Explores a new perspective on human evolution by examining the phenomenon of ultraendurance and makes surprising discoveries about the physical, spiritual, and primal drive to win. At once lyrical and scientific, this book shows Bernd Heinrich's signature blend of biology, anthropology, psychology, and philosophy, infused with his passion to discover how and why we can achieve super-human abilities. Bernd Heinrich won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for literary excellence in nature writing in 2018.
Ecco, HarperCollins, 2002. Paperback, 292 pp.

The 25th Anniversary Edition of this book, complete with a new Afterword. In the spring of 1983, Terry Tempest Williams learned that her mother was dying of cancer. That same spring, the Great Salt Lake began to rise to record heights. As Williams interweaves these narratives of dying and accommodation, tragedy is transformed into a document of renewal and spiritual grace. A classic in the literatures of woman, nature, and grieving. Terry Tempest Williams won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for Literary Excellence in Nature Writing in 2023. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on the title page.
Penguin Random House, 1991, 2018. Paperback, 325 pp.

A beautifully written mix of science and personal reflection that invites readers to explore and learn from the elegantly simple lives of mosses. In this series of linked personal essays, Kimmerer explains the biology of mosses and reflects on what these fascinating organisms have to teach us. Robin Wall Kimmerer won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for literary excellence in nature writing in 2021.
Oregon State University Press, 2003. Paperback, 168 pp.

A grand tour of the realm of all of our senses. We learn about the evolution of the kiss, the sadistic cuisine of eighteenth-century England, the chemistry of pain, and the melodies of the planet Earth. Diane Ackerman won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for literary excellence in nature writing in 2015.
Vintage Books / Random House, 1990. Paperback, 331 pp.

Botanist and Native American Robin Wall Kimmerer shows that the awakening of a wider ecological consciousness requires the acknowledgment and celebration of our reciprocal relationship with the rest of the living world. For only when we can hear the languages of other beings are we capable of understanding the generosity of the earth, and learning to give our own gifts in return. Robin Wall Kimmerer won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for literary excellence in nature writing in 2021.
Milkweed Editions, 2013. Paperback, 390 pp.

Terry Tempest Williams's fierce, spirited, and magnificent essays are a howl in the desert. She sizes up the continuing assaults on America's public lands and the erosion of our commitment to the open space of democracy. She asks: "How do we find the strength to not look away from all that is breaking our hearts?" These essays are her call to action, blazing a way forward through difficult and dispiriting times. This book was written for this moment, political and spiritual at once, written by one of our greatest naturalists, essayists, and defenders of the environment. She reminds us that beauty is its own form of resistance, and that water can crack stone. Terry Tempest Williams won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for Literary Excellence in Nature Writing in 2023. SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR on the title page.
Picador, 2020. Paperback, 334 pp.

The authors explore through intimate and thought-provoking dialogue one of the most sought after and least understood elements of human nature: hope. Here, Jane Goodall focuses on her Four Reasons for Hope: The Amazing Human Intellect, The Resilience of Nature, The Power of Young People, and The Indomitable Human Spirit. Drawing on decades of work that has helped expand our understanding of what it means to be human and what we all need to do to help build a better world, this book touches on vital questions, including: How do we stay hopeful when everything seems hopeless? How do we cultivate hope in our children? What is the relationship between hope and action? Filled with moving and inspirational stories and photographs from Jane's remarkable career, The Book of Hope is a deeply personal conversation with one of the most beloved figures in the world today. Jane Goodall has been named the winner of the Henry David Thoreau Prize for literary excellence in nature writing in 2022.
Celadon Books, 2021. Hardcover, 272 pp.

Highlights the revealing new science behind the keen intelligence and surprising social behavior of octopus species around the world. "Octopuses are having a moment," Montgomery writes, and this book celebrates them in all their shapes, colors, and capabilities. Including "octoprofiles" of 16 key species and glorious color photographs, this book brings these alluring creatures into view as never before. Sy Montgomery won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for Literary Excellence in Nature Writing in 2017.
National Geographic Society, 2024. Hardcover, 189 pp.

A definitive collection spanning more than five decades of this Pulitzer-Prize winning poet's esteemed and celebrated literary career. Arranged by Mary Oliver herself, this timeless volume showcases the beloved poet at her edifying best. She provides us here with an invaluable collection of her passionate and perceptive observations of the natural world. Mary Oliver won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for literary excellence in nature writing in November 2018.
Penguin Press, 2017. Hardcover, 455 pp.

Offers a joyful, mind-expanding exploration of an ancient idea: that rivers are living beings who should be recognized as such in imagination and in law. Macfarlane takes readers on three unforgettable journeys teeming with extraordinary people, stories, and places: in Ecuador, in India, and in Quebec. This book will open hearts, challenge perspectives, and remind us that our fate flows with that of rivers ... and always has. Robert Macfarlane won the Henry David Thoreau Prize for literary excellence in nature writing in 2025.
W. W. Norton, 2025. Hardcover, 374 pp.