The Cincinnati Arch: Learning from Nature in the City
Before he moved to Cincinnati to work as a college administrator, wilderness lover Tallmadge would have dismissed the termurban natureas an oxymoron. But thanks to his passion for the writings of Thoreau, Muir, and Gary Snyder, and his practice of keen attentiveness to the world, Tallmadge began to perceive the complexity and vitality of natural life found within this wooded city. Not that this perception came easily. Tallmadge's critique of the sterility of office life is exhilarating in its accuracy and candor, as are his dissections of our notions of time, work, and home. But as Tallmadge began to explore the surprisingly diverse green spaces within Cincinnati, ponder how "wild systems" sustain themselves in gardens and cities, and see the wonders of backyard nature through the inquiring eyes of his young daughter, he found his way to a more inclusive and sustaining understanding of wildness. This lustrous, continually deepening book, clearly the work of many years of observation and deep thought, is an insightful paean that reminds us that while it is thrilling to vacation in the wilderness, it is far more important to treasure everyday nature as manifest within ourselves and at our doorstep.Donna SeamanCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.