The Way of the Woods: Journeys Through American Forests
|
Linda Underhill
2009. 6 x 9 inches. 160 pages. Index.
ISBN 978-0-87071-568-6. Paperback, $18.95.
|
In
The Way of the Woods, Linda Underhill explores some of our nation’s most extraordinary forests, from the magnificent old growth groves of western Pennsylvania’s Cook Forest to the endangered hemlock forests of eastern Tennessee’s Great Smoky Mountains, from the giant sequoias of California’s Sierra Mountains to the rainforest of Washington State’s Olympic Peninsula. Along the way, she also walks in ordinary woodlands, state parks, private nature preserves, and the woods surrounding her family cabin in western New York.
Part natural history, part travelogue, and part meditation,
The Way of the Woods examines how forests and woodlands contribute to the life and health of the planet. Each of the forests Underhill visits has a story to tell, and together, these stories show how forests and woodlands inspire us with a sense of the sacred. Underhill’s lyrical narratives reveal insights about forest conservation, including the importance of preserving old growth and wildlife habitat, the significance of urban forests, and the role of fire in the regeneration of forests. The Way of the Woods is a beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection for anyone intrigued by the magnificence and mystery of American forests.
“Skillfully weaving together scientific fact and philosophical reflection on the value of forests to the human spirit, the book is an eloquent plea for the protection of forests.”
—Lorraine Anderson, editor of of Sisters of the Earth: Women's Prose and Poetry About Nature
About the Author
Linda Underhill is the author of
The Unequal Hours: Moments of Being in the Natural World. Her essays have appeared in such journals as
Fourth Genre, Under the Sun, ISLE, and the
Pennsylvania Review. She is former Chairperson of the Humanities at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and is currently a Visiting Professor of English at Gettysburg College. She lives in Wellsville, New York.
Back to top of page
Secure online ordering form (Orders go to our distributor - The University of Arizona Press). For a complete listing of available books, check out our catalog of books in print.
