Veteran environmental writer Douglas Chadwick presents an engaging series of personal essays that argue for the amazing interconnectedness of nature, advocating that the path toward conservation begins with how we see our place in the world. Gathered from decades of observing and reporting, Four-Fifths a Grizzly challenges anyone to consider whether we are separate from or part of nature. It approaches nature from a scientific angle, showing that human DNA is not all that different from any other creature. We have a surprisingly close relationship with grizzly bears, sharing 80 percent of our DNA, 60 percent similar to salmon, 40 percent the same as many insects, and 24 percent of our genes match those of a wine grape. At the same time, our bodies are teeming with organisms, separate from ourselves but upon which we are dependent for survival. Chadwick explains this all in fun, accessible stories. Answering the question of how we can change this era’s trajectory, Chadwick presents examples of successful recoveries of species and habitats, with the thought that “we really can save a whole lot in a hurry.”
Four Fifths a Grizzly: A New Perspective on Nature that Just Might Save Us All (by Douglas Chadwick)
Details
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About the Author
With a master's degree in wildlife biology, Doug Chadwick studied mountain goats among the peaks of the Rockies for seven years. He also carried out surveys of grizzly bears and of the harlequin ducks that breed along the Rockies' fast-moving rivers and streams. In his other role as a journalist, Doug has reported on wildlife around the world, from right whales in the sub Antarctic to snow leopards in the Himalaya, producing close to 50 articles for National Geographic magazine. Over the past nine years, much of his free time has been spent as a volunteer helping carry out groundbreaking wolverine research in Glacier National Park, Montana. Doug often explores Canada's mountain parklands. In addition to hundreds of magazine articles, he has written thirteen books about wildlife and conservation, including several focused on the Rocky Mountains. One is Yellowstone to Yukon, which prominently features Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks, as well as the Banff, Yoho, and Jasper national parks region. He also contributed the lead chapter in a 2014 book entitled Crown of the Continent: The Wildest Rockies, a photographic celebration of the region's wildlife and scenic majesty. Douglas Chadwick is the author of two previous Patagonia books, The Wolverine Way and Tracking Gobi Grizzlies. He is the author of 14 books and more than 200 articles on wildlife and wild places. He lives in Whitefish, Montana.
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Endorsement
“Doug Chadwick’s book addresses one of the central misconceptions we have about our relationship to nature: We humans are a part of the circle of life, not in the center but rather as part of the whole.” —Kristine Tompkins, president and cofounder, Tompkins Conservation
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Review
“A noted wildlife biologist ponders what it means to be human in a time when the natural world is disappearing. . . . Of great appeal to natural scientists and environmentalists alike.” – Kirkus
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Endorsement
“Doug Chadwick enchants our brains with his field-hardened observations of nature in the raw and our hearts through his meditations on what a wild strawberry can tell us about our place in the cosmos. With quirky but deeply insightful prose, marvelously complemented by carefully curated photographs, he serves up both a feast for the eyes and a life-changing insight into who we really are. Four-Fifths a Grizzly is a career-capping tour de force by one of the world's great natural science writers.”—Harvey Locke, IUCN World Commission on Protected Areas task force leader and cofounder of the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative
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Specifications
288 pages, full-color throughout; Over 100 photos, graphs and charts; 6 X 8 1/4 inches;
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Publisher
Published by Patagonia
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Country of Origin
Made in USA.
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Last Season Color Offered at Full Price
Materials
Printed on 100% postconsumer recycled paper
