I discovered Tristan Gooley's book, The Lost Art of Reading Nature's Signs, one day at the library when I was working on a list of books about hiking. I was immediately drawn to it because that cover, but I checked it out because I thought it might help me to understand clues when I am out hiking, especially if I am ever lost. I was happy my library had it and waited impatiently for the patron who had it checked out to return it.

 

I discovered a book that I thoroughly enjoyed. It is written n a conversational style and as the author shares tips about how plants, trees, lichen, sun, moon, stars, tides, waves, animals, and all sorts of other things can help us find our way across the space we are in, he shares little tidbits of his home country (England) that brings it all to life. 

 

I did feel that since Utah's climate is so drastically different from England's, not all of his tools apply here. But that's OK, because I'm not sure I will remember all of his tips anyway, at least not without some practice once I can get outside onto trails again. (Oh trails. I miss you!) But what I did learn was to be more observant as I travel through places, to watch for the signs and signals in my familiar areas, and that knowledge is getting me even more excited to start hiking again. (Only a few more weeks, hopefully.)

 

Glad I stumbled across this one!

 

(This is book #10 for my summer reading challenge.)