#302: Natural History Reading List #18: 'Gathering Moss'

Robin Wall Kimmerer's book on moss is excellent and very readable. 

The author uses some excellent analogies and examples to explain why mosses are so important. This may well be the best book I've read so far in my reading.

Here's Robin Kimmerer on grass:

And on moss:

The book is now available free to listen to for those who have a Spotify Premium account. There are now hundreds of books available to listen to, and I will perhaps aim to create a list of these for those who have access to Audible ultimately.

#201: Spotify Audiobooks

A cross posting from my GeoLibrary blog which has just reached its 600th post.

I have a Spotify Premium subscription, and have had for quite a few years now.

They have recently added thousands of audiobooks to the subscription, which is great news...

Many of these are of interest to Geographers and an equal number almost also connect with the themes which are likely to emerge in the GCSE Natural History.

Here's a sample that I just located from a few quick searches.

They include Brian Groom's Northerners, which I'm reading at the moment. 

This is likely to reduce my book purchasing and will also be an issue for Audible.

I'm really looking forward to listening to the Tristan Gooley book: 'How to read a Tree'. This will be of particular value for the section on woodlands and trees. I have a feeling that trees are going to be an important feature of the work that is completed by students, and as a destination for fieldwork.

There is a range of books from David Attenborough and George Monbiot.

I have also blogged elsewhere about how fantastic this book by Robin Wall Kimmerer is. Gathering Moss is excellent!

I shall aim to make a list of books for reference.

#149: Thought for the Day

Why knowing the names of plant and animal species is important

"In indigenous ways of knowing, all beings are recognised as non-human persons, and all have their own names. It is a sign of respect to call a being by its name, and a sign of disrespect to ignore it. Words and names are the ways we humans build relationships, not only with each other but also with plants."

from Robin Wall Kimmerer's excellent 'Gathering Moss' (2003)