The Heartbeat of the Wild: Dispatches From Landscapes of Wonder, Peril, and Hope

Award-winning science and nature writer David Quammen has written a book about his travels to Earth's most far-flung and fragile destinations, featuring 20 assignments from National Geographic magazine. He shares encounters with African elephants, chimpanzees, gorillas, salmon, lions, and rewilding efforts in southernmost South America.

Format: Hardback
Length: 352 pages
Publication date: 16 May 2023
Publisher: National Geographic Society

For over two decades, acclaimed science and nature writer David Quammen has ventured to Earth's most remote and delicate destinations, capturing field notes from places teetering on the edge of human-wildlife conflict. This captivating book presents 20 of those remarkable assignments, originally published in National Geographic magazine and revised for modern readers. Through elegant narratives, Quammen weaves colorful and impassioned stories from some of the planet's most remote and awe-inspiring locales.

He shares intimate encounters with African elephants, chimpanzees, and gorillas, as well as their rescuers, including renowned primatologist Jane Goodall. He delves into the lives of the salmon in northeastern Russia, whose survival is intricately linked to the local communities that rely on them. Quammen also explores the dynamics between lions in Kenya and the villagers who live in proximity to parks established to protect these majestic creatures. Additionally, he highlights the champions of rewilding efforts in southernmost South America, dedicated to rescuing iconic species such as jaguars and macaws from the brink of extinction.

Quammen's writing is a testament to his deep understanding of the natural world and his ability to convey its wonders and complexities to readers. His narratives are filled with vivid imagery, compelling anecdotes, and thought-provoking insights, making this book a must-read for anyone interested in nature, conservation, and the delicate balance between humans and the wild.

Weight: 500g
Dimension: 235 x 161 x 31 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781426222078