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In her new book Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit Lyanda Lynn Haupt weaves together her love of nature, insights as a naturalist, life experiences, and philosophical musings as a creative, imaginative, and spiritual person. It is a delightful, informative, and thought-provoking read.

I enjoyed the personal stories that connected her deep love for the natural world that began as a child to her interest in spiritual matters that began with her Catholic upbringing and expanded to other religions and philosophies as she grew older.

The varied topics of frogs, moths, and birds, the reciprocal relationship between trees, earthing, forest bathing, Jungian philosophy, mindfulness, the life of Rachel Carson, the writings of Thomas Merton, camping solo, and night vision captured my attention and stirred my imagination.

The chapter “Relate” with the story of the kidnapping of the Salish Sea orcas in the 1960s and 1970s hit me hard. I’d never heard that tale before, but my innate antipathy towards aquariums and zoos was justified as I read.

In the same chapter, she brings up Descarte’s “I think therefore I am” statement that divided mind and matter, that further separated humans from nature, and encouraged us to think of ourselves as the only life forms with consciousness.

While this book speaks the hard truth, it is upbeat, nonjudgmental, and encourages us toward more connection and healing.

Now that we are on the edge of losing it all, some of us are slowly waking up, shedding our shoes, and taking barefooted steps back into the heart of nature, listening, reconnecting with our many plant and animal sisters and brothers, relearning the ways to reintegrate ourselves with nature. To become again. This book inspires us along these lines.

Read Rooted. You’ll be glad you did.

*I received a free e-galley from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.