Reading List Raising understanding and action in the climate crisis November 01, 2021 For decades Princeton University Press has been publishing books about the planet, to introduce the biodiversity of the natural world to the human species the world over. But a reverence for nature, and an understanding of ecological and evolutionary processes, is not enough to counter the climate crisis. Read More
Podcast Pedias: Beautiful, short books about big, important subjects September 22, 2021 In this podcast, Marshall Poe talks to Robert Kirk, the publisher of the Pedia book series. Encyclopedic in nature and miniature in form, these books explore the wonders of the natural world, from A to Z. Read More
Essay On bees, flowers, and patience September 06, 2021 It was cool among the Tamarisk and they misted on me lightly. I sat, hugging my legs to my chest, chin resting on my knees. I resisted the urge to swish away the bugs exploring my ears and eyebrows. Read More
Interview Stephen Pruett‑Jones on Naturalized Parrots of the World August 17, 2021 There are more than 350 species of parrots in the world, and approximately 300 of these species have been transported to other countries through the caged pet trade. Whether through escaped captivity or purposeful release, many of these parrots are now breeding in new habitats. Read More
Essay Sarah Fowler on a love of identification guides and sharks July 14, 2021 My first experience of a shark, as a small child, was uncomfortably close up. The shark was rolled up inside a sausage of netting, rather like Tom Kitten in the Tale of Samuel Whiskers. Read More
Essay Teaching your mind to fly: The psychological benefits of birdwatching July 13, 2021 It is now a matter of common knowledge—bolstered by significant and growing scientific documentation—that immersion in the natural world can provide measurable benefits to human physical and mental health. Read More
Essay Jaws, lost sharks, and the legacy of Peter Benchley July 13, 2021 Jaws, the mere mention of the movie conjures up images of a large triangular fin cutting through the water, beneath it a large fearsome-looking toothy shark swimming with a sense of authority, a purpose. Read More
Essay Ants as artists and architects June 23, 2021 I have always been an experimental biologist. Ants have been my life, and I have tracked their behavior from above ground for over fifty years. Read More
Essay The trees in your life May 07, 2021 The Earth supports about sixty thousand tree species. I wonder, how many of them would you come across in an average day? Read More
Reading List Books for getting outside May 02, 2021 Being outdoors improves well-being in myriad ways, and these selections from Princeton Nature range far and wide in their coverage of the natural world including award-winning photographic field guides, large-format reference books, and authoritative field guides. Read More
Essay Why plant flowers? March 12, 2021 As someone who derives a great deal of pleasure from growing and studying flowers, I would like to suggest that everyone get involved with planting flowers this spring, whether indoors or out, at home or as part of a community beautification program. Read More
Essay Wasps, and their unsung contributions to the ecosystem February 27, 2021 The sting. Pain is what we associate with the word “wasp,” because our definition of wasp is far too narrow. Read More
Podcast Can we bring extinct species back? January 05, 2021 Could extinct species, like mammoths and passenger pigeons, be brought back to life? In How to Clone a Mammoth, Beth Shapiro, an evolutionary biologist and pioneer in ancient DNA research, addresses this intriguing question by walking readers through the astonishing and controversial process of de-extinction. Read More
Essay On horses, goats, and writing October 02, 2020 My mother swears my first word was ‘horsie’. When other little girls were playing with dolls, I was snipping pictures of horses from newspapers and magazines, pasting them on poster board, and taping them to my bedroom walls. Read More
Essay Wenfei Tong on Bird Love August 11, 2020 Bonds of affection can take as many forms for birds as they do for humans, and common evolutionary themes explain many ways birds, like humans, experience and demonstrate “love.” Read More
