243. Thor Hanson: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door

The routines of modern life can often cause us to fall out of touch with our surroundings. But reconnecting with our world can go much further than just stopping to smell the roses – and without having to travel very far at all. In his newest book Close to Home: The Wonders of Nature Just Outside Your Door, conservation biologist Thor Hanson encourages readers to see just how many exciting natural discoveries can be made in our most familiar environments.

Close to Home takes a magnifying glass to the yards, gardens, and parks we already know and shows the hidden wonders that lie in plain sight – if you know how to look for them. With a skilled and enthusiastic eye, Hanson shows the range of natural features and systems that thrive all around us. From migrating monarch butterflies casually moving through Kansas City to the language of neighborhood birds to the complexity of life in an overgrown lawn in New England — digging into the secrets of our local soil can help satisfy our sense of curiosity without leaving our backyards.

Close to Home is a hands-on natural history for any patch of Earth, combining story, science, and suggestions into one ultimate neighborhood field guide. Whether compelled by the urge to understand the health of our planet, by wanting tools to contribute to our local ecosystems, or just by simple critter curiosity — the opportunity to explore and learn lives right next door.

Thor Hanson is an award-winning author, speaker, and conservation biologist who often focuses on the interface between natural and human systems. His previous works include the books Hurricane Lizards and Plastic Squid and Feathers: The Evolution of a Natural Miracle, as well as features in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, The Guardian, BioScience, and Audubon. He co-hosted the PBS series American Spring LIVE and has guested on programs including The Splendid Table and NPR’s Fresh Air and On Point.

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