Now an annual tradition, Gathering Waters shares our staff’s summer reading recommendations.
Let us know what you think of our picks, and what you’re reading this summer! Drop us a note at info@gatheringwaters.org.
An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us
By Ed Yong
Every animal perceives the world within its own unique sensory bubble. This book welcomes the reader into this previously unfathomable dimension. I was blown away by the journeys into animals’ perceptual worlds guided by Yong. The audiobook is also a treat, narrated by Ed Yong himself. Or, if you just want a taste of the book, there is a great Fresh Air interview with the author by Terry Gross.
-Charlie Carlin, Director of Strategic Initiatives
Flight Paths: How a Passionate and Quirky Group of Pioneering Scientists Solved the Mystery of Bird Migration
By Rebecca Heisman
The captivating, little-known true story of a group of scientists and the methods and technology they developed to uncover the secrets of avian migration.
-Mike Carlson, Executive Director
Fox and I: An Uncommon Friendship
By Catherine Raven
When is it OK to befriend a fox? That’s a question that biologist Catherine Raven asks in her memoir. Her vivid descriptions transport the reader to her remote Montana cabin and the community of magpies, voles, juniper trees, all manner of other birds and wildflowers in the valley…and a fox, who takes to visiting daily, and yes, she reads to him from The Little Prince. A beautiful, quirky, and poignant account of her—and our—connection with the natural world.
-Meg Domroese, Director of Programs and Impact
Hunt, Gather, Parent: What Ancient Cultures Can Teach Us About the Lost Art of Raising Happy, Helpful Little Humans
By Michaeleen Doucleff, PhD
Parenting during the summer months can leave us all feeling a bit frazzled. This book examines parenting strategies from some of the oldest cultures, many of which are strikingly different from that of most Western families. The author takes a first hand observational role by living with several families, then converts those observations into practice with her own child. This book provides perspective and refreshing approaches that have helped me foster a deeper connection with my littles.
-Chris Gutschenritter, Director of Land Conservation Law Program
Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love – Anti-Black Racism in the Charitable Sector
It’s not a light summer read but a provocative one. Collecting Courage: Joy, Pain, Freedom, Love is a collection of 15 first-person narratives shared by accomplished Black fundraisers and equity, racial and social justice advocates, documenting their experiences confronting and surviving racism working in charitable and philanthropic spaces across North America.
-Pat McMurtrie, Annual Giving & Outreach Manager
How to Prepare for Climate Change
By David Pogue
From what to grow to where to live, How to Prepare for Climate Change is a comprehensive guide to preparing for and surviving the greatest threat of our time.
-Rhianon Morgan, Operations Coordinator
Fellowship Point
By Alice Elliottt Dark
When this novel first came out in 2022, I added it to my “to-read” list because of the setting (the coast of Maine) and the mention of land preservation. It is a story about a woman determined to secure her legacy as an author and to permanently protect a peninsula known as Fellowship Point. It’s a bit of a hefty summer read in both size and content, but what better time to dig into a big story?
-Amanda Sweno, Communications & Outreach Coordinator
Braiding Sweetgrass
By Robin Wall Kimmerer
This nonfiction book informs us on the role of Indigenous knowledge and how it adds a different perspective or approach to conventional Western scientific methodologies. So get ready, settle in, and enjoy the writing of Robin Wall Kimmerer because this book is a page-turner.
-Tina Tran, Diversity in Conservation Intern
Oh Crap! Potty Training
By Jamie Glowacki
To successfully train your child for a lifetime of socially acceptable behavior, this is a summer must-read! Plenty of good humor and an entire chapter devoted to… you guessed it, POOP. You won’t want to put this book down.
-Creal Zearing, Director of Philanthropy
