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Our favourite nature books
December 10, 2020 | Blog > Shortlists > Our favourite nature books
Vesper Flights
Helen Macdonald
A collection of fascinating essays by the author of ‘H is for Hawk’. Wide ranging and knowledgeable; Helen Macdonald writes with great clarity and insight, especially about humans interaction with nature.
The Swallow: A Biography
Stephen Moss
Like the subjects of his books on the wren and robin, swallows have long and close links to people. Stephen Moss combines natural history, personal observation and the numerous cultural connections of this much-loved bird.
A Life on Our Planet: My Witness Statement and a Vision for the Future
David Attenborough
From the most authoritative observer and commentator of the natural world a personal assessment of the systems and biodiversity which all life relies on – hard-hitting and bleak, but not without hope that there is a way to allow nature to recover.
Secrets of a Devon Wood: My Nature Journal
Jo Brown
Our favourite natural history book of the year. Detailed and knowledgeable observations, beautifully and accurately illustrated, from a wood near Teignmouth; showing what treasures there are to be found if you look closely and carefully.
The Stubborn Light of Things: A Nature Diary
Melissa Harrison
Melissa Harrison is a marvellous observer of the natural world, in both urban and rural settings; able to convey her knowledge and delight in effortless prose, sharing her love and concern for wildlife and its habitats.
Diary of a Young Naturalist
Dara McAnulty
An astonishing record by a remarkable young man who is an accomplished naturalist, who also happens to have been diagnosed with autism. Dara McAnulty describes how the natural world has been a refuge through some of the challenges he has faced but also shares the curiosity and joy nature brings.
