Books chosen for our 2026 Nature Book Club discussions.
Next Nature book club meeting: May 18, 2026
November 30: American Chestnut, The Life, Death, and Rebirth of a Perfect Tree, by Susan Freinkel, 2007. The American chestnut was one of America's most common, valued, and beloved trees-a "perfect tree" that ruled the forests from Georgia to Maine. But in the early twentieth century, an exotic plague swept through the chestnut forests with the force of a wildfire. Within forty years, the blight had killed close to four billion trees and left the species teetering on the brink of extinction. It was one of the worst ecological blows to North America since the Ice Age-and one most experts considered beyond repair. In American Chestnut, Susan Freinkel tells the dramatic story of the stubborn optimists who refused to let this cultural icon go. In a compelling weave of history, science, and personal observation, she relates their quest to save the tree through methods that ranged from classical plant breeding to cutting-edge gene technology. But the heart of her story is the cast of unconventional characters who have fought for the tree for a century, undeterred by setbacks or skeptics, and fueled by their dreams of restored forests and their powerful affinity for a fellow species. LaDorna Pfaff will lead discussion. Meeting at the Middle Susquehanna Riverkeeper office at 112 Market Street, Sunbury, PA, and on Zoom. 7 p.m.
Please note that at our Nov. 30, 2026, meeting, we will be discussing and voting on books for our 2027 book club discussions. If you have a book to recommend, please contact book club organizer Ann Fisher via email.
Previously reviewed books:
- Leigh Ann Henion, Night Magic: Adventures Among Glowworms, Moon Gardens, and other Marvels of the Dark
- Sara Dykman, Bicycling with Butterflies: My 10,201 Mile Journey following the Monarch Migration
- Ed Yong, An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
- Chet and Maureen Raymo, Written in Stone
- Ben Goldfarb, Crossings: How Road Ecology is Shaping the Future of our Planet
- Steve Ramirez, Casting Homeward: An Angler and Naturalist's Journey to America's Legendary Rivers
- Sy Montgomery, On Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell
- Ben Goldfarb, Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter
- Anita Sanchez, In Praise of Poison Ivy
- Ned Tillman, The Cheseapeake Watershed: A Sense of Place and a Call to Action
- Terry Grosz, Wildlife Wars: The Life and Times of a Fish and Game Warden
- Bernd Heinrich, Mind of the Raven. Investigations and Adventures with Wolf Birds
- Peter P. Marra and Chris Santella, Cat Wars--The Devastating Consequences of a Cuddly Killer
- David Sedlak, Water for All: Global Solutions for a changing climate
- Douglas W. Tallamy, Bringing Nature Home: How You Can Sustain Wildlife with Native Plants
- Scott Weidensaul, A World on the Wing: The Global Odyssey of Migratory Birds
- Mitch Troutman, Bootleg Coal Rebellion
- Marcia Bonta, Appalachian Spring
- David Baron, The Beast in the Garden: A Modern Parable of Man and Nature
- Wallace J. Nichols, Blue Mind: The Surprising Science That Shows How Being Near, In, On, or Under Water Can Make You Happier, Healthier, More Connected, and Better at What You Do
- Eric Rutkow, American Canopy, Trees, Forests, and the Making of a Nation
- Kevin Bailey, Fishing Lessons: Artisanal Fisheries Around the World and the Future of our Oceans
- Colin Jerolmack, Up to Heaven and Down to Hell
- William Stolzenberg, The Heart of a Lion
- John Vaillant: The Golden Spruce: A True Story Of Myth, Madness And Greed
- John A. Shivik: Mousy Cats and Sheepish Coyotes: The Science of Animal Personalities
- Kirk W. Johnson: The Feather Thief: Beauty, Obsession, and the Natural History Heist of the Century
- Abbey, Edward: Down the River
- Fletcher, Colin: The Man Who Walked Through Time
- Hawkins, Paul: The Most Comprehensive Plan Ever Proposed to Reverse Global Warming (selected chapters)
- Kimmerer, Robin: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teaching of Plants
- Lose, Charles: Vanishing Trout
- McPhee, John: The Founding Fish
- Montgomery, Ben: Grandma Gatewood’s Walk: The Inspiring Story of the Woman Who Saved the Appalachian Trail
- Montgomery, Sy: The Soul of an Octopus
- Pollan, Michael: The Botany of Desire: A Plant’s Eye View of the World
- Stewart, Amy: The Earth Moved: On the Remarkable Achievements of Earthworms
- Stranahan. Susan Q.: Susquehanna, River of Dreams
Check out the recorded video from our Sept. 29, 2025, Nature Book Club discussion on "On Time and Turtles: Mending the World, Shell by Shattered Shell" by Sy Montgomery:
Check out the record video from our July 28, 2025, Nature Book Club discussion on "Eager: The Secret, Surprising Life of Beavers and Why They Matter" by Ben Goldfarb:
Check out the recorded video from our May 19, 2025, Nature Book Club discussion on "In Praise of Poison Ivy" by Anita Sanchez:
Check out the recorded video from our March 31, 2025, Nature Book Club discussion on The Chesapeake Watershed: A Sense of Place And A Call to Action by Ned Tillman:
Check out the recorded video from our January 27, 2025, Nature Book Club discussion on "Wildlife Wars: The Life and Times of a Fish and Game Warden" by Terry Grosz:
