Nature Books

If you're fascinated by how species change over time, Darwin's "The Origin of Species and the Voyage of the Beagle" will feel like a treasure trove. It's not just about the birth of evolutionary theory but also an engrossing travel diary that's unexpectedly accessible. As you journey with Darwin, you'll be privy to the very observations that birthed a still-evolving debate on existence and natural selection.

If you're inclined to dive into American literature's depths, this collection is a genuine trove of cultural insights. It brings together the poignant voices and sagacious words of authors whose thoughts continue to resonate. The essays and poems within are not just readings but conversations with history, providing a comforting sense of shared human experience.

"The Snow Leopard" isn't just a travel memoir; it's a profound meditative journey that marries the physical challenges of exploring remote regions with the spiritual quest for meaning. If you're drawn to the serene yet daunting beauty of nature and appreciate a narrative that delves into the human spirit, then Peter Matthiessen's poetic prose might resonate with you. His search for the mythical snow leopard becomes a powerful metaphor for personal discovery.

Walden is a classic piece of American literature that captures the beauty and simplicity of nature. Thoreau's observations of the natural world are insightful, and the book inspires readers to live a more deliberate, mindful existence. If you're interested in philosophy, environmentalism, or just seeking solace in the beauty of the natural world, then Walden is definitely worth your consideration.

The World is in My Garden is based on a simple the idea that the private garden is a metaphor for everything that goes on in the macrocosm, including ecological, social, personal, and spiritual issues. Chris and Zane Maser work the metaphor of the garden in a rich way. Chris is an environmental scientist and activist who has worked around the world to protect and preserve the world’s ecosystems. The Masers show us how to connect what seems like a simple personal act (the home garden) to larger issues. Written with passion, warmth, and a deep understanding of the worlds of matter and consciousness, The World is in My Garden is a book that teaches us how to live in a more balanced way with all of life.

Zen Paths Based extensively on Eastern wisdom including Taoism and Buddhism, but also drawing on Western spiritual and philosophical thought, each of these books is a collection of sayings paired with conceptual photography that encourages the reader to explore new ways of interpreting the world and their place within it. Only by achieving harmony, being open to change, and embracing laughter, can we lead balanced and fulfilling lives. Most of the photographs are of natural scenes, but some are of people and places. The sepia photographs give a beautiful and evocative feel to books that will surely be a treasured addition to any library. Zen Paths to Harmony A journey to inner peace and harmony can follow many paths. In this inspirational book, a selection of haiku and poetry from Zen masters such as Basho and Ryokan together with sayings, koan, and extracts from literature appear alongside natural images to encourage you to consider the concept of harmony more deeply.

Throughout history, some books have changed the world. They have transformed the way we see ourselves - and each other. They have inspired debate, dissent, war and revolution. They have enlightened, outraged, provoked and comforted. They have enriched lives - and destroyed them. Now Penguin brings you the works of the great thinkers, pioneers, radicals and visionaries whose ideas shook civilization and helped make us who we are. Thoreau's account of his solitary and self-sufficient home in the New England woods remains an inspiration to the environmental movement - a call to his fellow men to abandon their striving, materialistic existences of 'quiet desperation' for a simple life within their means, finding spiritual truth through awareness of the sheer beauty of their surroundings.

On December 27, 1831, Charles Darwin left Plymouth Harbor aboard the H. M. S. Beagle. For the next five years, the naturalist conducted research on plants and animals from around the globe, amassing a body of evidence that would culminate in one of the greatest discoveries in the history of mankind—the theory of evolution.In The Origin of Species, Darwin convincingly demonstrates the fact of evolution: that existing animals and plants cannot have appeared separately, but must have slowly transformed from ancestral creatures. Most important, Origin fully explains the mechanism that effects such a transformation: natural selection, the idea that made evolution scientifically intelligible for the first time.One of the few revolutionary works of science that is engrossingly readable, The Origin of Species not only launched the science of modern biology, but has influenced all subsequent literary, philosophical, and religious thinkers since.George Levine, Kenneth Burke Professor of English Literature at Rutgers University, has written extensively about Darwin and science-literature relations, particularly in Darwin and the Novelists. He is the author of many related books, including The Realistic Imagination, Dying to Know, and his birdwatching memoirs, Lifebirds.

When the eminent naturalist Charles Darwin returned from South America on board the HMS Beagle in 1836, he brought with him the notes and evidence which would form the basis of his landmark theory of evolution of species by a process of natural selection. This theory, published as The Origin of Species in 1859, sparked a fierce scientific, religious, and philosophical debate which continues heatedly today. This seminal work is presented with The Voyage of the Beagle , a vivid travel memoir as well as a detailed scientific field journal. Ordered by place, covering area from Northern Chile to Australia to Cape Verde Islands, this text contains hints of the theories that were later developed in The Origin of Species .

Naturalist and philosopher Thoreau's timeless essays on the role of humanity—in the world of nature, and in society and government.Thoreau, a sturdy individualist and nature lover, lived a spare existence in a wooden hut on the edge of Walden Pond near Concord, Massachusetts, from 1845 to 1847. "Walden" is the fruit of Thoreau's two-year stay on the Walden Pond. It is a record of his experiment in a simple life and his contemplation of the wonders of nature and the ways of man. He carefully shaped the book to follow the natural cycle of the seasons, yet it is more than an account of life in the woods, it is a quest for personal freedom and individuality that evokes nature without being sentimental or distorting the natural world."Civil Disobedience" was also based on Thoreau's experiences during the period he lived on the pond. In 1846, he was arrested for not having paid his poll tax, as a way of demonstrating that he did not recognize the authority of a government that "buys and sells men, women, and children." It is a treatise against slavery and a government that wages war to support injustice.This edition -A concise introduction that gives readers important background information-A chronology of the author's life and work-A timeline of significant events that provides the book's historical context-An outline of key themes and plot points to help readers form their own interpretations-Detailed explanatory notes-Critical analysis, including contemporary and modern perspectives on the work-Discussion questions to promote lively classroom and book group interaction-A list of recommended related books and films to broaden the reader's experienceEnriched Classics offer readers affordable editions of great works of literature enhanced by helpful notes and insightful commentary. The scholarship provided in Enriched Classics enables readers to appreciate, understand, and enjoy the world's finest books to their full potential.