Living at the limits of our ordinary perception, mosses are a common but
largely unnoticed element of the natural world. Gathering Moss is a
beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection that invites
readers to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses.
Robin Wall Kimmerer's book is not an identification guide, nor is it a
scientific treatise. Rather, it is a series of linked personal essays
that will lead general readers and scientists alike to an understanding
of how mosses live and how their lives are intertwined with the lives of
countless other beings, from salmon and hummingbirds to redwoods and
rednecks. Kimmerer clearly and artfully explains the biology of mosses,
while at the same time reflecting on what these fascinating organisms
have to teach us.
Drawing on her diverse experiences as a scientist, mother, teacher, and
writer of Native American heritage, Kimmerer explains the stories of
mosses in scientific terms as well as in the framework of indigenous
ways of knowing. In her book, the natural history and cultural
relationships of mosses become a powerful metaphor for ways of living in
the world.
Gathering Moss will appeal to a wide range of readers, from bryologists
to those interested in natural history and the environment, Native
Americans, and contemporary nature and science writing.
