NEW YORK TIMES EDITORS' CHOICE - A "lyrical" (Chicago Tribune)
final work of nonfiction from the National Book Award-winning author of
Arctic Dreams and Horizon, a literary icon whose writing, fieldwork,
and mentorship inspired generations of writers and activists.
"Mesmerizing . . . a master observer . . . whose insight and moral
clarity have earned comparisons to Henry David Thoreau."--The Wall
Street Journal
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ONE OF THE TEN BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Outside
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: The New York Times**
An ardent steward of the land, fearless traveler, and unrivaled observer
of nature and culture, Barry Lopez died after a long illness on
Christmas Day 2020. The previous summer, a wildfire had consumed much of
what was dear to him in his home place and the community around it--a
tragic reminder of the climate change of which he'd long warned.
At once a cri de coeur and a memoir of both pain and wonder, this
remarkable collection of essays adds indelibly to Lopez's legacy, and
includes previously unpublished works, some written in the months before
his death. They unspool memories both personal and political, among them
tender, sometimes painful stories of his childhood in New York City and
California, reports from expeditions to study animals and sea life,
recollections of travels to Antarctica and other extraordinary places on
earth, and meditations on finding oneself amid vast, dramatic
landscapes. He reflects on those who taught him, including Indigenous
elders and scientific mentors who sharpened his eye for the natural
world. We witness poignant returns from his travels to the sanctuary of
his Oregon backyard, adjacent to the McKenzie River. And in prose of
searing candor, he reckons with the cycle of life, including his own,
and--as he has done throughout his career--with the dangers the earth
and its people are facing.
With an introduction by Rebecca Solnit that speaks to Lopez's keen
attention to the world, including its spiritual dimensions, Embrace
Fearlessly the Burning World opens our minds and souls to the
importance of being wholly present for the beauty and complexity of
life.
"This posthumously published collection of essays by nature writer
Barry Lopez reveals an exceptional life and mind . . . While certainly a
testament to his legacy and an ephemeral reprieve from his death in
2020, this book is more than a memorial: it offers a clear-eyed praxis
of hope in what Lopez calls this 'Era of Emergencies.'"--Scientific
American
