park. She makes friends in her new city, and they work together to make the park a refuge for birds and wildlife, but also for the many residents of the city, particularly the poorer residents, who have often been overlooked when it comes to city planning.

The Backyard Bird Chronicles by Amy Tan: In 2016, when renowned author Amy Tan grew overwhelmed by the world, she turned to her backyard. She took to birding, to drawing, and to noticing how to find peace, healing, and discovery. I picked up this book last spring and was awed by how pretty and clever the illustrations were. It is soothing to look at. I’ve recently taken to sketching my garden in an effort to take care of my mental health in a chaotic world. I’m excited about revisiting Amy’s book again as I begin my own artistic journey.

No, I can't go away with you on a rock-climbing weekend;
What if something's on TV that's never shown again?
It's just as well I'm not invited, as I'm afraid of heights.
I lied about being the outdoor type.

Classic Nature Books

Photo by Katya Ross on Unsplash

Sand County Almanac: And Sketches Here and There by Aldo Leopold: Sand County Almanac is another book that begins with noticing what is going on right outside your front door. In this book, originally published in 1949, Aldo Leopold presents a series of sketches and musings on the flora and fauna in rural Wisconsin, along with several other places he traveled to. One of my favorite stories about Leopold is his noticing of the Sandhill Crane’s decline and his choice to rewild the land he lived on to make it more hospitable to the cranes. His small noticings and observations became the foundation of environmental science and contributed to a public understanding that eventually led to the crane’s recovery. Paying attention to small things has saving power.

Upstream by Mary Oliver: Speaking of paying attention, it would be remiss to suggest books for nature lovers without mentioning Mary Oliver. Known for her poetry, her prose also holds the same simple beauty found in simply noticing. Upstream is a short collection of essays where she opens “the door to the woods” which she reminds us “is the door to the temple.”

Never learned to swim, can't grow a beard, or even fight.
I lied about being the outdoor type.

Nature Substacks I Like

Easy By Nature by Bill Davison: If you like birds or are trying to rewild your space, Easy by Nature is a great Substack to check out. Bill’s photographs of birds are exquisite, his writing is inspiring, and he always chooses great poems to pair with his writing.

Trackless Wild by Janisse Ray: Janisse Ray is one of my favorite nature writers on Substack. She is warm, kind, and generous, and so is her writing. She is also an excellent teacher. I’m currently enrolled in her Journaling the Garden class, and I’m loving it.

The Outdoor Book Club by Jill Hinton Wolfe: This is a new one for me, but I’m really liking it. I especially enjoyed this post on five things you can do outside to help you stay calm.

I lied about being the outdoor type.

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Thank you again to Mary for sharing! Let us know what nature books make your list of favorites.