Astonished by Beauty: A Field Guide to the Practice of Paying Attention - Paperback

by Thomas Lowe Fleischner (Author)

An invitation to slow down and experience the world through the mindful practice of natural history.

What happens when we truly pay attention to the natural world? Astonished by Beauty offers a thoughtful and practical guide to reconnecting with nature through the practice of natural history. Through a series of brief, intimate stories from the Alaskan Arctic to the Amazon, Fleischner reveals how both easy and meaningful it is to deepen our connection with the land and its creatures. Readers are invited to learn how to look closely, see clearly, and feel deeply the living world around them, while recognizing the vital link between our well-being and the health of the Earth. Offering simple, grounded steps to nurture this bond, the book is part reflection, part guide, calling for a life lived with care, presence, and respect for the wild beauty that surrounds us.

Author Biography

Thomas Lowe Fleischner, a naturalist and conservation biologist, is a leading voice advocating for the importance and rejuvenation of natural history. He is the author of numerous articles and professional papers, and author or editor of four books, including The Way of Natural History, and Nature, Love, Medicine: Essays On Wildness and Wellness. He was the founding director of the Natural History Institute, Faculty Emeritus at Prescott College, and elected Fellow of the Linnean Society of London. He has served as Chair of the Natural History Section of the Ecological Society of America, on the Board of Governors of the Society for Conservation Biology, and as President of its Colorado Plateau Chapter. Recently, he has led and coordinated efforts to recognize the high biodiversity values of the Mogollon Highlands Ecoregion of the American Southwest. He lives in Prescott, Arizona.